LITERARY ELEMENTS

Pre-AP English II

PARADOXA paradox is a statement or situation containing apparently contradictory or incompatible elements but upon closer inspection might be true.

For example:

Bittersweet

Wise fool

ALLEGORY Allegory a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation.

For example: Animal Farm by George Orwell…

This is an allegory that uses animals on

a farm to describe the overthrow of the

last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and

the Communist Revolution of Russia

before WW II. The actions of

the animals on the farm are

used to expose the greed

and corruption of the revolution.

It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALLEGORY AND SYMBOLISM?

Although an allegory uses symbols, it is different from a symbolism. An allegory is a complete narrative, which involves characters, and events that stand for an abstract idea or an event. A symbol, on the other hand, is an object that stands for another object giving it a particular

meaning. Unlike an allegory, a symbol

is not a story.

PARABLE

A parable is a simple story illustrating

a moral or religious lesson.

For example, Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal Son

“…but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

PARABLE

SATIRE

Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. It intends to improve the humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles. A writer in a satire uses fictional character, which stands for real people to expose and condemn their corruption.

Satire in everyday Life

Most political cartoons are examples of satire. These cartoons criticize some recent actions of political figures in a comical way.

BELL RINGER: Allusion, pun, idiom? 1. He got the lion’s share of the snacks. 2. She put her foot in her mouth 3. You are such a good Samaritan! 4. Did you hear about the guy whose

whole left side was cut off? He’s all right now.

5. You’re a chip off the old block!

BELL RINGER: Allusion, pun, idiom? 1.Northeast High School, the Garden of

Eden 2.I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I

got over it.   Simile, metaphor, allusion? 3.hungry as a wolf 4. you are the sun 5. He is Hercules!

BELL RINGER: Simile, Metaphor, Allusion? 1. My love is like a red, red rose 2. he is a Benedict Arnold! 3. Life ain’t no crystal staircase 4. My love is a red, red rose. 5.  You are acting as if he walked on

water.