LITERARY DEVICES ENGLISH 9 METAPHOR F A metaphor

LITERARY DEVICES ENGLISH 9

METAPHOR F A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as anotherwise unrelated object. F Purpose? – used for rhetorical effect, thus highlighting the similarities between the two. F Example: America is a melting pot. F Example: He has a heart of gold. F The assignment was a breeze. F Her voice is music to his ears.

SIMILE FAn indirect comparison between two things that are essentially unalike, using “like” or “as” to show the comparison. FPurpose? - used to make a description more emphatic or vivid FExamples: FIn her beautiful wedding dress, she was as pretty as a picture. FCrazy like a fox; as brave as a lion FThe boxer fell like a ton of bricks.

PERSONIFICATION FGiving human qualities (such as: emotions, desires, sensations, gestures, and speech) to something that is essentially nonhuman. Examples: FThe sun smiled down on us on that lovely June day. FEarth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing, through all her works, gave signs of woe. - John Milton FOpportunity knocked on the door.

HYPERBOLE FAn exaggeration. Examples: FShe gave us a ton of homework. FWe waited in line for a year! FI’m so hungry, I could eat a horse. FI told you a thousand times!

ALLITERATION FRepetition of a particular sound. Example: FThe bloody watchman told a tale of torture and terror. FDon't dream it. Drive it. Jaguar – Advertising Slogan

ONOMATOPOEIA FWhen a word “sounds” like the sound it makes when spoken. Examples: FThe owl hooted in the darkness. FThe engine sputtered and died. Click to play video

PUN FA play on words. Example: F. . . and then there was the story about the dentist who joined the infantry because he liked to drill. FI fired my masseuse today. She just rubbed me the wrong way.

ALLUSION FReference to a historical event, literary, political, psychological, or social person, place, thing, idea or event. Examples: FWith all the D’s and F’s she received, she knew spelling was her Achilles heel. Click to FPlay Billy Joel Play

SYMBOL FSomething concrete that stands for something abstract. Example: FA rose may symbolize love, beauty, or perfection. Princess Diana was called England’s Rose. FA dove = peace, apple = sin, flag = nation, light bulb = idea, skull and cross bones = poison, etc.

IRONY FThe use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Example: FIn 1912 the Titanic was touted as "100% unsinkable, ” and yet the ship sank on its maiden voyage.

OXYMORON FContradictory words or phrases used to describe one thing. Examples: F Jumbo Shrimp F Great Depression, Known Secret, Pretty Ugly, Bitter Sweet, Deafening Silence F ‘I can resist anything, except temptation. ’ – Oscar Wilde F ‘I am busy doing nothing’