Literary Techniques

Literary Techniques I

• Character

• Characterization

• Dialect

• Dialogue

I: Characters

Static – Dynamic – Round - Flat

II: Characterization

III: Dialect

IV: Dialogue

Rules for writing dialogue:1. Follow all quotation mark rules2. Indent the quoted words of the character3. Use a new line when changing to the speech of another person

A rule to remember is 'New speaker, new line'.

• Dialect is the way words are heard or spoken

• Dialogue is the conversation using the words

What did he say?

To a Mouse On Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plow

By Robert Burns Written in 1785 and Published in 1786

These are the first three stanzas of the poem “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns. Try to Read the Scottish Dialect.

Text of the Poem

Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie,  O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!  Thou need na start awa sae hasty,                      Wi’ bickering brattle!  I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,         5                     Wi’ murd’ring pattle!

I’m truly sorry man’s dominion,  Has broken nature’s social union,  An’ justifies that ill opinion,                      Which makes thee startle         10 At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,                      An’ fellow-mortal! 

I doubt na, whiles, but thou may thieve;  What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!  A daimen icker in a thrave         15                     ’S a sma’ request;  I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,                      An’ never miss’t! 

Literal Rendering of the Poem

Tiny, sleek, cowering, fearful mouse, O, what a panic is in your breast! You need not start away so hasty, With pattering noises! I would be loath to run and chase you, With my murdering spade!

I'm truly sorry that my world, Has broken into your world, And justifies your ill opinion of men, Which makes you startle  At me, you poor, earth-born companion, And fellow mortal!

I doubt not that at times you may steal; What then? poor little animal, you must live! An occasional ear of corn out of twenty-four sheaves Is a small request;  I'll be blest with the rest of the corn, And never miss the ear you took!

Literary Techniques II

• Symbol

• Personification

• Plot

I: Symbol

Common Symbols in Literature

• dove: peace• ice: death• spring: youth, birth, life• water: birth, rebirth• winter: death, dying, old age• eagle: freedom, liberty, strength• skull: death• rose: love, beauty• crown: wealth, royalty• wedding ring: love, commitment• cross bones: death, danger• sunrise: new start, beginning• full moon: danger, weirdness• autumn: middle age, maturity

Symbols

II: Personification

III: Plot

What kind of plot is this…

Literary Techniques III

• Narrator

• Point of view

• Suspense

Narrator and Point of view

1st Person Point of View

2nd Person Point of View

3rd Limited Point of View

3rd Omniscient Point of View

Practicing Point of View: Which and Why?

Suspense

Literary Techniques IV

• Conflict

• Irony

• Flashback

• Foreshadowing

• Allusion

• Moral and Theme

I. Conflict

GOT Conflict?

Character vs. nature

Character vs. Character Character vs. Society

Character vs. fate Character vs. Self

II. Irony

III. Flashback

IV. Foreshadowing

Yes, You are SEEING a COW…I’m called,The Moona Lisa

By Gary Larson

Allusions NOT Illusions…

you’re not hallucinating!

I. Allusion

Morals and Lessons

learned in literature

II. Moral and Theme

Appearances are deceptive One good turn deserves another

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls It is best to prepare for the days of necessity

It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow A willful beast must go his own way

He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another A man is known by the company he keeps

They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due to others An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

False confidence is the forerunner of misfortune Vices are their own punishment

Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost One man's pleasure may be another's pain He who is once deceived is doubly cautious

Necessity is the mother of invention It is easy to kick a man that is down

Sorrow not over what is lost forever Those who seek to please everybody please nobody

Every one is more or less master of his own fate Honesty is the best policy

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched He who plays a trick must be prepared to take a joke

Morals: As seen in Literature

Fables: Listed by MoralAppearances can be deceptive

Beauty is only skin-deep A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Birds of a feather flock together Every man for himself

Evil-wishes, like chickens, come home to roost Fair weather friends aren't worth much

Liars can't be trusted Look before you leap

Might makes right Mind your own business

Necessity is the mother of invention No act of kindness is ever wasted One good turn deserves another

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Pride goes before the fall

Quality, not quantity Slow and steady wins the race

United We Stand, Divided We Fall You are known by the company you keep

Literary ThemesAmbition Jealousy

Beauty Loneliness

Betrayal Love

Courage Loyalty

Duty (filial piety) Perseverance

Fear Prejudice

Freedom Suffering

Happiness Truth

Example

• Moral of the story…– Do your homework and you will succeed

• Theme of the day…– Failure

THE END