Literary Devices (8th grade)

An animal, object, force of nature, or an idea is given human qualities.

• simile

• imagery

• symbolism

• personification

Expresses a writer’s attitude (or thoughts and feelings) toward his or her subject

• metaphor

• tone

• mood

• irony

Uses the words like or as to compare two seemingly unlike things

• metaphor

• personification

• simile

• hyperbole

Directly compares two seemingly unlike things without using like or as

• simile

• tone

• metaphor

• allusion

Use of exaggeration

• personification

• simile

• imagery

• hyperbole

A reference to a person, place, thing, or idea

• allusion

• hyperbole

• metaphor

• tone

The general feeling or atmosphere a piece of writing created

• tone

• allusion

• mood

• imagery

A situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality

• allusion

• irony

• personification

• tone