Literary Devices

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What is a metaphor?

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating that one is the other. Example: 'The snow was a white blanket on the normally green grass.'

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What is imagery in literature?

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Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind. Example: 'The ball was a deep red, like that of a fire truck, glistening in the bright sun.'

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What is an allusion?

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A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature. Example: 'He was acting like Hitler, I was nervous we were about to have a 3rd World War.'

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What is repetition in literature?

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The intentional reuse of words or phrases to emphasize a point or theme. Example: 'I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.'

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What does it mean for something to be ironic?

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A situation or expression that signifies the opposite of what is expected. Example: 'The shoemaker's children have no shoes.'

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What is personification?

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A literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

Front

What is a simile?

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Her stare was cold as ice.'

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What is hyperbole?

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An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect. Example: 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.'

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What is an oxymoron?

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A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Example: 'Deafening silence.'

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What is a pun?

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A form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect. Example: 'Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.'