Literary Examples

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What is personification?

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Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to non-human things or abstract concepts. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

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What is a simile?

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A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Her smile was as bright as the sun.'

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What is hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis. Example: 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.'

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What is alliteration?

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Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words. Example: 'She sells seashells by the sea shore.'

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What is a metaphor?

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A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Time is a thief.'

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What is symbolism?

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Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Example: A dove often symbolizes peace.

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What is an allusion?

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An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of art. Example: 'He has the Midas touch.'

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What is anaphora?

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Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Example: 'I have a dream...' in Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech.

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What is onomatopoeia?

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Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the sound it represents. Example: 'buzz', 'hiss', 'clang'.

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What is irony?

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Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning. Example: A fire station burns down.