Narrative device Definition Example from ​Ready Overall effect on the

Player One novel

Narrative voice The perspective from

which the story is told.

Diction (use of Pronouns are ​a word

pronouns for that can function as a
names) noun phrase used by
itself and that refers
either to the
participants in the
discourse (e.g. I, you )
or to someone or
something mentioned
elsewhere in the
discourse (e.g. she, it,
this ).

Diction the choice and use of

(advanced vocab) words and phrases in
speech or writing that
are advanced, obscure,
etc.

Diction Repeated words or

(repetition) phrases.

Diction (choice a word used to

of verbs) describe an action,
state, or occurrence,
and forming the main
part of the predicate of
a sentence, such as
hear, become, happen

Diction (choice a word naming an

of adjectives) attribute of a noun,
such as sweet, red, or
technical

Syntax (Sentence Sentence fragments are

fragments) groups of words that
look like sentences, but
 aren't. To be a
sentence, groups of
words need to have at
least one independent
clause.

Syntax Lack of/unusual using

(Lack of/unusual of the marks, such as
use of full stop, comma, and
punctuation) brackets, used in
writing to separate
sentences and their
elements and to clarify
meaning

Symbols A figure of speech

where an object,
person, or situation
has another meaning
other than its literal
meaning. The actions
of a character, word,
action, or event that
have a deeper meaning
in the context of the
whole story.

Motifs A motif is a recurring

symbol which takes on
a figurative meaning.

Parody An imitation of the

style of a particular
writer, artist, or genre
with deliberate
exaggeration for comic
effect.

Irony The expression of one's

meaning by using
language that normally
signifies the opposite,
typically for humorous
or emphatic effect.
Imagery (similes) a figure of speech
involving the
comparison of one
thing with another
thing of a different
kind, used to make a
description more
emphatic or vivid

Imagery a figure of speech in

(metaphor) which a word or
phrase is applied to an
object or action to
which it is not literally
applicable

Imagery a word naming an

(adjectives) attribute of a noun,
such as sweet, red, or
technical

Imagery (verbs) a word used to

describe an action,
state, or occurrence,
and forming the main
part of the predicate of
a sentence, such as
hear, become, happen

Imagery (sensory Using words that

images) appeal to the five
senses that are: touch,
smell, hear, feel and
taste.

Structure n/a

Structure a scene in a film, novel,

(dreams/flashbac etc. set in a time earlier
ks) than the main story

Dialogue Simple/infrequent/frequ
ent dialogue

Gaps Information that the

author chooses to
 withhold from the
reader

Foreshadowing a literary device in

which a writer gives an
advance hint of what is
to come later in the
story

Intertextuality Intertextuality denotes

the way in which texts
(any text, not just
literature) gain
meaning through their
referencing or
evocation of other
texts.

Contrast an author uses contrast

when he or she
describes the
difference(s) or
compares between two
or more entities

Others?