Name:_________________________________________Date:______________________Block:______
The Scarlet Letter
Literary Devices
Notes
Figurative Language
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o Examples:
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Imagery
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Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Hyperbole
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 The bright yellow sun hurt our eyes.
 The soft glow of the candle flickered like a firefly dancing in the wind.
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 The loud roar of the crowd sounded like a beast.
 The soft whisper of her dainty voice tickled his ears.
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 The room reeked of month old rancid milk.
 The smell of spring filled our nostrils as the freshly cut flowers were placed on the
mantle.
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 The sweet bread was laden with thick honey.
 The tarts and sweet pies tantalized the tongue with a myriad of tangy flavors.
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 The smoothness of the bird's feathers reminded him of rose petals.
 He considered that the volcano's heat on his skin was the equivalent of being inside of
an oven.
Tone
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Diction – _________________________________________________________________________
Mood
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Characterization
 Characterization
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Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.
 Direct Characterization
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 Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well-mannered and did not disobey their
mother.”
 Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children.
The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
 Indirect Characterization
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There are five different methods of indirect characterization:
 ______________________ - What does the character say? How does the character speak?
 ______________________ - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and
feelings?
 __________________________________________________. - What is revealed through the
character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the
character?
 ______________________ - What does the character do? How does the character behave?
 ______________________ - What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Juxtaposition
 Juxtaposition
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 EXAMPLE: William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet
 We notice the juxtaposition of “light and “darkness” repeatedly. Consider an example from
Act I: Scene V:
 “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear;”
 Here, the radiant face of Juliet is juxtaposed with a black African’s dark skin. Romeo admires
Juliet by saying that her face seems brighter than brightly lit torches in the hall. He says that at
night her face glows like a bright jewel that shines against the dark skin of an African.
Symbolism
 Symbolism
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 Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an
entirely different meaning much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action,
an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a
symbol of friendship. Similarly, the action of someone smiling at you may stand as a symbol of
the feel of affection which that this person has for you.
 Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. “A chain”, for
example, may stand for “union” as well as “imprisonment”. Thus, symbolic meanings of an
object or an action are understood by when, where and how they are used. It also depends on
who reads them.
Common Examples of Symbolism
 In our daily life, we can easily identify objects, which are treated as symbols. Let us have a look at some
common examples:
 Dove is a symbol of _________________________.
 Red rose or red color stands for _________________________ or
_________________________ (but it can also be a symbol of _________________________ or
_________________________).
 Black color is a symbol that represents _________________________ or
_________________________.
 A ladder may stand as a symbol for a _________________________ between the heaven and
the earth.
 A broken mirror may symbolize _________________________
Dialogue
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 It gives literature a more natural, conversational flow, which makes it more readable and enjoyable. By
showcasing human interaction, dialogue prevents literature from being nothing more than a list of
descriptions and actions.
 Dialogue varies in _________________________ and _________________________ depending on the
people participating in the conversation and the _________________________ that the author is
trying to maintain in his or her writing.