Literary Devices

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What is irony?

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Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning is different from the actual meaning. For example, calling someone 'Grumpy' when they are always smiling.

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What is personification?

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Personification is a literary device where human qualities are given to animals, objects, or ideas. For example, 'The fire ran wild through the dry forest'.

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What is an idiom?

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An idiom is a phrase that means something different when taken literally. For example, 'It's raining cats and dogs' means it's raining heavily.

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What is onomatopoeia?

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Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate sounds. Examples include 'buzz', 'bang', and 'sizzle'.

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What is alliteration?

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Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words. For example, 'Suzy slipped the silver sword through the sack'.

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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'. For example, 'as brave as a lion'.

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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'. For example, 'Time is a thief'.

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What is hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. For example, 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse'.

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What is imagery?

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Imagery is the use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating a mental picture. For example, 'The golden sun set behind the purple mountains'.

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What is a theme in literature?

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A theme is the central idea or message in a work of literature. It often reflects on human nature or society.