Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE URDANETA CITY
LYCEUM-NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Nancayasan, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

Quarter 3 - Module 1
Creative Non-Fiction

LITERARY ELEMENTS AND TECHNIQUES

Literary elements are important components of any narrative fiction and nonfiction. They help any
reader uncover the meaning of a text. In fiction, poetry, drama and other types, these elements lead
readers to the right interpretation of the meaning of the texts as intended by the writer.

Below are some basic types of literary elements found in different genres in literature.

A. Setting – identifies the time, place and even social climate used in the text.
B. Atmosphere – determines the kind of emetion/s that readers get from a narrative based on
details such as setting, background, objects, and foreshadowing.
C. Plot – describes the arrangement of events in a narrative crafted by the writer.
Parts:
a) Exposition – the part where characters, situations, and setting are introduced.
b) Rising Action – the point of the story where the conflict is stated which is an event, situation,
or circumstances that stirs up a stable situation
c) Climax – the central moment of crisis in a story
d) Falling Action – the part of the story which demonstrates the consequences of the climax.
e) Resolution or denouement – the part of the story which shows the end of the conflict
D. Point of View – reveals the stance from which the story is told.
Types:
1.) First Person POV – uses the pronoun “I or We”. The narrator may be either a major
character or a minor character who shares the events in the story.
2.) Second Person POV – uses the pronoun “You”. Its purpose is to make the readers feel that
they are part of the story.
3.) Third Person POV – uses a non-participant narrator. The author takes on the role of the
narrator.
E. Conflict – refers to the problem or issue presented in the text.
F. Character – the person who inhabits a story which possesses personalities and qualities.
G. Theme – refers to the central idea which the author wants to convey which can be explicitly or
indirectly written and is shown to the readers through various ways in the text.
H. Tone – denotes the apparent emotional state and attitude of the speaker/narrator/narrative
voice as conveyed through the language of the piece.
Literary Techniques

Literary techniques are structures in a form of a word or phrases in literary texts that writers use to
help their readers achieve greater understanding and appreciation of their work.
Below are some common types of literary techniques in various genres:

A. Foreshadowing – the tool to help readers hint what is to come, or one possible outcome in the
story
B. Repetition – the manner of repeating specific words, phrases or structures several times in the
text to emphasize a particular idea
C. Irony – the use of words to mean the opposite of their actual meanings and present a difference
between the appearance of the expectation and the reality of the outcome.
D. Parallelism – the use of similar of identical language, structures, events or ideas in different
parts of a text
E. Imagery – the use of sensory language to help readers visualize the details found in the text
F. Figurative language – refers to the use of language that differs from the usual order and
meaning to express a complex meaning, creative writing, clarity or suggestive comparison

More Specific Types of Figurative Language

Simile – a type of figurative language which demonstrates an indirect relationship of one thing or idea to
another with the use of “as” or “like”.
ex. My new roommate is an curious as a cat; nothing escapes her attention.

Metaphor – a type of figurative language which shows the direct relationship of one thing or idea with
another.
ex. Love is a battlefield

Personification – a type of figurative language which uses human thoughts, actions and perceptions and
attributes them with inanimate objects or concepts.
ex. Because I could not stop for Death-He kindly stopped for me.

Hyperbole – a type of figurative language established by exaggerating a fact or truth for the sake of
emphasis and rhetorical effect.
ex. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Paradox – a type of figurative language which is used to express an opinion or statement opposing
accepted traditional ideas.

Allusion – a type of figurative language which is a concise and implicit reference to a person, place, thing
or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
ex. The rise in poverty will unlock the Pandora’s box of crimes.
*an association to Greek mythology’s Pandora’s box

Metonymy – a type of figurative language which uses substitution or replacement of the name of a
concrete object or thing that is closely associated or connected with a word or concept for the word or
concept itself.
ex. Crown – for monarch hand – for help
Oxymoron – a type of figurative language containing words that seem to contradict each other.
ex. Foolish wisdom living dead small crowd

Eponym – a type of figurative language which uses reference to the name of a person or deity
commonly associated with some famous traits.
ex. Hercules – for strength