LITERARY DEVICES

Writers often deviate from the ordinary mode of expression or

the ordinary course of ideas in order to produce a greater
effect. For this purpose they make use of several literary
devices.
 SIMILE
A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison showing similarities
between two different things.

• Our soldiers are as brave as lions.

• He is cunning like a fox.
• He was as funny as a monkey.
• Her cheeks are red like a rose.
 METAPHOR
It is an implied simile. Here things are compared by stating one as another.

• You are an angel.

• Life is a game.
• The clouds are cotton balls in the sky.
• The calm lake was a mirror.
• He is a shining star.
 PERSONIFICATION
It is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes.
• The wind whispered through dry grass.
• The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.
• Time and tide waits for none.
• The fire swallowed the entire forest.
• Lightening danced across the sky.
• The moon played hide and seek with the clouds.
 REPETITION
It is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to
emphasize the meaning. It also adds the musical effect to the poem.
• It poured and poured until dawn.
• She ran far and fast, fast and fast till she reached them.
• A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course,
This is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed.
 ALLITERATION
It brings together words which begin with the same consonant or vowel sound.
• Down the slippery slide they slid sitting slightly sideways.
• Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
hover through the fog and filthy air.
• Sheep should sleep in a shed
• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
 IMAGERY
It is the suggestion of vivid mental pictures by the skillful use of words.
• It was dark and dim in the forest.
• The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.
• The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric. The tree bark was rough against
her skin.
• The sunset was the most gorgeous they’d ever seen; the clouds were edged
with pink and gold.
 ONOMATOPOEIA
Words that mimic or imitate sound.
• The burgers are sizzling on the grill.
• And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling
And out of the houses, the rats came tumbling.
• The buzzing bee flew away.
• The sack fell into the river with a splash.
• The rustling leaves kept me awake.
 IRONY
It is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended
meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words.
• Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.
• “Oh great! Now you have broken my new camera.”
• The fire station burns down.
• A pilot has a fear of heights.
• A traffic cop gets his license suspended because of unpaid parking tickets.
 HYPERBOLE
It is an exaggeration used for effect or emphasis.
• The glass broke into a thousand pieces.
• Your suitcase weighs a ton!
• She is as heavy as an elephant!
• I will die of shame.
• I am trying to solve a million issues these days.
 REFRAIN
It a short part of a song or poem that is repeated, between the verses.

• Men may come, men may go, I go on forever.

• The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
and miles to go before I sleep.
 PUN
It is use of a word in such a way that it is capable of more than one application,
the object being to produce humorous effect.
• An elephant’s opinion carries a lot of weight.
• Geometry is so pointless.
• Kings worry about a receding heir line.
• Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
• The athletes with wrong footwear suffer the agony of defeat (the feet).
 ANTITHESIS
It is a figure of speech in which opposite ideas are expressed in the same line.
• That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
• We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
• Many are called, but few are chosen.
• Patience is bitter, but it has a sweet fruit.
• Man proposes, god disposes.
 EXERCISE
Identify the literary devices used in the following sentences:
1.The waves broke on the shore with a noise like thunder.
2. Why, man, if the river were dry, I am able to fill it with tears!
3. Variety is the spice of life.
4. Laughter holding both her sides.
5. Alice’s aunt ate apples and acorns around August.
6. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free.
7. Her brain is the size of a pea.
8. A traffic cop got his license suspended due to unpaid tickets.
9. The camel is the ship of the desert.
10. A man looked out of the window to see the storm intensify. He turned to his friend and said “Wonderful weather we’re having!”
11. The King was as brave as a lion.
12. When he was on the way to work, he heard the muffled cry of a woman.
13. I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
14. The bird’s chirp filled the empty night air.
15. The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and sweet.
16. Silence your cellphone so that it does not beep during the movie.
17. The politician declared, “We will fight come what may, we will fight on all fronts, we will fight for a thousand years.”
18. The President said, “Work, work, and work” is the key to success.
19. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
20. She had a photographic memory but never developed it.
 Asset Questions

1. Which literary device repeats the same words or phrases a few times to
emphasize the meaning?
• a. Simile b. Refrain c. Alliteration d. Repetition
2. Which literary device uses ‘as’ and ‘like’ to make a comparison?
• a. Metaphor b. Simile c. Irony d. Imagery