Lately, my little brother Alex (my heart), has been
having a bit of trouble in English class, mainly with differentiating
between metaphors, similes and other literary jargons. So I thought I would
start a blog post to define certain literary devices, techniques and elements
in his honor.
Today’s terms are:
1. Irony-
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the
opposite of the literal meaning
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the
opposite of the literal meaning
Example: The
irony of her reply, “How nice!”When I said
I had to work all weekend.
irony of her reply, “How nice!”When I said
I had to work all weekend.
2. Juxtaposition-
placing expressions or ideas side by side, for
comparison or contrast
placing expressions or ideas side by side, for
comparison or contrast
Common Juxtapositions: youth vs. old age, freedom vs. responsibility, city vs. country.
3. Metaphor-
A comparison of two dissimilar things which does not
use “like” or “as”
A comparison of two dissimilar things which does not
use “like” or “as”
Example: “A mighty fortress is our God” or, “my love is a red, red
rose”
rose”
4. Meter-
A rhythm of accented and unaccented syllables which
are organized into patterns called feet. The common meters are iambs, trochees,
spondees, anapests and dactyls.
A rhythm of accented and unaccented syllables which
are organized into patterns called feet. The common meters are iambs, trochees,
spondees, anapests and dactyls.
Examples:
The meters with
two-syllable feet are
two-syllable feet are
· IAMBIC (x /) : That time of year thou mayst in
me behold
me behold
· TROCHAIC (/ x): Tell me not in mournful numbers
· SPONDAIC (/ /): Break, break, break/ On thy cold
gray stones, O Sea!
gray stones, O Sea!
The meters with three-syllable feet are
· ANAPESTIC (x x /): And the sound of a voice that is still
· DACTYLIC (/ x x): This is the forest
primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlock (a
trochee replaces the final dactyl).
primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlock (a
trochee replaces the final dactyl).
5.
Simile- comparison of two dissimilar
things using “like” or “as”
Simile- comparison of two dissimilar
things using “like” or “as”
Example:
“my love is like a red, red rose”
“my love is like a red, red rose”
I
will be posting more literary terms soon.
will be posting more literary terms soon.
Stay tuned!
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