Literary Devices - Examples

Front

What is an oxymoron?

Back

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms appear in conjunction, such as 'busy doing nothing.'

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5A

Front

What is hyperbole?

Back

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect, such as 'I am dying of shame.'

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Front

What is alliteration?

Back

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words, as in 'The purple pants were perfect on the professor.'

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Front

What is an allusion?

Back

An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work, such as referring to someone as a 'Scrooge' to imply they are stingy.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Front

What is a simile?

Back

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as,' such as 'Her hair shined like the sun.'

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Front

What is imagery?

Back

Imagery is descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Front

What is a metaphor?

Back

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things, suggesting they are alike in some way.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Front

What is onomatopoeia?

Back

Onomatopoeia is a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound it describes, such as 'BOOM!'

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Front

What is symbolism?

Back

Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, where a symbol stands for something beyond its literal meaning.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Front

What is personification?

Back

Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A