Literary Elements

“The Black Cat”

Irony

Verbal Irony

Verbal Irony

• When a speaker says one thing but means another (similar to sarcasm)

• When a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect

BE QUIET!

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic Irony

• Listener or audience understand words or actions that the speaker or character does not

• Adds suspense or humor

Senator Palpatine = Evil

4,5,6 (old Star Wars) 1,2,3 (new Star Wars)

Situational Irony

Situational Irony

• When the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect

Symbol

• Something that on the surface is its literal self but which also has another meaning or even several meanings.

• A symbol may be said to embody an idea.

Universal Symbols

• Embody universally recognizable meanings wherever used

Constructed Symbols

• Are given symbolic meaning by the way an author uses them in a literary work

Mood

• The emotional quality or atmosphere of a story– Can suggest a specific emotion or quality of

setting– Created by descriptive language, figures of

speech, word choice

Suspense

• A feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, or even dread about what is going to happen next– Writers increase suspense by giving readers

clues as to what might happen.

Foreshadowing

• Author’s use of clues to prepare readers for events that will happen later in the story