Literary Devices

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What is a Simile?

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A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. For example, 'My love is like a red, red rose.'

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What is a Metaphor?

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A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things without using 'like' or 'as'. For example, 'But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.'

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What is Personification?

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Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. For example, 'Only the daisy trees were serene… they ignored the men.'

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What is Imagery?

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Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. For example, 'I smelled the warm, sweet, all-pervasive smell of silage.'

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What is Allusion?

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An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of art. For example, 'She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.'

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What is Irony?

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Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning is different from the actual meaning, often highlighting a contrast between expectation and reality.

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What is Hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect. For example, 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.'

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What is Onomatopoeia?

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Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound it represents, such as 'buzz', 'bang', or 'sizzle'.

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What is a Theme?

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A theme is the central idea or underlying message in a literary work, often reflecting on human nature or society.

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What is a Symbol?

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A symbol is a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself, often representing abstract ideas.