Literary Devices Not as scary as they seem Devices of Figurative Language Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Hyperbole, Synecdoche, Metonymy Metaphor Denotation: A direct comparison between two things,
where one thing takes the place of another. Example: I have a mountain of laundry to wash this weekend. My kitchen was a disaster zone after the party guests went home. Simile
Denotation: A direct comparison between two unlike things which uses either like or as Example: The toddler hit the living room like a tornado, leaving toys scattered everywhere. The engine ran like an offensive lineman, so
we bought a new car. Personification Denotation: Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human (either animal or inanimate) Example: It was so cold that the trees were shivering
and the birds put on extra socks. I was late to school this morning because my keys were hiding from me. Hyperbole Denotation: Exaggeration. It is used to make a strong point, not meant to be taken literally. Example:
We have one million hours of homework from Coach Hubscher and Mrs. Spiceland every night. I met Shaquille Oneal once; he was eighty feet tall. Synecdoche Denotation: A type of metonymy where a part represents
a whole. Example: He asked for her hand in marriage. My sister just bought a new ragtop, and she wants to take us all out for ice cream to celebrate. Metonymy Denotation:
Calling something by something closely associated with it, but not by its own name. Example: When the story got out to the press, the entire school became famous. The candidate campaigned on bringing change to the White House.
Devices of Sound Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Onomatopoeia, Slant Rhyme Alliteration Denotation: Two or more words with the same beginning consonant sound Example:
Lovely lucky ladies lunch. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Assonance Denotation: Words with the same internal vowel sound Example: Puppy and Duck
I wrote an ode to a gross host who didnt wash her toes. Consonance Denotation: Repetition of the same consonant sound, not to be confused with alliteration.
Example: All mammals named Sam are clammy. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Onomatopoeia Denotation: When a word is defined by its sound Example:
The thunder boomed in the distance. Knock, knock! said the visitor, walking through my open classroom door. Slant Rhyme Denotation: Rhyming lines of poetry which do not actually rhyme, but end with the same
consonant sound. Also called half rhyme, near rhyme, or imperfect rhyme. Example: Soul and all Hard and tired Food and good Devices of Reference Allusion, Apostrophe
Allusion Denotation: Making reference to literature, history, art, a place, a person, or mythology. Example: I named my cat Schroedinger because he likes to get into boxes.
Its like he has the Midas touch; hes never failed to make money with his crazy schemes. Apostrophe Denotation: Addressing something that cannot hear. This could be something inanimate or someone not present. Example:
O Muse! Come help me write these examples for my students! Curse you, rain! How dare you ruin my baseball game!
