Literary Devices

time and place the story takes place
Ex. Salinas River, 1930s; "A few miles south of Soledad."

• setting
• plot
• imagery
• exposition

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

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

the author directly tells the reader what the character is like
Ex. "He stepped short, quick steps, of a fat legged man."

• indirect characterization
• pointed characterization
• direct characterization
• straight characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

the author gives clues about a character by describing what a character looks like, does, and says, as well as how other characters react to them
Ex. "Crooks scowled, but Lennie's disarming smile defeated him. Come on in and set a while."

• direct characterization
• indirect characterization
• forward characterization
• round characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

the author directly tells the reader what the character is like
Ex. "He stepped short, quick steps, of a fat legged man."

• indirect characterization
• pointed characterization
• forward characterization
• direct characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected
Ex. Crooks lets Lennie in his room.

• irony
• situational irony
• verbal irony
• foreshadowing

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

a person says one thing and means another (sarcasm)
Ex. "Sure, said Crooks. And a manure pile under the window. Sure, it's swell."

• situational irony
• dialogue
• verbal irony
• dramatic irony

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

the audience knows something that the characters do not know
Ex. When Lennie walks in Crooks's room. (Lennie does not know that he is unwanted in there.)

• situational irony
• dramatic irony
• drama
• verbal irony

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

descriptive words that appeal to the five senses
Ex. "A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas river drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green."

• adjectives
• sensory words
• imagery
• verbs

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4