Literary Elements and Devices

When a character is struggling with another character or outside force

"Don't be such a Scrooge!"

"By doing well in both of those classes, you'll get a lot of bang for your buck!"

time, place, period, and/or environment in which a story is set

"The soft, soothing sensation of the soup eased the pain in my throat."

Main character in a drama or literary work, not necessarily "good"; working toward something

The reader can "read between the lines"; draw conclusions not stated by the author using clues

This teacher provokes the best in students; she is a rock star; students think she is bomb.com

"The frigid wind attacked the fragile skin on my face."

"The imposing linebacker is a freight train, aggressively crashing through opposing players."

One who opposes and contends with another; an adversary (they are not necessarily evil)

the opposition between characters or forces that shapes the action of the plot

"BOOM! BANG! Firepower!"

a recurring idea that comes up throughout the story. The author’s opinion about the topic.

When a character is struggling with a conflict with self.

A thinking strategy where the reader can relate to the story

the outcome of a series of events; the final resolution to the main problem or complication

Reader can use the literary devices used by the author to make strong mental images

"His mess spread throughout the room, like a tornado had ravaged the space."

point of the greatest tension in the story, a turning point in the action