Literary Devices Final Exam Practice

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Oxymoron

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Putting two contradictory words together (e.g., 'deafening silence').

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Onomatopoeia

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The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g., cuckoo, sizzle, boom).

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Diction

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A writer’s choice of words, phrases, sentence structures, and figurative language which combine to help create meaning.

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Metaphor

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A comparison of two unlike things using the verb 'to be' (am, are, was, were, etc.) instead of using ‘like’ or ‘as’ (e.g., 'Time is a thief').

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Theme

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The main message of a literary work; a universal truth (e.g., love, friendship, betrayal).

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Alliteration

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The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words (e.g., 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore').

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Personification

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Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities (e.g., 'The wind whispered through the trees').

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Hyperbole

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Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally (e.g., 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse').

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Simile

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A comparison of two unlike things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'Her smile was like sunshine').

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Imagery

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Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind (e.g., 'The golden sun set over the calm, blue sea').