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Literary Devices in Narratives
 
A narrative is some kind of retelling, often in words of something 
that happened. 
 The narrative is not the story itself but rather the telling of the 
story -- which is why it is so often used in phrases such as "written 
narrative," "oral narrative," etc. 
Narratives thus shape history (the series of events, the story of 
what happened). 
Narratives
Literary Devices 
 
A Literary Device is a technique that shapes 
narrative to produce an effect on the reader.
PLOT DEVICE - A plot device is an object, a character or a concept introduced into the 
story by the author to advance its plot. 
 
 A Plot Twist is any unexpected turn of the story that gives a new view on its 
entire topic. A plot twist at the end of the story is called a twist ending. 
 A Flashing Arrow is a technique used to focus the reader's, but not the 
characters', attention on an object or a location that will be important later 
in the story.
 A Red Herring is a plot device that distracts the reader's attention from the 
plot twists that are important for the story. It is used to maintain tension and 
uncertainty. 
 
 A Deathtrap is a plot device that the villain uses to try to kill the protagonist 
and satisfy his own sadistic desires. 
 A Comic Book Death is a technique makes a major character die or 
disappears 'for forever', but character re-appears later in the story.
 Dark and Stormy Night is a cliché-like opening that usually 
includes darkness, violent lightning  
and a general mood of 
solitude. is a cliché-like opening that usually includes darkness, 
violent lightning and a general mood of solitude. 
Reverse Chronology is technique where begins at the end and 
works back toward the beginning. 
In medias res is a literary technique where the narrative starts in 
the middle of the story instead of from its beginning. The 
characters, setting, and conflict are often introduced through a 
series of flashbacks.
Visions 
Characters share with the reader visions of the past or the future in order to explain a 
character's motives or certain plot twists. 
 
 A Dream Sequence is a series of dreams which allow a character to see events that 
occur or have occurred in another time. 
 Analepsis (flashback) presents events previous to the current time frame. Flashbacks 
are usually presented as characters' memories and are used to explain their 
backgrounds and the back-story.
Visions 
Characters share with the reader visions of the past or the future in order to explain a 
character's motives or certain plot twists. 
 A Dream Sequence is a series of dreams which allow a character to see events that 
 
occur or have occurred in another time. 
 Analepsis (flashback) presents events previous to the current time frame. 
Flashbacks are usually presented as characters' memories and are used to explain 
their backgrounds and the back-story. 
 Prolepsis (flash-forward) presents events that will occur in the future. 
 Prophecy is often used science fiction to underline their futuristic structure. 
 Foreshadowing is a premonition, much like a flash-forward, but only hints at the future.
 
Finales 
There are several patterns for story endings: 
 A Cliff-hanger is an abrupt ending that leaves the plot incomplete , without 
denouement. It often leaves characters in a precarious or difficult situation which 
hint at the possibility of a sequel. 
 A Twist Ending is an unexpected finale that gives an entirely new vision on the 
entire plot. It is a powerful technique but it can leave the reader dissatisfied and 
frustrated.
 
Finales 
 A Happy Ending is a finale when everything ends in the best way for the hero. 
 Poetic Justice is a type of a happy ending where the virtue is rewarded and the vice is 
punished. 
 Deus ex machina a plot device dating back to ancient Greek theatre, where the 
conflict is resolved through a means (by god, deus) that seem unrelated to the 
story. This allows the author to end the story as desired without following the 
logic and continuity of the story.

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Literary Devices in Narratives

  • 2.  A narrative is some kind of retelling, often in words of something that happened.  The narrative is not the story itself but rather the telling of the story -- which is why it is so often used in phrases such as "written narrative," "oral narrative," etc. Narratives thus shape history (the series of events, the story of what happened). Narratives
  • 3. Literary Devices  A Literary Device is a technique that shapes narrative to produce an effect on the reader.
  • 4. PLOT DEVICE - A plot device is an object, a character or a concept introduced into the story by the author to advance its plot.   A Plot Twist is any unexpected turn of the story that gives a new view on its entire topic. A plot twist at the end of the story is called a twist ending.  A Flashing Arrow is a technique used to focus the reader's, but not the characters', attention on an object or a location that will be important later in the story.
  • 5.  A Red Herring is a plot device that distracts the reader's attention from the plot twists that are important for the story. It is used to maintain tension and uncertainty.   A Deathtrap is a plot device that the villain uses to try to kill the protagonist and satisfy his own sadistic desires.  A Comic Book Death is a technique makes a major character die or disappears 'for forever', but character re-appears later in the story.
  • 6.  Dark and Stormy Night is a cliché-like opening that usually includes darkness, violent lightning  and a general mood of solitude. is a cliché-like opening that usually includes darkness, violent lightning and a general mood of solitude. Reverse Chronology is technique where begins at the end and works back toward the beginning. In medias res is a literary technique where the narrative starts in the middle of the story instead of from its beginning. The characters, setting, and conflict are often introduced through a series of flashbacks.
  • 7. Visions Characters share with the reader visions of the past or the future in order to explain a character's motives or certain plot twists.   A Dream Sequence is a series of dreams which allow a character to see events that occur or have occurred in another time.  Analepsis (flashback) presents events previous to the current time frame. Flashbacks are usually presented as characters' memories and are used to explain their backgrounds and the back-story.
  • 8. Visions Characters share with the reader visions of the past or the future in order to explain a character's motives or certain plot twists.  A Dream Sequence is a series of dreams which allow a character to see events that  occur or have occurred in another time.  Analepsis (flashback) presents events previous to the current time frame. Flashbacks are usually presented as characters' memories and are used to explain their backgrounds and the back-story.  Prolepsis (flash-forward) presents events that will occur in the future.  Prophecy is often used science fiction to underline their futuristic structure.  Foreshadowing is a premonition, much like a flash-forward, but only hints at the future.
  • 9.  Finales There are several patterns for story endings:  A Cliff-hanger is an abrupt ending that leaves the plot incomplete , without denouement. It often leaves characters in a precarious or difficult situation which hint at the possibility of a sequel.  A Twist Ending is an unexpected finale that gives an entirely new vision on the entire plot. It is a powerful technique but it can leave the reader dissatisfied and frustrated.
  • 10.  Finales  A Happy Ending is a finale when everything ends in the best way for the hero.  Poetic Justice is a type of a happy ending where the virtue is rewarded and the vice is punished.  Deus ex machina a plot device dating back to ancient Greek theatre, where the conflict is resolved through a means (by god, deus) that seem unrelated to the story. This allows the author to end the story as desired without following the logic and continuity of the story.