Literary DevicesNot as scary as they seem

Devices of Figurative LanguageMetaphor, Simile, Personification, Hyperbole, Synecdoche, Metonymy

MetaphorDenotation:

A direct comparison between two things, where one thing takes the place of another.

Example:I have a mountain of laundry to wash this

weekend.My kitchen was a disaster zone after the

party guests went home.

SimileDenotation:

A direct comparison between two unlike things which uses either “like” or “as”

Example:The toddler hit the living room like a

tornado, leaving toys scattered everywhere.The engine ran like an offensive lineman, so we bought a new car.

PersonificationDenotation:

Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human (either animal or inanimate)

Example:It was so cold that the trees were shivering

and the birds put on extra socks.I was late to school this morning because my

keys were hiding from me.

HyperboleDenotation:

Exaggeration. It is used to make a strong point, not meant to be taken literally.

Example:We have one million hours of homework from Mr. Marsh and Ms. Spiceland every night.I met Shaquille O’neal once; he was eighty feet tall.

SynecdocheDenotation:

A type of metonymy where a part represents a whole.

Example:He asked for her hand in marriage.My sister just bought a new ragtop, and she

wants to take us all out for ice cream to celebrate.

MetonymyDenotation:

Calling something by something closely associated with it, but not by its own name.

Example:When the story got out to the press, the entire

school became famous.The candidate campaigned on bringing change

to the White House.

Devices of SoundAlliteration, Assonance, Consonance, Onomatopoeia, Slant Rhyme

AlliterationDenotation:

Two or more words with the same beginning consonant sound

Example:Lovely lucky ladies’ lunch.Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

AssonanceDenotation:

Words with the same internal vowel soundExample:

Puppy and DuckI wrote an ode to a gross host who didn’t wash her toes.

ConsonanceDenotation:

Repetition of the same consonant sound, not to be confused with alliteration.

Example:All mammals named Sam are clammy.

“And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Raven”

OnomatopoeiaDenotation:

When a word is defined by its soundExample:

The thunder boomed in the distance.“Knock, knock!” said the visitor, walking

through my open classroom door.

Slant RhymeDenotation:

“Rhyming” lines of poetry which do not actually rhyme, but end with the same consonant sound.

Also called half rhyme, near rhyme, or imperfect rhyme.

Example:Soul and allHard and tiredFood and good

Devices of ReferenceAllusion, Apostrophe

AllusionDenotation:

Making reference to literature, history, art, a place, a person, or mythology.

Example:I named my cat Schroedinger because he

likes to get into boxes.It’s like he has the Midas touch; he’s never

failed to make money with his crazy schemes.

ApostropheDenotation:

Addressing something that cannot hear. This could be something inanimate or someone not present.

Example:O Muse! Come help me write these examples

for my students!Curse you, rain! How dare you ruin my

baseball game!