3. LITERARY DEVICES:
Interesting when you read, useful when you write!
A figure of
speech is a
rhetorical device
that achieves a
special effect by
using words in a
distinctive way.
5. SIMILE
is an expression comparing one thing to
another using the words like or as.
Examples:
He ran like a cat, lightly and
quietly.
Her blue mood passed as quickly
as an afternoon rain shower.
6. METAPHOR
Examples:
He was a statue, waiting to hear
the news.
She was a mother hen, trying to
take care of everyone around her.
is a comparison of two unlike things
without using the words like or
as.
8. PERSONIFICATION
Examples:
My car drank the gasoline in one
gulp.
The cat laughed.
The newspaper headline glared at
me.
is when a writer gives human
qualities to animals or objects.
10. IMAGERY
is when a writer invokes the five
senses.
Examples:
The smell reminded him of rotting
tomatoes.
The fence was uneven, like baby
teeth growing awkwardly in. (also a
simile!)
11. FORESHADOWING
Important hints that an author drops to
prepare the reader for what is to come,
and help the reader anticipate the
outcome
EXAMPLE
A pipe is going to burst, but before it does, the
author writes a scene where the family
notices a small dark spot on the ceiling, but
ignores it.
12. ALLITERATION
is the repetition of the same consonant
sound in words occurring near one
another.
Examples:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled
peppers.
Sally sells seashells by the
seashore.
Come and clean the chaos in your closet.
The big, bad bear scared all the baby bunnies by the bushes.
Shut the shutters before the banging sound makes you shudder.
Go and gather the green leaves on the grass.
13. ALLUSION
is a casual reference to a famous
historical or literary figure or event.
Examples:
If it doesnt stop raining, Im
going to build an ark.
My sister has so many pets Im
going to call myself Old
McDonald.
I was surprised his nose was not
growing like Pinocchios.
When she lost her job, she acted
like a Scrooge, and refused to buy
anything that wasnt necessary.
Chocolate was her Achilles heel.
14. PARADOX
Examples:
He was a brave coward.
When you win all the time, you lose.
You can save money by spending it.
I know one thing; that I know nothing.
This is the beginning of the end.
Deep down, you're really shallow.
reveals something true which at first
seems contradictory.
15. SYMBOLISM
is using an object or action that
means something more than its literal
meaning.
Examples:
Pink - the fight against breast
cancer
The Statue of Liberty freedom
Roses stand for romance.
Violets represent shyness.
Lilies stand for beauty and temptation.
Chrysanthemums represent perfection.
16. IDIOM
is an expression with a meaning different
from the literal meaning of the words.
Examples:
I got cold feet before my speech
= was scared
my boss gave me the green light
= my boss said yes
draw the curtains =
close the curtains
put the lights out =
turn off the lights
17. OXYMORON
Examples:
a peaceful war
a generous cheapskate
dark sunshine
two opposite terms.
tragic comedy unbiased opinion only
choice
virtual reality definite maybe original
copies
18. EUPHEMISM
is a polite word or phrase used in place
of one that may be too direct,
unpleasant, or embarrassing.
Examples:
pass away = die
let go = fired
pre-owned/preloved = used
Pregnancy termination instead of abortion
On the streets instead of homeless
Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled
Fell off the back of a truck instead of stolen
Disabled/handicapped to physically challenged
fat to vertically challenged
ignorant to mentally challenged
poor to working class
remedial to developmental
19. CLICH
is an expression that has lost its power
or originality from overuse.
Examples:
talking a mile a minute
quiet as a mouse
easy as pie
They all lived happily ever after
Read between the lines
Fall head over heals
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed
20. PUN
is a humorous play on words, often
involving double meanings
Examples:
A man stole a case of soap from the
corner store.He made a clean
getaway.
I really wanted a camouflage shirt, but I couldn't find one.
The grammarian was very logical. He had a lot of comma sense.
A bicycle can't stand on its own
because it is two-tired.
A pessimist's blood type is always
B-negative.
21. ANAPHORA
In writing or speech, the
deliberate repetition of the
first part of the sentence in
order to achieve an artistic
effect is known as
Anaphora.
EXAMPLE
Every day, every night, in every way, I
am getting better and better.
My life is my purpose. My life is my
goal. My life is my inspiration.
22. ASSONANCE
This figure of speech is similar to alliteration because it also involves
repetition of sounds. But this time its vowel sounds that are being
repeated. Assonancecreates internal rhyming within phrases or
sentences by repeat vowel sounds that are the same
EXAMPLES
≒On a proud round cloud in white high nigh
Fire at the private eye hired to pry in my business
"It beats . . . as it sweeps . . . as it cleans!
"I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and
restless.
"Hear the mellow wedding bells" by Edgar Allen Poe
23. APOSTROPHE
In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech
sometimes represented by an exclamation, such as
Oh. A writer or speaker, using apostrophe, speaks
directly to someone who is not present or is dead, or
speaks to an inanimate object.
EXAMPLE
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand?
Come, let meclutch thee!
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Feet, don't fail me now.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.