Literary Elements: Techniques

Imagery

• INDIRECTLY compares two dissimilar nouns by showing a similarity between them. Uses “like” or “as”.

• the use of figurative language to create visual representations of actions, objects and ideas in our mind in such a way that they appeal to our physical senses.

• the deliberate, gross exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis.

• gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. This can be any human trait-- qualities, feelings, actions, or characteristics.

Simile

• INDIRECTLY compares two dissimilar nouns by showing a similarity between them. Uses “like” or “as”.

• DIRECTLY compares two dissimilar nouns and draws similarity between them.

Metaphor

• INDIRECTLY compares two dissimilar nouns by showing a similarity between them. Uses “like” or “as”.

• DIRECTLY compares two dissimilar nouns and draws similarity between them.

Hyperbole

• the repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words.

• gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. This can be any human trait-- qualities, feelings, actions, or characteristics.

• the deliberate, gross exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis.

• an accepted phrase or expression that has a meaning different from the literal.

Alliteration

• the repetition of a consonant sound. There should be at least two repetitions in a row, and they can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words in the same phrase.

• the repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words.

• the repetition of a vowel sound in NON-RHYMING words. There should be at least two repetitions in a row, and they can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words in the same phrase.

Assonance

• the repetition of a consonant sound. There should be at least two repetitions in a row, and they can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words in the same phrase.

• the repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words.

• the repetition of a vowel sound in NON-RHYMING words. There should be at least two repetitions in a row, and they can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words in the same phrase.

Consonance

• the repetition of a consonant sound. There should be at least two repetitions in a row, and they can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words in the same phrase.

• the repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words.

• the repetition of a vowel sound in NON-RHYMING words. There should be at least two repetitions in a row, and they can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words in the same phrase.

Hyperbole

• a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings.

• When newer literature references old literature to enhance a reader’s understanding; it is a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize.

• when the end or final sound of two or more words are identical.

• the deliberate, gross exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis.

Personification

• the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence.

• gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. This can be any human trait-- qualities, feelings, actions, or characteristics.

• When newer literature references old literature to enhance a reader’s understanding; it is a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize.

• using short and long phrases to create a dramatic effect

Internal Rhyming

• a rhyme involving a word in the middle of a line and another at the end of the line or in the middle of the next.

• a rhyme in two lines that comes at the end of each line

• a rhyme in two lines that comes at the beginning of each line

• a rhyme anywhere in a poem