The document outlines key literary devices, elements, and techniques essential for understanding creative non-fiction. Key elements include plot, character, conflict, setting, theme, and point of view, each contributing to storytelling. It also explains literary techniques such as figurative language, sound devices, and symbols that enhance writing and meaning.

1. "LITERARY
DEVICES,
ELEMENTS &
TECHNIQUES"
Creative Non-Fiction​

2. LITERARY DEVICES
Literary devices are common
structures in writing that make
up the components of literature.
We use these devices to help us
interpret and analyze literary
works.

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LITERARY ELEMENTS
Literary elements are the essential parts of
storytelling that are found in almost all types
of literary and narrative writing.
The following are all literary elements: plot,
character, conflict, setting, theme and point
of view.

4. Plot
The plot is how the author arranges events to develop his
basic idea. It is the sequence of events in a story or play. The
plot is a planned, logical series of events having a beginning,
middle, and end. There are five essential parts to the plot:
introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.
A.) Introduction - The beginning of the story where the
characters and the setting are revealed. The introduction can
also be called the exposition.
B.) Rising Action - This is the part of the story were a conflict
is revealed (called the inciting force) and becomes more
pronounced as the story progresses. The rising action is all
the events between the introduction and the climax.

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C.) Climax - This is the highest point of interest, the
turning point of the story or the moment of greatest
suspense. The reader wonders what will happen next;
will the conflict be resolved or not?
D.) Falling Action - At this point the events and
complications begin to resolve themselves. The falling
action is all of the events between the climax and
resolution.
E.) Resolution - This is the final outcome or untangling of
events in the story. The resolution may also be called the
denouement.

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The plot can only exist with characters. The main character is placed
in a situation that contains a problem he or she must overcome;
therefore, conflict exists.Most stories also have minor characters who
either help or hinder the main character's attempt to solve the
conflict. There can be many different types of characters within a
story.
Character

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A.) Protagonist - The main or central character
B.) Antagonist - This character opposes the protagonist.
Often, he or she is an opponent to the main character.
C.) Round (Dynamic) Characters - A character affected by
the events of the story. These characters are usually fully
developed in terms of personality. They are described in
more detail and their personalities emerge more fully.
Round characters usually become enlightened, learn,
grow, or deteriorate by the end of the story.

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D.) Flat Character - A character who doesn't go
through a change. These characters are usually one-
dimensional.
E.) Stereotyped Characters - A character who is so
well known that little has to be said about him/her.
These characters are immediately recognizable
because of the role he/she plays. Examples - the
strong silent gunfighter, the nerd, the beautiful
international spy, the mad scientist.

9. Conflicts
Conflict is essential to plot. Without conflict, there is no plot. Conflict
does not involve just arguments, but rather it is any form of opposition
that faces the main character.Within a short story there may be only
one central struggle, or there may be one dominant struggle with
many minor ones. Conflicts can either be internal or external.
External - A struggle with a force outside one's self. For example, an
issue with another person, a complication of circumstances, or a
struggle with the ideals of society.
Internal - A struggle within the character’s self. For example, a decision
has to be made, pain has to be overcome, anger has to be overcome,
or temptation has to be resisted.

10. There are 4 Different Types of Conflicts:
1.) Character vs. Person - The leading character struggles with his or
her physical strength against other characters, forces of nature, or
animals.
2.) Character vs. Circumstances - The leading character struggles
against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her.
3.) Character vs. Society - The leading character struggles against
ideas, practices, or customs of other people.
4.) Character vs. Self - The leading character struggles with
himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical
limitations, choices, etc.

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Setting
The time (when) and location (where) in which a story takes place is
called the setting.
A.)Place - Geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking
place?
B.)Time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day,
year,)
C.)Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?
D.) Social conditions – What is the character's daily life like? Is the
character influenced by particular customs or mannerisms of a place?
E.) Mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of
the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

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Theme
A theme is the author's underlying meaning,
message or main idea that he is trying to convey.
The theme may be the author's thoughts about a
topic such as life, society or his/her view of human
nature. Themes often explore timeless and
universal ideas and may be implied rather than
stated explicitly. The title of the story usually points
to the theme.

13. Point of View
Point of view is the angle from which the story is told.
Although every story has a point of view, the type used
is up to the author. The person or voice telling the
story is called the narrator and there are two common
ways to tell a short story:
First person narration - The story is told by the
protagonist or another character who is part of the
action (using I, me, we, etc).
Third person narration - The story is told by someone
who is not part of the action (using he, she, it, they
etc).

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A narrator, 1st or 3rd person, can be:
Limited narration - The narrator only knows what
he/she experiences or learns about in some way -
the narrator's knowledge grows as the story
unfolds; at times, the reader may know more than
the narrator.
Omniscient narration - The "all knowing" narrator
knows all of the details about events, characters,
etc. and reveals them to the reader as the story
unfolds.

15. LITERARY
TECHNIQUES
Literary techniques are tools that an author may
choose to use to enhance their writing and to
convey meaning in a certain way. Figurative
language and sound devices are examples of
literary techniques.

16. FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
Figurative language is the use of figures of speech, which are
words or phrases that depart from everyday literal language in
order to compare or to add emphasis and clarity.Authors use
figurative language to add interest and to evoke certain feelings
in their readers. There are many different types of figurative
language that authors may choose to use in their writing.

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Allusion is a reference within a work to something famous outside it,
such as a well-known person, place, event, story, or work of art.
Example: My love of sweets is my Achilles heel.
An Apostrophe is when an absent or dead person or thing is spoken
to as if it is present and able to understand.
Example: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.
A cliché is a word or phrase that has become overly familiar or
commonplace. Example: No pain, no gain.
Hyperbole is an exaggeration or overstatement.
Example: I have a million things to do today!

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Idioms are an expression that does not mean what it literally says.
Example: It is raining cats and dogs outside!
Imagery is the use of vivid descriptive language, usually rich in sensory
words that evokes one or all of the five senses (seeing, hearing, tasting,
smelling, touching), to create pictures, or images, in the reader's mind.
Example: The crisp white snow floated down through the dark night sky.
Irony refers to some sort of inconsistency between what is expected and
what actually happens. There are three different types of irony: Verbal
irony occurs when the opposite is said from what is really intended
(sarcasm) Example: "Wasn't that a smart move!” Dramatic irony occurs
when there is a contrast between what a character says and what the
reader knows to be true. Situational irony occurs when the outcome of a
situation is significantly different from what is expected or considered
appropriate.

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A metaphor is a comparison of two unlike things using the
verb "to be" (am, are, was, were). Example: That test was a
breeze.
Metonymy is substituting a word for another word closely
associated with it. Example: The pen is mightier than the
sword.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two
opposing or contradictory ideas. Example: Jumbo Shrimp,
organized chaos, same difference.A paradox is a statement
which is self-contradictory, unreasonable, or illogical
Example: Nobody goes to that restaurant; it is too crowded.

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Personification is giving human qualities to animals or
objects. Example: The wind whistled as it blew
throughout the forest.
A simile is the comparison of two unlike things using like
or as. Example: The girl was as bright as the sun.
Synecdoche is a statement that selects a part of a group
to explain a whole group. Example: The alphabet is often
referred to as the ABC’s.
An understatement is a figure of speech in which a
writer or a speaker deliberately makes a situation seem
less important or serious than it is.
Example: Saying "It's just a scratch," when there is a huge
dent.

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SOUND DEVICES
Sound devices are techniques or tools that
writers can use to add meaning and emphasis to
writing through the use of sound. There are a
number of different types of sound devices.
Alliteration is the repetition of the initial letters
or sounds in a series of words Example: Peter
Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Assonance is a repetition of vowel sounds in
words or phrases that create a rhythm. Example:
The man with the tan was a great fan.

22. Consonance is the repetition of the same consonant two
or more times in a line Example: Pitter patter went the feet
of the little animals.
Dissonance is the use of harsh-sounding or unusual
words that create a disturbing effect and catches the
reader's attention by interrupting the rhythm of words.
Example: I hate being sick because causes are usually
unknown.
Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound of the
word as it is read. Example: buzz, thump, pop, hiss, gush,
kerplunk.
A pun is a play on words that relies on a word having more
than one meaning or sounding like another word.
Example: I wondered why the ball was getting bigger.

23. Other Literary Techniques Include:
Diction - Refers to an author’s word choice. Word choice can be formal,
informal, colloquial or slang.
A.) Formal diction is usually found in academic texts, academic papers and
formal discussion.
B.) Informal diction is relaxed conversation and is found in writing that has a
lighter tone and is sometimes humorous.
C.) Colloquial diction or jargon is the everyday usage of a particular group
of people. Example: the word choice of people from a certain profession or
area.
D.) Slang is defined as a newly coined word not accepted for formal usage

24. Flashback - Is when an author reveals an event that took place in the past.
Foil - Is a character who is meant to represent characteristics, values or ideas
which are opposite to another character (usually the protagonist).
Foreshadowing - Is a when the author gives hints or clues to suggest what
will happen as the story progresses.
Symbolism - Symbolism refers to when a symbol, such as an object, color,
person or place, is used to represent an abstract idea or concept. A red rose
for example, is not just a rose but a symbol of love and beauty. A dove is not
just a bird, but also a symbol of peace.
Motif - Is a recurring important idea, structure or image. it is different from a
theme because it can be expressed as a single word or phrase. For example,
comparing a person’s stages of life to seasons of the year.
Tone - Refers to the general atmosphere created in a story, or the author’s or
narrator’s attitude toward the story or the subject.