Literary Techniques

Definition: A literary technique or literary device is and identifiable rule, convention or structure that is employed in literature and storytelling.

Symbolism: Is to use a object or picture to represent an idea. It has to be something you cant touch.
EXAMPLE: In the movie “Pocahontas”, the wind is symbolic because it represents the spirit of Pocahontas and her mother’s disease. It is also a symbol of peace and coexistence.

Foreshadowing: Something is the future is predicted in the story. Has to have hints and can’t be too obvious.
EXAMPLE: In the movie “Cinderella”, the look of anger that the evil step mother gives to Cinderella, foreshadows that she is going to do something evil.

Flashback: Is when, in the middle of the plot, the plot pauses and goes to an earlier time. These give you more info about a character or story.
EXAMPLE: In the movie “The Lion King”, Simba has a flashback of when he was little and his father died.

Atmosphere: It’s how the setting makes you feel (Ex. If the character is sad it may rain). It does not refer to character, only to the setting.
EXAMPLE: In the movie “An Extremely Goofy Movie”, Goofy’s son leaves for college and leaves his childhood back in his house. Because his father is sad the house is really sad.

Plot Twist: Is when something unexpected happens, but there must had been clues.
EXAMPLE:In the movie “Bambi”, you see that a fawn is with his mother and then her mother saw some hunters, and they ran but suddenly they shot the mother.