Literary Devices
What are literary devices What are literary devices? Literary devices are techniques writers use to engage their readers beyond the literal meaning of the text.
Alliteration Repetition of the same beginning sound in a sequence. Examples : Drew drew Drew Reshetar rides rollercoasters drowning in debt a sea of sea shells
Hyperbole A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. An extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally. Examples: I waited an eternity for summer to get here! He could have slept for a year. This book weighs a ton. Listen to the hyperbole of the next poem by Jack Prelutsky.
Imagery Descriptive words or phrases that appeal to the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell- creating a picture in the reader’s mind. What is the mental picture or image you are left with after reading the passage from “The Most Dangerous Game”
“He leaped upon the rail and balanced himself there, to get greater elevation; his pipe, striking a rope, was knocked from his mouth. He lunged for it; a short, hoarse cry came from his lips as he realized he had reached too far and had lost his balance. The cry was pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea closed over his head.” “He struggle up to the surface and tried to cry out, but the wash from the speeding yacht slapped him in the face and the salt water in his open mouth made him gag.” “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell Imagery
Metaphor A figure of speech in which two things are compared, usually by saying one thing is another, or by substituting a more descriptive word for the more common or usual word that would be expected. Examples : the world's a stage he was a lion in battle drowning in debt a sea of troubles.
metaphor God looked around His garden And saw an empty space He then looked down upon this Earth And saw your tired face He knew that you were suffering He knew you were in pain He knew that you would never Get well on Earth again He knew the roads were getting rough The mountains hard to climb So he puts his arms around you and Whispered Peace be Thine He closed your weary eyelids And lifted you for rest This garden must be beautiful He only takes the best Written by an anonymous teenager. metaphor
Onomatopoeia A figure of speech in which words are used to imitate sounds. Examples : crash buzz quack zoom
Personification A figure of speech in which things or ideas are given human attributes. Examples : Dead leaves dance in the wind Blind justice Winter wrapped her cold fingers around me
Repetition A word or line that is repeated, usually to evoke an emotion or create a rhythm.
“There were so many important moments “There were so many important moments. If I’d missed the ticket, I wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t gone to the show, I wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t stuck around to see what Steve was up to, I wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t stolen Madam Octa, I wouldn’t be here. If I’d said no to Mr. Crepsley’s offer, I wouldn’t be here. A world of “ifs”, but it made no difference. What was done was done. If I could go back in time…” ~Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan Repetition
Simile A figure of speech in which two things are compared using the word “like” or “as”. Examples : She felt like a wilted flower. The boy charged in the room like a bull! This class is like a 3 ring circus!
SimiLe Kenn Nesbitt The aliens have landed! It’s distressing, but they’re here. They piloted their flying saucer Through our atmosphere. They landed like a meteor Engulfed in smoke and flame. Then out they climbed immersed in slime And burbled as they came. Their hands are greasy tentacles. Their heads are weird machines. Their bodies look like cauliflower And smell like dead sardines. Their blood is liquid helium. Their eyes are made of granite. Their breath exudes the stench of foods From some unearthly planet. And if you want to see these Sickly, unattractive creatures, You’ll find them working in your school; They all got jobs as teachers! SimiLe Kenn Nesbitt
Pun: The use of a word in a way that plays on its different meanings Pun: The use of a word in a way that plays on its different meanings. Example: Noticing the bunch of bananas, the hungry gorilla went ape. I recently spent money on detergent to unclog my kitchen sink. It was money down the drain.
Characterization Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character. The character can be described directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts, and speech of the character. Example: Michael Corleone was not jus' a mafiaso, but a family man. A man who walked the knife's edge to preserve his sanity.
tone The tone of a literary work is the perspective or attitude that the author adopts with regards to a specific character, place or development. Tone can portray a variety of emotions ranging from solemn, grave, and critical to witty, wry and humorous. Tone helps the reader determine the writer’s feelings towards a particular topic and this in turn influences the reader’s understanding of the story. Example: In her Harry Potter series, author J.K. Rowling has taken an extremely positive, inspiring and uplifting tone towards the idea of love and devotion
theme The theme is the lesson or moral that the author wants the reader to take away from the story. The theme links all aspects of the literary work with one another and is basically the main subject. THEME IS A STATEMENT Example: One theme in the play Romeo and Juliet was “love makes people do crazy things”.
Symbolism:. The use of one thing to represent another Symbolism: The use of one thing to represent another. Example: A dove is a symbol of peace. The donkey symbolizes The elephant symbolize The flag the Democratic Party. the Republican Party. represents freedom.
Idiom Idioms are phrases or expressions that have hidden meanings. The expressions don't mean exactly what the words say. NOT LITERAL The language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class : dialect Example: It’s raining cats and dogs. Things got a little out of hand. Does the cat have your tongue.
Irony Verbal- Language that conveys a certain idea by saying just the opposite. Example: sarcasm Situational- when the opposite of what is expected happens Example: You beg your parents to let you have a kitten, then you discover you’re deathly allergic to them. Dramatic- when the reader know something that the character does not know
Allusion Reference to a statement, person, place, event, or thing that is known from mythology, the bible, culture, or history Examples: "Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities".
Paradox A seeming contradiction. Examples: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” “You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim.” “Be cruel to be kind.”-from Hamlet by Shakespeare "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." (C.S. Lewis to his godchild, Lucy Barfield, to whom he dedicated The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Satire Most political cartoons in newspapers and magazines A work that makes fun of something or someone. Examples: “Weekend Update” from Saturday Night Live Most political cartoons in newspapers and magazines