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.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

"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.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

"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.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

"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.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

"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.11-12.5A

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.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

"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.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

"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.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

"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.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3