Literary Devices in Song Lyrics

In Katy Perry's song Firework, there is a lyric which states, "do you ever feel like a plastic bag".

What is this an example of?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Personification

Answer explanation

The lyric "do you ever feel like a plastic bag" compares a feeling of aimlessness to a plastic bag, using 'like' to make the comparison. This is a clear example of a simile, which directly compares two different things.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The lyric "Frozen fractals" from Idina Menzel's song Let It Go is an example of...

• Alliteration

• Personification

• Simile

• Metaphor

Answer explanation

The phrase "Frozen fractals" features the repetition of the initial 'f' sound, which is a hallmark of alliteration. This literary device enhances the musical quality of the lyrics, making 'alliteration' the correct choice.

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"Caught in a landslide" is an example of what?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Alliteration

Answer explanation

"Caught in a landslide" is a metaphor as it describes a situation of being overwhelmed or trapped, using imagery rather than a direct comparison. It does not use 'like' or 'as' (which would indicate a simile) or repeat initial sounds (alliteration).

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy

There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti".

The bolded words are examples of what?

• Alliteration

• Rhyme

• Hyberbole

• Simile

Answer explanation

The bolded words 'heavy', 'already', and 'spaghetti' create a rhyme scheme, as they share similar ending sounds. This is a key characteristic of rhyme, distinguishing it from alliteration, hyperbole, or simile.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

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"You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes".

The bolded words are an example of?

• Personification

• Repetion

• Rhyme

• Alliteration

Answer explanation

The phrase "horror looks you right between the eyes" attributes human-like qualities to horror, making it an example of personification. This literary device helps convey the intensity of fear experienced.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"Cause you know I’d walk a thousand miles

If I could just see you tonight.”

Which of these lyrics is an example of a hyperbole?

• You know I'd walk

• If I could just see you

• See you tonight

• Walk a thousand miles

Answer explanation

The phrase 'walk a thousand miles' is an exaggeration, emphasizing the speaker's willingness to go to great lengths to see someone. This makes it a clear example of hyperbole, as it's not meant to be taken literally.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

In these lyrics from Drops of Jupiter, what two types of figurative language can you see?

“Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance, five-hour phone conversation”

• Simile

• Alliteration

• Rhyme

• Onomatopoeia

Answer explanation

In the lyrics, 'freeze dried romance' and 'five-hour phone conversation' showcase alliteration with the repetition of initial consonant sounds. Additionally, the phrases have a rhythmic quality, indicating rhyme through their end sounds.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer" is an example of....

• simile

• metaphor

• personifcation

• hyperbole

Answer explanation

The phrase "Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer" compares a voice to a soundtrack, suggesting a direct equivalence without using 'like' or 'as', which makes it a metaphor.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.L.9-10.5A

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"And the shadow of the day will embrace the world in grey," is an example of..

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• idiom

Answer explanation

The phrase "the shadow of the day will embrace the world in grey" attributes human-like qualities to the shadow, suggesting it can embrace, which is an example of personification.

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"Tick tock on the clock," is an example of...

• onomatopoeia

• personification

• metaphor

• simile

Answer explanation

"Tick tock on the clock" is an example of onomatopoeia because it imitates the sound of a clock ticking, using words that phonetically resemble the sound they describe.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.L.9-10.5A

CCSS.RL.9-10.4