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, 'Her smile was like sunshine.'

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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, 'Time is a thief.'

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What is hyperbole?

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

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What is personification?

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Personification is a literary device where human qualities are given to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract ideas. For example, 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

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What is onomatopoeia?

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

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What is alliteration?

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Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words. For example, 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore.'

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What is imagery?

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Imagery is descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a picture in the reader's mind. For example, 'The golden sun set over the calm, blue ocean.'

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What is symbolism?

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Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. For example, a dove often symbolizes peace.

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What is an idiom?

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An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. For example, 'It's raining cats and dogs' means it's raining heavily.

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What is a theme?

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A theme is the central idea or message in a piece of literature. For example, a common theme in literature is the struggle between good and evil.