Literary Devices - Of Mice and Men

comparing two things using like or as
Ex. "You're like a kid Lennie."

• hyperbole
• irony
• metaphor
• simile

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

language or way of speech of a particular region of the country
Ex. "It wasn't no good to pet."

• dialogue
• characterization
• communication
• dialect

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

hints that something is going to happen in the story
Ex. George tells Lennie in the opening chapter that if he gets into trouble to go back and hide in the brush by the river.

• hinting
• teasing
• foreshadowing
• spoiler alerts

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

characters, objects, or events that have an abstract, or figurative meaning (stands for something else)
Ex. George and Lennie's dream represents their freedom and wealth.

• images
• symbolism
• simile
• personification

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

the main character
Ex. Lennie and George because they are the main people in the story.

• lead actor
• antagonist
• MVP
• protagonist

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

adding human characteristics to non-living objects
Ex. "the afternoon sun sliced through the cracks of barn walls"

• hyperbole
• symbolism
• imagery
• personification

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

opposing character to the main character
Ex. Curley/Curley's wife

• antagonist
• the opposition
• protagonist
• the bad guy

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

struggle between opposing forces
Ex. Lennie vs. Curley; Lennie vs. George; Candy vs. himself; Ranch men vs. society

• fight
• feud
• conflict
• argument

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Mood

• Mad, sad, happy, confused, etc
• The way that a person feel when they are not reading a text
• The emotional state a reader has with a text
• The way you feel right now

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Claim

• A statement essentially arguable, but used as a primary point of an argument
• When a company receives a lump sum of money back after paying taxes
• Another form of author's purpose
• Making a relationship exclusive

Tags

CCSS.W.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.1A

CCSS.W.9-10.1B