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Style
Literary Devices
Figurative Language
Irony
Your Turn
Style
When you hear the word style, you may think of
the way your friends dress . . .
Style
To determine a writers style, look at the way he or
she uses language.
realistic
dialogue
short,
conversational
sentences
comical main
characters
lighthearted
tone
Style
Word Choice
Most writers do not try to invent new styles. Rather,
a writers style comes from the choices he or she
makes putting words on a page.
Do I want a
simple sentence
or a long,
complex
sentence?
Should I
use a long
word or a
short one?
Style
Tone and Mood
The writers word choice sets the works tone, or
attitude, and mood, or feeling.
Nina and her dad frolicked
on the playground.
Style
Tone and Mood
Read the following. Note its tone and mood.
It was a frosty October day, yet the new playground was
crowded with parents and their happy, noisy children.
Style
Quick Check
The old woman stalked cautiously down
the long, dark hallway. With each step,
she moved closer to her victim: the
elusive noisy cricket that had somehow
made its way into the house.
Ill get him this time, she thought. I cant
listen to his racket one more night!
The womans careful steps were virtually
soundless; those old slippers were softer
than a whisper. Yet, somehow, the cricket
heard her, and it jumped just beyond her
reach into the linen closet.
[End of Section]
Literary Devices
Another way to determine an authors style is to
examine his or her use of literary devices. A literary
device is a technique writers use to produce a
certain effect.
Examples of literary
devices include
imagery,
dialect, and
symbols.
Literary Devices
Imagery
Language that creates word pictures and appeals to
our senses is called imagery.
Images make us feel as if we are
seeing,
hearing,
touching,
tasting, or
smelling
what the writer describes.
Literary Devices
Imagery
Imagery helps create word pictures as you read.
Literary Devices
Dialect
Dialect is a way of speaking that is characteristic of
a particular place or group of people.
Yall come on back
to my ranch and
watch me lasso
that steer.
?
What
does this
character
look like?
Literary Devices
Dialect
Did you guess that the character is a
friendly cowboy?
Yall come on back
to my ranch and
watch me lasso
that steer.
Literary Devices
Symbols
A symbol is a person, place, or event that has
meaning but also stands for something else.
For example,
a skull and
crossbones
represent
part of the
human
Poison!
Pirates!
Toxic smoke!
skeleton. As a
symbol . . .
a skull and crossbones represent
danger.
Literary Devices
Symbols
Read the passage. Then, answer the questions.
Mr. Badu created many jobs and donated
millions of dollars to local nonprofit
organizations. To honor his contributions,
Mayor Cohen presented him with the
keys to the city.
Literary Devices
Quick Check
The boat slowed as it neared the shore.
Overhead, the full moon shone like a spotlight, sending beams dancing along the
ripples.
Identify the
imagery,
dialect, and
symbols.
[End of Section]
Figurative Language
Writers often use figures of speechexpressions
that are not literally true but suggest similarities
between usually unrelated things.
Figurative Language
Here are some figures of speech that you will find
in your reading:
Similes
Metaphors
Personification
speaks of a nonhuman or
inanimate thing as if it had human
or lifelike qualities.
Figurative Language
Similes
Similes compare two unlike objects using a word of
comparison, such as like, than, as, or resembles.
Youssef shot up
like a rocket as
he went for the
basket.
Figurative Language
Metaphors
Metaphors compare unlike things directly, without
using a specific word of comparison.
Figurative Language
Personification
Personification speaks of a nonhuman or nonliving
thing as if it had human or lifelike qualities.
The moonlight
danced along
the water.
Figurative Language
Idioms
Idioms are expressions that mean something
different from the literal meanings of the words.
The actor hid
nothing from her
fans. Her life, you
might say, was an
open book.
How does the idiom express the idea that nothing is
hidden?
Figurative Language
Quick Check
Christian was upset when his mother
told him his room smelled like an old
running shoe.
How can you say that, Mom? he
asked, his face a question mark. Im as
neat as a tack.
Identify the
similes,
metaphor, and
personification.
Irony
Another aspect of a writers style is ironywhat
happens when reality contradicts what we expect.
For example, we expect a
tiger to be a dangerous
beast stalking its prey . . .
not a pet relaxing in a
monks lap.
Irony
There are three types of irony:
irony
dramatic irony
verbal irony
situational irony
Irony
Verbal irony occurs when we say one thing but
mean something else. Often, the speakers tone,
or attitude, is key to the meaning.
Irony
With situational irony, a situation turns out to be
the opposite of what we would expect.
For example, we
expect to find a
kitten peering at
fish in a fishbowl.
We certainly dont
expect to find that
kitten in the bowl!
Irony
Dramatic irony occurs when we know something
that a character does not know.
Its really
quiet around
here today.
Irony
Quick Check
Yeah? grumbled the police officer behind
the desk.
Im . . . ah . . . here to . . . ah . . . pick up
my brother, Joshua Taylor, the woman said
nervously.
Which type of
irony does
this passage
contain?
[End of Section]
Style 2
The End