Some Common Themes of
21st Century Literature
Theme
-main idea or an underlying meaning of a
literary work, which may be stated directly
or indirectly.
-an insight about human life that is revealed
in a literary work.
Techniques
-these are the techniques in literature
employed by writers to create a certain
effect while doing self-expression.
Literary technique
-an identifiable structure that writers
employ to give meanings and framework to
their works through language.
-help readers appreciate, interpret and
analyze the text/s.
21st Century Literary Techniques
Magical Realism
-an approach to literature that weaves
fantasy or magic and myth into everyday
life. “attaching magic to ordinary life”
Pastiche
-combining multiple elements from the
works of other authors but paying homage
to the original. “2 differences and same”
Black Humor
-a style in which dark and heavy or
unpleasant topics are treated lightly.
Paranoia
-is a contemporary literary technique where
the authors creates an atmosphere of
“panic and chase”
Minimalism
-is a postmodern literary technique which
adheres to the belief that less is more. “
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Figures of Thought
-are also called tropes. it refers to change or
turn, in other words, using a word in other
than its literal meaning such as in
comparison. Ex. Simile, Metaphor, Irony.
Figures of Speech
-are also called rhetorical figures or
schemes. Rhetorical figures depart, not
from the literal meaning of the words, but
from the standard usage or order of the
words, thus making a special effort.
Ex. Apostrophe, Antithesis and Rhetorical
Question.
Figures of Sound
-include the sound effect devices, one of
the important resources that enables the
poet to do something more than
communicating mere information.
Ex. Alliteration, Assonance and Consonance.
FIGURES OF SPEECH BASED ON ANALOGY
Tenor- is the subject or idea you are trying
to explain.
Vehicle- is the means by which you explain
it.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
SIMILE
-a stated comparison, usually formed with
“like” “than” or “as” between two
fundamentally dissimilar or unlike things
that have certain qualities in common.
METAPHOR
-an implied comparison between two unlike
things that actually have something
important in common.
Ex. All the world’s a stage.
PERSONIFICATION
-an intimate object, an animal or an idea
that is endowed with human qualities or
abilities.
Ex. That kitchen knife will take a bite out of
your hand if you don’t handle it safely.
ALLUSION
-a reference to or a representation of,
people, places, events, myths or by
implication.
Ex. The rise in poverty will unlock the
Pandora’s box of crimes.
METONYMY
-a word or phrase is substituted for another
with which it is closely associated;
Ex. “That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a
poor excuse for a salesman.” The manager
said angrily.
SYNECDOCHE
-a part is used for the whole, the whole for
a part, the specific for the general, the
general for the specific, or the material
made for the thing made from it.
Ex. Tina is learning her ABC’s in preschool.
RHETORICAL QUESTION
-a question that is asked not to get an
answer, but instead to emphasize a point.
Ex. Why do we allow the media to decide
what is the perfect body shape?
LITOTES
-an ironical understatement in which
affirmative is expressed by the negation of
the opposite.
Ex. A million dollars is no small chunk of
change.
HYPERBOLE
-an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of
emphasis.
Ex. I have a ton of things to do when I get
home.
PARADOX
-a statement that is self-contradictory,
because it often contains two statements
that are both true, but in general, cannot be
true at same time.
Ex. “This is the beginning of the end.”
IRONY
-it is a difference between the appearance
and the reality.
Ex. This explanation is crystal clear.
APOSTROPHE
-someone absent or non-existent person or
thing is addressed as if present and capable
of understanding or replying.
Ex. “Oh, your stupid car, you never work
when I need you to,” Bert sighed.
FIGURED OF SPEECH BASED ON RHETORIC
DELIBERATE RHETORIC
-its aim is to move the hearers or readers to
some action either pro or con about some
publicity policy.
FORENSIC RHETORIC
-prove someone’s guilt or innocence
EPIDEICTIC RHETORIC
-display rhetoric skills at some special
occasion by praising a person or a group.
FIGURES OF SPEECH BASED ON SYNTAX
ANTITHESIS
-the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in
balanced phrases or clauses.
Ex. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Folks who
have no vices have very few virtues.”
CHIASMUS
-two or more clauses related to each other
through a reversal of structures in order to
make a larger point; that is, the clauses
display inverted parallelism.
Ex. The famous chef said people should live
to eat, not eat to live.
OXYMORON
-two opposite sides are joined to create an
effect.
Ex. I let out a silent scream as the cat
walked through the door carrying a dead
bird.
PUN
-a play on words, sometimes on different
sense of the same word and sometimes on
the similar sense or sound of different
words.
Ex. An elephant’s opinion carries a lot of
weight.
ALLITERATION
-the repetition of the initial consonant
sounds of stressed syllables in neighboring
words or at short intervals within a line or
passage.
Ex. She sells seashells by the seashore.
ANAPHORA
-the repetition of a sequence of words at
the beginnings of neighboring clauses,
thereby lending them emphasis.
Ex. Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place
at the wrong time on the wrong day.
ASSONANCE
-the repetition of vowel sounds to create
internal rhyming within phrase or
sentences.
Ex. The engineer held the steering to steer
the vehicle.
CONSONANCE
-the cunning combination or consistency
copied constants.
Ex. The early bird gets the worm.