Honors Literary Devices (Content) Review

a recurring unifying element in an artistic work

when the audience knows something that characters do not

a character that does not change much from the start of the story to the end

the placement of one idea next to its opposite to make it more dramatic

a main character who lacks traditional heroic attributes such as idealism, courage and morality

insight into the human condition; central message

a struggle between opposite needs, desires or emotions within a single character

a narrative in which the characters and/or events have both a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning

character (or other force) that presents an obstacle or is in direct conflict with the protagonist

a character that serves by contrast to highlight or emphasize opposing traits in another character

a series of related events that make up a story

the resolution of a plot by use of a highly improbable coincidence that solves some difficult problem or crisis

a literary genre that uses irony, wit and sometimes sarcasm to expose humanities vices and faults

a basically good person who has a fatal flaw which leads to their downfall 

the central character of a story

any object or action that represents something beyond itself

a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces or emotions

the process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character

an event/situation that turns out to be the opposite of what is expected or appropriate

“telling" who a character is through the use of descriptive adjectives

a character that changes in a significant way from the story’s start to its finish

the driving force behind a character’s action

a comic imitation of another, usually serious, work

when a character struggles against an outside force

“showing” who a character is through their speech, thoughts, actions, or appearance