Literary Devices Terms with the Definitions

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Molly Julia Smith
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1 Literary Devices Terms with the Definitions Literary devices are used by a writer to help the reader see, feel, hear, and experience what the writer is writing about through the use of certain types of words and phrases. Below are some common types of literary devices used by writers. imagery The use of words to create a picture for the reader with explicit details and using the five senses to allow the reader to experience what the author is portraying in the story. simile A comparison between two different objects using like or as. metaphor A comparison between two different objects NOT using like or as. The metaphor actually says one thing IS another thing. personification Giving a non-human thing the characteristics of a human thing or the ability to perform a human action. alliteration When words around one another have the same sound repeated for effect and to create a mood. hyperbole An exaggerated statement to make an impact and have effect. Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

2 Literary Devices Terms Fill in the Definitions imagery simile metaphor personification alliteration hyperbole Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

3 Examples of Literary Devices Imagery Imagery uses words that are specific details about what the reader sees, hears, feels, tastes, or smells as the writer describes a scene. It allows the reader to envision and experience what is happening as the writer describes it. This description of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens uses imagery to describe in detail what Scrooge looked like, was feeling, and what he sounded like in the cold weather. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, (sense of feeling) (sense of sight is description) stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue and spoke out shrewdly in his grating (sense of feeling or sight) (sense of sight) (sense of hearing) voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. (sense of sight) (sense of sight) Simile A simile is a comparison between two different unalike object using either the word like or as in the comparison. For example: Rudolph's nose is as red as a stoplight. (Rudolph s nose is being compared to a stoplight using as in the comparison.) Rudolph's nose was like a shiny Christmas ornament. (Rudolph s nose is being compared to an ornament using like in the comparison.) When Dickens describes Scrooge s deceased partner, Marley with this simile Old Marley was as dead as a doornail. Here, Old Marley is being compared to a doornail using the word as in the comparison. Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

4 When Scrooge returns home from work, Dickens explains what he hears when he enters his home with a simile The sound resounded through the house like thunder. Here, the sound Scrooge heard is being compared to thunder using the word like. Metaphor A metaphor is a comparison between two different objects NOT using like or as. The metaphor actually says one thing IS another thing. For example: Rudolph's nose is a stoplight. (Rudolph s nose is being compared to a stoplight, but saying it is a stoplight.) Rudolph's nose was a shiny Christmas ornament. (Rudolph s nose is being compared to an ornament, but saying it was an ornament.) When Marley visits and speaks to Scrooge he describes why he is so miserable after he has passed away and blames it on how he conducted his life on Earth (describing how he should have been focusing more time on helping his fellow man instead of focusing on making money for his business) with this metaphor The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business. Here, Marley compares his dealings of my trade with a drop of water and does not use the word like or as, but instead says that the dealings were a drop of water. (He means that his business dealings should have been small compared to the amount of time he should have been focusing on doing good things to help out his fellow humans.) Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

5 Personification Personification is giving a non-human thing the characteristics of a human thing or the ability to perform a human action. For example: The aroma from the tree waltzed over to me. (The aroma is being given the human ability to waltz.) The snow moaned under the incredible weight of our car. (The snow is being given the human ability to moan.) When Dickens describes the clock tower outside his office in the square, he uses personification that gives the clock human characteristics (like body parts it doesn t have) and human abilities (like seeing with eyes it doesn t have). The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slyly down at Scrooge (Here, Dickens gives the human characteristic of being gruff and old as if it is an old man and has the ability to have a gruff personality. He also gives the clock eyes and the ability to see or peep down ) with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up there. (Here, Dickens gives the clock the body parts of teeth and the ability to feel the cold so that its teeth chatter. He also gives the clock a head and the ability to feel frozen.) Alliteration Alliteration is when the writer uses words close to one another that have the same sound in them and is repeated for effect and to create a mood. For example: Crazy kids clamor for candy canes and Christmas cookies. (The alliteration is the k sound it doesn t matter that the letters are different as long as it makes the k sound.) Toy trains travel and toot along the track. (The alliteration is the t sound.) Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

6 When Dickens describes Marley with - Marley was as dead as a doornail. The d sound here is repeated and creates an effect or mood with its heavy sound. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down Again, the d sound here is repeated and creates an effect or mood of something heavy and drooping as described. Hyperbole A hyperbole is an exaggerated statement to make an impact and have effect on the reader. Dickens has Scrooge in the story say, "If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly, "Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!" This is an exaggeration of Scrooge s feelings toward those who enjoy Christmas and his feelings about Christmas so the reader understands how strongly Scrooge feels about it. Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

7 Now Write Your Own Literary Devices Simile The bells sounded like. On Christmas Day, I am as happy as a. The snowboarder was as fast as. The candy cane was as sweet as. The Christmas tree was like a. Metaphor The snowflake is a. Santa Clause is a. The stars were in the sky. The snow was a. Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

8 Personification The leaves. The flowers. The Christmas lights. The candle flame. Alliteration Write some sentences about Christmas that use words with the same sounds Hyperbole Write some sentences that use exaggerations to describe some Christmas sights, sounds, scents, or feelings Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

9 Possible Answers to Write Your Own Literary Devices Simile The bells sounded like clanging pots as they rang. On Christmas Day, I am as happy as a puppy with a new chew toy. The snowboarder was as fast as lightning. The candy cane was as sweet as a bowl full of sugar. The Christmas tree was like a lighthouse in the middle of the living room with its bright lights. Metaphor The snowflake is a puzzle of shapes and designs. Santa Clause is a large elf. The stars were diamonds in the sky. The snow was a blanket of white satin. Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

10 Personification The leaves leapt and twirled through the sky as they fell to the ground. The flowers bowed and dipped in the wind. The Christmas lights winked at us as we drove through our neighborhood. The candle flame blinked as I blew out the candle. Alliteration Write some sentences about Christmas that use words with the same sounds. 1. Santa's super sleigh slips so swiftly through the snow. 2. Chilly children cheer and chant. 3. Tiny Tim trims the tallest tree with tons of terrific tinsel. 4. Red-nosed Rudolph romps readily 'round ruby wreaths. Hyperbole Write some sentences that use exaggerations to describe some Christmas sights, sounds, scents, or feelings. 1. The fruitcake was so hard to cut you could use it as a doorstop. 2. The little boy believed Christmas would never come. 3. Christmas Eve went on forever as I waited for Christmas morning. Katie s Homeschool Cottage 2017

15 Imagery Sight Details Imagery Sight Details Alliteration nestled snug Personification visions danced Imagery Sight Details Imagery - sound clatter Simile I compared to flash using like Alliteration shutters sash Imagery Sight Details Alliteration when what wondering

16 Imagery Sight Details Imagery Sound whistled shouted called Simile comparing the reindeer to leaves using as Imagery Sight Details Alliteration prancing pawing Imagery Sound prancing pawing

Imagery Sight Details Imagery Sight Details Simile he (meaning Santa) compared to peddler using like Simile His cheeks compared to roses using like ; his nose compared to a cherry Simile mouth

17 Imagery Sight Details Imagery Sight Details Simile he (meaning Santa) compared to peddler using like Simile His cheeks compared to roses using like ; his nose compared to a cherry Simile mouth compared to a bow using like Simile beard of his chin compared to snow using as Imagery Sight Details Simile smoke compared to a wreath using like Imagery Sight Details Simile belly compared to bowl full of jelly using like Metaphor He (Santa) compared to a jolly old elf using was

18 Simile reindeer compared to down of a thistle using like

19 The Grinch Theme Song Mr. Grinch (Lyrics by Dr. Seuss) You re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a heel, You re as cuddly as a cactus, you re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch, You re a bad banana with a greasy black peel! You re a monster, Mr. Grinch, Your heart s an empty hole, your brain is full of spiders, You have garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch, I wouldn t touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole! You re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, you have termites in your smile, You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch, Given a choice between the two of you, I d take the seasick crocodile! You re a rotter, Mr. Grinch, you re the king of sinful sots, Your heart s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch, You re a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce. You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, with a nauseous super naus! You re a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch, Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled knots! You re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, You re a nasty wasty skunk, Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch, The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, stink, stank, stunk!

20 The Grinch Theme Song Mr. Grinch (Lyrics by Dr. Seuss) (Imagery is used through out to paint visual images of Mr. Grinch in great detailed descriptions the use of hyperbole (exaggeration) is also used to add to the description of how terrible Mr. Grinch really is.) You re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a heel, You re as cuddly as a cactus, you re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch, (simile- Grinch compared to cactus and eel using as ) (alliteration cuddly cactus ) You re a bad banana with a greasy black peel! (metaphor Grinch compared to banana using you are ) (alliteration bad banana black ) You re a monster, Mr. Grinch, (metaphor Grinch compared to monster using you are ) Your heart s an empty hole, your brain is full of spiders, (metaphor Grinch s heart compared to an empty hole) You have garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch, I wouldn t touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole! You re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, you have termites in your smile, You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch, (alliteration sweetness seasick ) Given a choice between the two of you, I d take the seasick crocodile! You re a rotter, Mr. Grinch, you re the king of sinful sots, (metaphor Grinch compared to a rotter (stingy person)) (alliteration sinful sots ) Your heart s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch, (metaphor Grinch s heart to a dead tomato) You re a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce. (metaphor Grinch compared to a sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich) (alliteration sauerkraut toadstool sandwich arsenic sauce ) You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, with a nauseous super naus! (alliteration nauseate nauseous super naus ) You re a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch, (metaphor Grinch compared to a cheating jockey) Your soul is an appalling dump heap (metaphor Grinch s soul compared to a dump heap) overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled knots! You re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, You re a nasty wasty skunk, (metaphor Grinch compared to a skunk) Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch, The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, stink, stank, stunk! (alliteration stink stank stunk )

Learning Fun with Valentine s Day Literary Devices

Learning Fun with Valentine s Day Literary Devices Learn and practice terms and definitions and identify and write your own literary devices with a Valentine s Day theme. Imagery Personification By Katie