Literary devices and elementsOnline version An activity for elements of short story and literary devices. by Veysel IŞIKLI 1 Character 2 Setting 3 Plot 4 Conflict 5 Theme 6 Characterization 7 Flashback 8 Hyperbole 9 Irony 10 Metaphor 11 Personification 12 Point of view A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or other literary work. Spock was a Vulcan-human hybrid who struggled for many years with his dual heritage before he finally found peace through acceptance of both parts of his heritage. The setting of a short story is the time and place in which it happens. Authors often use descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting. As the sun set in the evening sky, Malcolm slowly turned and walked toward his home. All was silent and still. Through the window, he could see his older brother James watching a football game on the TV. James was home from his first year of college in the city. It was lonely at times, but Malcolm felt it was rather nice to not be in James’ shadow during his senior year of high school. A plot is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict. Many date movies follow a similar simple plot. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back in the end. The conflict is a struggle between two people or things in a short story. The main character is usually on one side of the central conflict. On the other side, the main character may struggle against another important character, against the forces of nature, against society, or even against something inside himself or herself (feelings, emotions, illness). John tried hard to convince himself that his Hollywood dreams were worth the struggle but his parents, and his inner voice of reason, failed to agree. The theme is the central idea or belief in a short story. Plot is the events of story; theme is the meaning behind or revealed by story. Theme is sometimes defined as the moral of a story, though theme doesn't have to be a moral. Morals that double as theme include these: cheaters never win, honesty wins the day, and good guys finish first. Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character. The character can be described directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts, and speech of the character. “The pati ent boy and quie t girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.” ............................................is a literary device wherein the author depicts the occurrence of specific events to the reader, which have taken place before the present time the narration is following, or events that have happened before the events that are currently unfolding in the story. Back in the day when Sarah was a young girl… A hyperbole is a literary device wherein the author uses specific words and phrases that exaggerate and overemphasize the basic crux of the statement in order to produce a grander, more noticeable effect. “I am so tired I cannot walk another inch” or “I’m so sleepy I might fall asleep standing here”. The use of .............................. in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence or word is actually different from the literal meaning. Often irony is used to suggest the stark contrast of the literal meaning being put forth. The deeper, real layer of significance is revealed not by the words themselves but the situation and the context in which they are placed. Writing a sentence such as, “Oh! What fine luck I have!”. The sentence on the surface conveys that the speaker is happy with their luck but actually what they mean is that they are extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with their (bad) luck. Metaphors are one of the most extensively used literary devices. A metaphor refers to a meaning or identity ascribed to one subject by way of another. In a metaphor, one subject is implied to be another so as to draw a comparison between their similarities and shared traits. The first subject, which is the focus of the sentences is usually compared to the second subject, which is used to convey a degree of meaning that is used to characterize the first. The purpose of using a metaphor is to take an identity or concept that we understand clearly (second subject) and use it to better understand the lesser known element (the first subject). “Henry was a lion on the battlefield”. Personification is one of the most commonly used and recognized literary devices. It refers to the practice of attaching human traits and characteristics with inanimate objects, phenomena and animals. “The wise owl” Point of view is the manner in which a story is narrated or depicted and who it is that tells the story. In the popular Lord of the Rings book series, the stories are narrated in the third person and all happenings are described from an “outside the story” point of view. Contrastingly, in the popular teen book series, Princess Diaries, the story is told in the first person, by the protagonist herself.
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