6th Review-Literary Devices

Literary Devices

Alliteration: The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words that are next to one another or closely connected. View the example below:

Hyperbole

Examples:

• It was so cold I saw polar bears wearing jackets.
• I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
• I had a ton of chores to do.
• She is as thin as a toothpick.
• This car goes faster than the

speed of light.

Idiom: An expression that does not mean what it literally says (e.g., to have the upper hand has nothing to do with hands).

Imagery: how the author creates a mental image for the reader using descriptive language. Show, DON'T tell.

Metaphor: Compares two things by saying one thing is another thing. Metaphors do not use like or as!

Example: The road was a winding snake.

Simile: Compares two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Examples: The kids were as loud as a fire engine. The cookies tasted like dirt.

Onomatopoeia

Click here for even more onomatopoeias!

Sounds Animals Make

• Arf
• Baa
• Bark
• Bow-wow
• Buzz
• Cack

Sounds Animals Make

• Arf
• Baa
• Bark
• Bow-wow
• Buzz

Sounds People Make

• Achoo
• Ahem
• Argh
• Bawl
• Belch

Personification: When a writer makes a thing, idea or animal do something only humans can do.

Symbolism: the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Examples: Dove - peace Spring - youth, birth, life Water - birth, rebirth Eagle - freedom, liberty, strength Crown - wealth, royalty