Literary Devices

Allegory

An allegory is a narrative in which a character, place, or event is used to deliver a broader message about real-world issues and occurences

Symbolism

An object, action or person that represents an idea. (e.g. doves represent freedom)

Allusion

A hint to a person, place, event, history, literature, myth, religion

Connotation

The emotion associated with a word. It could be personal or universal. (e.g. blue is associated with sadness / sun is associated with positivity or light)

Simile

A comparison between two seemingly unlike objects that connects the terms with ‘like’ or ‘as’ or ‘than’. (e.g. he jumped like a gazelle)

Oxymoron

Apparent contradictions (words are side by side). (e.g. she let out a silent scream)

Satire

The use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. (e.g. South Park, The Simpsons, Family Guy)A

Paradox

A seemingly untruth statement that has a poetic truth to it. (e.g. make money by spending it / the sound of silence)I

Imagery

Author describes a scene or idea that it appeals to one of our five senses.

• As they sat on the soft, sugary sand of the beach waiting for the sunset, the sinking sun shimmered on the water as the blue sky transformed into various shades of purple and pink.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration (I studied all weekend for the test)

Personfiication

Giving human characteristics or behaviours to non-living things.

Alliteration

Repeating the first letter sound in a sentence or phrase. (The boy bounced the ball at the backyard barbeque)

Onomatopoeia

A word whose sounds echoes or suggests its meaning.

(Buzz, Slam, Pow, Creeak)

Irony (three types)

• Verbal Irony

  • Saying one thing and meaning the opposite (sarcasm)

  • “Beautiful weather, huh?” (saying that during a thunderstorm)

• Situational Irony

  • Something happens that is usually the opposite of what was expected

  • An out of shape Phys. Ed. teacher

• Dramatic Irony

  • When we know something that a character does not know (in a play or story)

  • R and J, Romeo does not know that J has faked her death, but we know

Pun

Word play
- Let’s taco ‘bout it"

Metaphor

A comparison between two seemingly unlike objects that connects the terms without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.