Comedy Literary Devices Essay Example

Comedy Literary Devices Essay Example Comedy Literary Devices Paper Comedy Literary Devices Paper Essay Topic: Literature Comedy is a literary work, especially a play, which is light, often humorous or satirical, and ends happily Characterization is the device used by an author to develop a character through (1) what that character says and does, ( 2 ) what other people in the story say about him/her and how they react to him/her, and (3) what the author reveals directly or through a narrator. Stereotype character A flat character who possesses expected traits of a group rather than being an individual Flat character A character who is not well developed, not complex Round character A well-developed, complex character Static character A character who does not change throughout the story Dynamic character A character who undergoes a change during the story Foil character A character who is in direct contrast to another character External conflict the struggle of a character against an outside force, such as fate, nature, society, or another person Internal conflict a characters conflict with himself/herself Verbal irony when the speaker or writer says one thing but means something very differentoften opposite of what is said (sarcasm) Situational irony what actually happens is opposite of what is expected or appropriate Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or the reader knows something important that the character does not know Juxtaposition placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast Hyperbole obvious and intentional exaggeration. Understatement The opposite of hyperbole, an understatement says less than is intended. Understatement usually has an ironic effect, and sometimes may be used for comic purposes Oxymoron Two contradictory words used together, as in sweet sorrow, original copy, or jumbo shrimp Alliteration the repetition of the same sounds, such as Sally sells sea shells Onomatopoeia words that sound like what they mean, such as plop Diction The writers choice of words. Diction expresses tone. Tone a writers or speakers attitude toward the subject Theme the underlying message of the story; the central idea behind the story; an expression of the authors attitude Figurative Language Words or phrases that mean something other than what they literally say. Simile Figurative language that makes a comparison between two things, usually using like or as Metaphor Figurative language that makes a comparison between two things without the use of such specific words of comparison as like, as, than, or resembles Personification Figurative language in which an object or animal is given human qualities Farce a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations Satire a type of writing that ridicules the shortcomings of people or instructions in an attempt to bring about a change Foreshadowing the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot Drama a play Allusion a reference to another literary work, a myth, a historical figure or event Fiction An made-up story, whether in prose, poetry, or drama (fake) Non-fiction prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects, or events (not fake) Prose ordinary form of written language, opposite of poetry Poetry written in lines and stanzas, opposite of prose Imagery description that uses any of the 5 senses Mood the emotional feeling of a story, often created through imagery