Literary Elements

*ALLUSION
A reference to a wellknown person, thing,
event, literary work, or
work of art

*ALLITERATION

*SYMBOL

The repetition of initial

consonant sounds

Anything that stands

represents somethin

The rushing roar of the rapids raced to

engulf a rickety canoe.

The flag, a cross, a Star o

snakes

World Trade Center

Martin Luther King
Romeo and Juliet

DYNAMIC CHARACTER

*METAPHOR

A character that under

goes a change in actions
or beliefs during the
course of a story

A figure of speech in which a

comparison is made between
two unlike subjects without the
use of like or as

Zero in Holes
Spiderman

The sparkling stars were diamonds in

the sky.

*IDIOM

*PROTAGONIST

A group of words whos

meaning as group cannot
be understood from the
meaning of the individual
word. A figure of speech

The central character and

focus of interest that is trying
to accomplish or overcome an
adversary and has the ability
to adapt to new circumstances

Its raining cats and dogs.

Were up a creek without a
paddle.

Harry Potter
Stanley Yelnats

*ANTAGONIST

*THEME

The character opposing

the protagonist can be a
person, idea, or force

A central message or insight

into life revealed through the
literary work lessons about
life.

The Warden in Holes

Scar in the Lion King

A character that doe

grow or change throu
the story one that
up as he/she begi
Harry Potter
The Joker

*CONFLICT

A struggle between
opposing force

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Group/ Socie
Man vs. Self

*POINT OF VIEW

The perspective from

the story is told
1st or 3rd Person

It takes a friend to be a friend.

Good always wins out in the end.

*MOOD

*REPETITION FOR EFFECT

The feeling created in the

reader by a literary work
or passage

The repetition of carefully

chosen words or phrases that
make a point or stress certain
ideas for the reader

Suspenseful, Scary , Happy, Sad

STATIC CHARACT

*SETTING

A time and place o

action of a literary
1882 in London

Like in a commercial and they repeat a

slogan, line, and price.

*FORESHADOWING

*IMAGERY

*OXYMORON

Literary Elements
In a literary work, the use
of clues that suggest
events that have yet to
occur
Little Red Riding Hood tells the
wolf where she is going.
The dad in Rikki Tikki fears that
a snake might enter the nursery

*DICTION
Word choice... The
appropriateness of the words
with regard to the emotions
and/or ideas associated with
those words.

Descriptive language used in

literature that appeals to the
senses.

A figure of speech
combines two oppos
contradictory ide

Sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste

The slimy strands of spiders webs
brushed Adams face as he entered
the forbidden chamber.

Jumbo shrimp
Icy hot
Freezer burn

*FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

*HYPERBOLE

Writing or speech not

meant to be interpreted
literally

A deliberate exaggeration
or overstatement.

Similes, Metaphors, Idioms, etc.

I had a ton of homework.

I called you a million times last
night.

Consider connotations of words,

careful choice of language.
Weird vs. Unique

*SIMILE
A figure of speech in
which like or as is used to
make a comparison
between two unlike
subjects.
The sparkling stars were like
diamonds in the sky.

*CHARACTERIZATION
The methods used by an
author to create a character.

physical appearance
speech, thought, actions,
feelings

other characters speech,

thoughts, actions, feelings
about the character
direct comments by the author
about the character

*PERSONIFICATION
A type of figurative
language in which a nonhuman subject is given
human characteristics
The trees limbs waved in the
moonlight.
The blank page beckoned for me
to fill it with poetry.

*TONE

*MAGIC 3

MOTIF

The writers attitude

toward his or her subject.
Tone can often be
described by a single
adjective.

3 examples in a series that

can create rhythm and add
support or emphasis.

A RECURRENT ELEMENT IN
A LITERARY WORK. Motifs
may include events,
images, and/ or ideas. They
help to communicate the
authors message as well as
the storys meaning

Suspenseful, hopeful, sarcastic,

angry, joyful, sad

Waves of memories encircled my

thoughts, penetrated my green
eyes, and escaped in sweet release
down my cheeks.

Climbing Pride Rock in the Lion

King.
The color red

*DENOTATION

*UNDERSTATEMENT

*DIALECT

The specific dictionary

The deliberate downplay of a

A regional or ethnic way of

Literary Elements
definition of a word.

situation to create humor or

other specific effect.
Texas August days are fairly cool
whenever the temperature is
seated with two digits.

speaking
Yall
Cmon
Pop- used for soda

*CONNOTATION

*ONOMATOPOEIA

*IRONY

The emotions or
associations a word
normally arouses in
people using, hearing, or
reading the word

Words that suggest the

actual sound of the action

The opposite of what is

expected.

Buzz. Bang! Boom! Shhhh. Crackle.

Crashing. Blip!

A police station is robbed.

A pilot becomes afraid of heights.

The word may have a POSITIVE

connotation, a NEGATIVE
connotation, or a NEUTRAL
connotation.