Identifying Literary Devices in Texts

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What is personification?

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A literary device where human qualities are attributed to non-human things or abstract ideas.

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Example of personification: "fire silently devoured Miss Maudie’s house." What does this illustrate?

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It illustrates how fire is given the human ability to 'devour', enhancing the imagery of destruction.

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What is a simile?

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

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Example of simile: "His voice was like the winter wind." What does this mean?

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It compares the quality of his voice to the coldness and harshness of the winter wind.

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What is a metaphor?

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A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

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Example of metaphor: "Time is a thief." What does this imply?

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It suggests that time steals moments from our lives, emphasizing its fleeting nature.

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What is an oxymoron?

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A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.

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Example of oxymoron: "invisible ink." What does this mean?

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It refers to ink that cannot be seen until revealed, combining the idea of invisibility with ink.

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What is the purpose of literary devices?

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They enhance writing by adding depth, clarity, and emotional resonance.

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What does it mean to analyze a text for literary devices?

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It involves identifying and interpreting the use of literary devices to understand the author's message and style.