Transcript Lesson 8: Literary Techniques

Lesson 8: Literary
Techniques
Competency Goals: 4.02, 5.01,
and 5.02
EOG Vocabulary
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Allusion (write
example)
Diction
Figurative Language
Flashback
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Genre
Repetition
Situational Irony
Verbal Irony
Tip #1: Notice how word choice
helps create mood.
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Pay close attention to the word choice, or
diction, in the following passage:
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“During the whole of a dull, dark, and
soundless day in the autumn of the year,
when the clouds hung oppressively low in the
heavens, I had been passing alone, on
horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of
country; and at length found myself, as the
shades of the evening drew on, within the
view of the melancholy House of Usher.”
Notice any particular type of word
choice here?
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“During the whole of a dull, dark, and
soundless day in the autumn of the year,
when the clouds hung oppressively low in the
heavens, I had been passing alone, on
horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of
country; and at length found myself, as the
shades of the evening drew on, within the
view of the melancholy House of Usher.”
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A.
B.
C.
D.
Which best characterizes Poe’s word
choice in this selection?
Simple words
Difficult words
Technical words
Nonsensical words
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A.
B.
C.
D.
Which word best describes the mood of
the selection?
Warm
Exciting
Gloomy
Peaceful
Let’s Compare . . .
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From “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” by Annie Dillard:
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The morning woods were utterly new. A strong yellow
light pooled between the trees; my shadow appeared
and vanished on the path, since a third of the trees I
walked under were still bare, a third spread a
luminous haze wherever they grew, and another third
blocked the sun with new, whole leaves. The snakes
were out—I saw a bright, smashed one on the path—
and the butterflies were vaulting and furling about; the
phlox (flowering herb) was at its peak, and even the
evergreens looked greener, newly created and
washed.
How are the two passages similar?
How are they different?
Look at the word choice (diction) from both
selections.
 Compare/contrast positive words with
negatives.
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A.
B.
C.
D.
Which word best describes the mood of
this paragraph?
Liveliness
Humor
Sadness
Sympathy
Tip #2: Look for repeated words.
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Repetition is used as a stylistic device that
can tell the reader a lot about the writer’s
intention—in other words, repetition can
create tone and mood.
Important Literary Style Devices:
Allusion: subtle reference to something.
Ex. “I sure hope this date won’t be like the
last one!”
 Irony: when reality is different from
appearances.
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Situational: something happens that is
different than what we, the reader, expects.
 Verbal: when a character says one thing but
means another.
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Tip #3: Be on the lookout for
symbols.
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Sometimes authors use objects to
represent some greater idea or concept.
For example: $5 bill from Gerald’s essay, the
butterfly, roses, and silver symbolism from
Darkness before Dawn
 What did it all mean?
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