Literary Devices & Figurative Language

Literary Devices & Figurative Language

He has the Midas touch

Allusion

Allusion

● A brief and indirect reference to a

person, place, thing, or idea of historical,

cultural, literary, or political significance.

● It does not describe in detail the person

or thing to which it refers.

Multiple Choice

Which of these phrases is an allusion?

• The leaves whispered secrets to the wind.

• She ran as fast as a cheetah.

• The cake was a mountain of sweetness.

• She had a Cinderella moment

• He was lost in a sea of homework.

The sibilant sermons of the

snake as she discoursed upon

the disposition of my sinner's

soul seemed ceaseless.

Alliteration

Alliteration

● Alliteration is the repetition of the same

initial consonant sounds in a sequence

of words.

● It is often used in poetry and prose to

create rhythm and mood.

Open Ended

Write an example of alliteration

I’m so hungry I could eat a

horse.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole

● Hyperbole is a figure of speech that

uses extreme exaggeration to make a

point or show emphasis.

● It is often used for comedic effect or to

create a strong impression.

Multiple Choice

Which of these examples includes hyperbole?

• She had a Mona Lisa smile.

• This bag weighs a ton!

• The stars twinkled like diamonds in the sky.

• The clock on the wall stared at me, unblinking.

Wear my heart upon my

sleeve.

Idiom

Idiom

● An idiom is a common expression whose

meaning cannot be understood from the

literal meanings of the words that make it up.

● Idioms often reflect cultural nuances and can

be challenging for non-native speakers.

Multiple Choice

Which of these includes an idiom?

• The clouds drifted across the sky like fluffy cotton balls.

• He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.

• Her laughter was music to his ears.

• His heart was a drum, pounding in his chest.

A fire station burns down.

Irony

Irony

● A contrast between expectation and

reality.

● It can be verbal, situational, or

dramatic.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following includes irony?

• The flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

• His smile was as warm as the sun.

• The lifeguard drowned at the pool.

• The stars shone brightly in the night sky.

Bittersweet

Oxymoron

Oxymoron

● a combination of contradictory or

incongruent words.

● It is often used to create a new

meaning or to highlight a particular

quality.

Word Cloud

Write an example of an oxymoron.

Less is More

Paradox

Paradox

● A paradox is a statement that

contradicts itself but may still be true.

● It often provokes thought and

challenges conventional wisdom.

Open Ended

Write an example of a paradox

Oxymoron vs Paradox

• Oxymoron focuses on the contratictory meanings of the words

• Paradox focuses on the contradiction in the ideas

Bang

Boom

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

● Onomatopoeia refers to words that

sound like what they describe.

● It is commonly used in poetry and

literature to create vivid imagery.

Word Cloud

Give an example of onomatopoeia

The snow was a white

blanket

Metaphor

Metaphor

● A metaphor asserts that one thing is

another, helping to illustrate a point

or idea.

● It is used to create connections and

deepen understanding.

The wind whispered

through the trees

Personification

Personification

● Giving human traits to non-human

things.

● It helps create relatable imagery and

emotional connections.

Cool as a cucumber

Simile

Simile

● A simile is a comparison that

highlights similarities between two

different things.

● Compares two different things using

"like" or "as."

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

The flowers danced in the breeze.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

She’s as brave as a lion.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

His mind is a computer.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

His smile was as bright as the sun.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

The city never sleeps.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

Her voice is music to my ears

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

The water was as clear as crystal.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

The car groaned as it climbed the steep hill.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

Multiple Choice

What literary device does this use?

The world is a stage.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification