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198 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

TRM Handout: Some Literary Techniques and
Elements SOME LITERARY TECHNIQUES AND ELEMENTS
Techniques Elements
Imagery connotation, allusion, personification, simile, motif
Contrast irony, juxtaposition, paradox, antithesis, imagery
Comparison simile, metaphor, conceit, image, allusion, symbol
Narration point of view, perspective, speaker, tone
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
Pacing sentence structure, flashback, foreshadowing, suspense, pause, variety
Emphasis subordination, coordination, cumulative sentence, periodic sentence, rhetorical
question, exaggeration, repetition, simple sentence, fragment
Balance coordination, parallelism, coordinating conjunction, repetition
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misstep by organizing your analysis with focused reasons related to your unifying
idea and insight.
While an argument must have a line of reasoning, the writer may choose
whether to preview the line of reasoning in the thesis statement. Review the fol-
lowing examples of defensible thesis statements that omit and include a stated pre-
view of the line of reasoning:

Sample Thesis
Statements Notes Regarding Line of Reasoning Preview
In his poem “Sonnet Defensible thesis with no stated line of reasoning:
73,” Shakespeare
compares the speaker This thesis refers to a technique (comparison) and
includes an interpretation (love grows stronger with the
to objects near death threat of loss); however, it does not directly state the
to suggest that love
grows stronger with line of reasoning that will guide the body paragraphs.
the threat of loss. Even so, the writer may successfully develop the literary
argument with this thesis by stating the reasons in the
topic sentences for the subsequent body paragraphs.
In his poem “Sonnet Defensible thesis with a stated line of reasoning:
73,” William
Shakespeare compares This thesis focuses on one unifying strategy (comparison)
the aging speaker to and includes an interpretation (love grows stronger with
objects that were once the threat of loss). This writer indicates a line of reasoning
youthful but are now by further breaking down the qualities in the comparison
near death to support subjects into two categories: (1) once youthful and
the speaker’s final (2) near death. The writer’s thesis suggests a line of
revelation that love reasoning that focuses first on details related to youth
grows stronger with and then on details related to death. The order of these
justifications is effective as well because life precedes
the threat of loss.
death, and the speaker’s revelation at the end of the
poem is a response to impending death. By developing a
body paragraph for each of these observations, the writer
can support the thesis and develop the literary argument.

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198 Unit 2 Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

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