Literary & Poetic Devices

Literary Devices

• ​Techniques that a writer uses in literature or poetry that helps express a deeper meaning​

• Literary & poetic devices may also be referred to as figurative language ​​

So far, we have learned and practiced some literary / poetic devices such as:

• ​Imagery (also known as sensory details)

• Allusio​ns (also known as references)

• Dialogue​

​This quiz will test your memory on these 3 devices, and will also introduce 4 new ones...

Before we learn new ones, let's review the ones we know.

Imagery - when a writer uses description that activates any of the 5 senses - sight, sound, taste, touch, smell (also known as sensory details). It helps create a mental image for the reader.​

Allusion/References - ​when a writer refers to a person, place, historical event, or something in pop culture, and they assume the reader will be familiar with it. It depends on the reader's knowledge whether or not they understand the reference. These are usually PROPER NOUNS (always capitalized)

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Dialogue - when a writer quotes someone else's words, either a single line or a whole coversation. Always uses quotation marks.

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Our 4 NEW devices are...

1) ​Alliteration - when there are 2 or more words, next to each other, that start with the same letter or make the same sound. the smooth soft snow and the whirling wind​

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2) Personification - when writers give human-like qualities to something that is not human. The lightning danced across the sky. My alarm clock was yelling at me to wake up. The camera loves her.​

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3) ​Simile - when a writer makes a COMPARISON between two unrelated things, using the words "like" or "as" The air feels as cold as ice! When I'm hungry I eat like a pig.

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4) Metaphor -​ when a writer makes a COMPARISON between two unrelated things, saying something IS something else. You are my sunshine.

Her voice was music to my ears.

Let's break each of these down.

Starting with alliteration.

More Personification Examples

​That cake is calling my name...

​Mr.M!! Eat me!!

The buildings watched over the city and her people.

More Simile Examples

More Metaphor Examples

​Now let's practice all the devices we've learned.

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Retake the quiz until you get at least 11 correct.

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Good Luck!​

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Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences contains an example of alliteration?

• The stars in the night sky kept winking at me.

• People please pay attention, Paul is trying to present his project.

• Your voice sounds like an angel.

• Laughter is the best medicine.

Multiple Choice

What poetic device is used in the follow sentence: "The wind screamed and whistled outside, trying to break into the little house"?

• metaphor

• allusion

• simile

• personification

Multiple Choice

Identify the literary device in the following sentence : "My birthday's next week - it'll be my Kobe year!"

• Allusion

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Imagery

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences contains a metaphor?

• The sweet cold ice cream dripped over the warm chocolate brownie.

• Luis's face turned as red as a lobster.

• She swam in the salty ocean soaking up the sunshine.

• The snow turned my toes into ice cubes.

Multiple Select

What poetic devices are used in the following sentence: Her hair was a flowing golden river streaming down her shoulders. (2 ANSWERS)

• Metaphor

• Allusion

• Imagery

• Simile

Multiple Choice

What device is used in the following sentence: Her skin was smooth like silk.

• Personification

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Allusion

Multiple Choice

Which poetic device is used in the following sentence: Glittering white, the snow covered everything in sight.

• Imagery

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

Multiple Choice

Identify the device in the following sentence: The leaves waved in the wind.

• Simile

• Personification

• Allusion

• Metaphor

Multiple Choice

Identify the literary device in the following Cardi B lyric: "I'm about my coins like Mario"

• Imagery

• Alliteration

• Allusion

• Personification

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of a simile?

• Her mom's love was as strong and stable as redwood trees.

• He was walking as the sun was setting.

• I would like to go on vacation to Japan.

• I like many fruits but I don't like many vegetables.

Multiple Choice

What poetic device do you notice in the following Cardi B lyric: Big bag bussin' out the Bentley, Man, Balenciaga Bardi back

• Alliteration

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

Multiple Choice

Which of these is an example of a metaphor?

• She is my best friend.

• Music is therapy.

• Ibuprofen is medicine.

• Life is crazy.

Multiple Choice

What poetic device do you notice in the following John Legend lyric: "That's why Rosa sat on the bus, that's why we remember to keep our hands up"

• Simile

• Allusion

• Metaphor

• Personification