Literary Devices What is Figurative Language When the

Literary Devices

What is Figurative Language? When the meaning of the words have a different meaning than the literal meaning. Any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. Meaning must be inferred

Similes A figure of speech that makes a comparison of TWO unlike things. Similes use two words to compare: LIKE or AS

*Similes Example* The news Paulina received over the phone must have been terrible; she turned limp as a dishrag. The teacher was busy teaching, when suddenly, an obstinate student interrupted the lesson. The teacher’s face reddened like a hot iron.

Metaphor Compares two basically unlike things, BUT it does not use the words like or as. Says that one thing “is” another. A metaphor describes something as “it is”

*Metaphor Example* The contestant’s knees were jiggling jelly when she stepped forward to take her turn. The small blonde girl’s hair was silk.

Personification This is a device in which authors give human characteristics to non-human things. These non-human things could be: an animal, a piece of furniture, a stuffed animal…etc.

*Personification Example* Which uses personification? The car groaned as it climbed up the hill. The car made a sound as it went up the hill.

Hyperbole This is an exaggeration used for effect. It helps the reader to understand the extent of the emotion, attitude, or feeling. ADDS EMPHASIS

*Hyperbole Example* I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse! Jan is so tired, she could sleep for a week! The rain that fell Thursday fell for a million hours.

Stylistic Devices Ways an author can use and arrange words or form sentences in order to impact the meaning or tone of the text

Imagery Language creating a mental picture that makes readers see, hear, smell, taste, or feel things in their imagination.

*Imagery Example* Which sentences uses imagery? The sun was shining brightly in the sky. The bright yellow sun beamed down on my shoulders, wrapping me in a blanket of sunshine.

Alliteration Repeating the consonant sound at the beginning of a word. Using alliteration adds emphasis to the phrase

*Alliteration Example* “While I nodded, nearly napping…” “For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore-”

Assonance Repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds in neighboring words

*Assonance Examples* “And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain…” “In the fell clutch of circumstance…”

Onomatopoeia Word that represent sounds. EXAMPLE: “It's a jazz affair, drum crashes and coronet razzes. The trombone pony neighs and the tuba snorts. ”

Polysyndeton When several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession to achieve an artistic effect “I willed myself to stay awake, but the rain was so soft and the room was so warm and his voice was so deep and his knee was so snug that I slept. ” -To Kill a Mockingbird PURPOSE: to create an artistic effect for rhythm or emphasis

Anaphora Repetition of a word within a phrase (or paragraph) Purpose: Emphasis/rhythm “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. ” –Charles Dickens