Lesson 4: Literary Devices

INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

Literary Devices are tools used by writers/poets to add creativity to his/her

work.

The devices are divided into 2:

(a) Literary Elements (basic tools)

(b) Literary Techniques (deliberate tools)

Literary Elements:

• Plot

- Exposition (beginning), Rising Action, Climax (middle), Falling Action and

Resolution(ending).

-The graph is usually the same (right image) but may varies (image left) according to the story.

• Theme(s)

- There are major theme and sub themes.

-The theme represents the message the writer/poet wants to deliver throughout the work.

• Setting(s)

-Two kinds: Time and Place.

-Time involves the age or decade the story lingers around. Could also be during the morning until night.

-Place determines the venue. Example: Kuala Lumpur, in the kitchen.

• Characters

-The roles played in the story.

-Only available in stories, not poems.

• Point of View

-How the narrator tells the story.

-First: One of the characters tells the story through his/her/their eyes.

-Third: Narrator is someone who is outside the story. Omniscent (knows it all) or Limited (limit).

• Tone [restricted to poems only]

-The emotions/feelings underneath the chosen w

ords by the persona.

-Varies from happy to sad.

*more info go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13NYEimqla8&feature=related

*images are obtained at Google Search (image)

Literary Techniques:

• Imagery

-Figurative languages.

-Examples: metaphor, simile, personification, etc.

• Structure

-The form of the story

-Example: Dialogue, Narrative, Descriptive, etc.