Literary Devices

Figurative Language and more…

Literary devices are the tools authors use to bring the reader into the writing. They help the

reader to get a clearer picture of what's happening, and they can also be used to

convince the reader of something, or they can be used to simply entertain the reader.

Berry-Wilson 6th Grade Language Arts

What is it?

A comparison using “like” or “as”

similesimile

Using a sound as a word

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia

An exaggeration

hyperbolehyperbole

A comparison saying that one thing is another thing

metaphormetaphor

Putting two contradictory terms together

oxymoronoxymoron

Giving an object human characteristics

personificationpersonification

This is used to express the exact opposite of its literal meaning

ironyirony

Interrupts the plot of a story and goes back to a past event

flashbackflashback

Where future events in a story, or sometimes the outcome, are

suggested or hinted to by the author before they happen.

foreshadowingforeshadowing

Describes something in detail, but it appeals to the senses

imageryimagery

When certain objects or images are used in place or to represent other

ideas.

symbolismsymbolism

Tell me what I am an example of….

I am a rainbow.

metaphormetaphor

The sun woke up and greeted me this morning

personificationpersonification

Two animal rights activists were protesting the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and

stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.

irony

My sister wears so much make-up, I haven’t seen her real face in 5 years

hyperbole

The head coach was showered with freezing cold Gatorade that soaked every inch of his body and ran into

his mouth and greeted him with sweetness.

imagery

Sam wished he could rid himself of the sick feeling in his gut that told him something

terrible was going to happen, and happen soon.

foreshadowing

I'm getting married in the morning!Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

Marvin is so gross, he eats like a pig.

simile

I like to eat jumbo shrimp when I am at the beach.

oxymoron

Jack hates the beach. The sun makes him sweat, the sand makes him itch, and the tide smells fishy.

The worst part is the noise. Jack can't enjoy the beach because of all the crackles and shrieks. The cries of the gulls are pins in his ears. The tugboats

in the distance are loud and deafening.

What is the effect of the metaphor used in the passage? A. to show that the beach is a smelly place to visit

B. to show the way the gulls make the beach beautiful

C. to show that Jack makes noise when he's at the beach

D. to show the pain Jack feels when he heard the gulls

Julio wheeled himself across the grass. The wheelchair spun under him, rolling him toward the baseball field. Julio knew this field. He knew every mound of grass. He remembered every minute of his last game. He imagined it again: the crowd of parents cheering for him after he hit a home run; his brother shouting "Go, Julio!" while he ran around the bases and back to the catcher. In his mind, he still watched himself run again and again.

To teach the reader more about Julio, the author uses A. foreshadowing.

B. metaphor. C. flashback. D. symbolism.

When the heater broke, I could feel my fingers frosting over. As the snow fell, we were trapped in the car, and the windows wouldn't close. It was as warm as a polar bear's toes.

Why does the author compare the weather to a polar bear's toes?

A. to show the weather was freezing cold B. to show that polar bears are excellent

hunters C. to show it is good to keep a blanket in your

car D. to show frostbite can happen very quickly

We knew it would rain, but the weather got so bad it made the windows shake and the door rattle on its hinges. The storm was like a monster on the prowl.

What does the simile "The storm was like a monster on the prowl" mean?

A. The storm gave shelter.

B. The storm was a tornado.

C. The storm will pass quickly.

D. The storm was scary.

Which sentence contains a metaphor? A. Meghan went into their room and filled their shoes with shaving cream.

B. She heard them stampede in their room like a herd of buffalo.

C. Meghan knew that John and Doug were night owls.

D. Just then, she was shaken from the thought.

After running, Heather went to the gym to work out. After that, she went to run some errands for George. When she's not working out or running errands, you can find her with her friends in the city. She's like a rolling stone.

What does the simile "She's like a rolling stone" mean? A. Heather is good at tumbling over.

B. Heather should learn to relax more.

C. Heather is always doing something.

D. Heather is a collector of many rocks.

No one ever passes Mr. Burns' class. He always fails everyone. On the last test, I made a failing grade. Mr. Burns is as tough as rusty nails.

The author compares Mr. Burns to A. failing grades.

B. the last test.

C. a classroom.

D. rusty nails.

Yes, it was a very pleasant life I lived in those days long ago--though of course I did not think so then. I was nine and a half years old. Like all boys, I wanted to grow up--not knowing how well off I was, with no cares and nothing to worry me. Always I longed for the time when I should be allowed to leave my father's house, to work on one of those brave ships, to sail down the river through the misty marshes to the sea--out into the world to seek my fortune.

The person narrating this story is probably what age?

A. an adult

B. nine and a half

C. we do not know

D. ten and a half

My love

My love is like a red balloonagainst the bluest sky.

It soars along the dovesand flutters like a butterfly.

My love is like a baby's smile.It melts your heart in a beat,

reaches you through all the walls,and wraps you up in a velvet sheet.

Which phrase from the poem makes something seem human?

A. wraps you up in a velvet sheet

B. it soars along the doves

C. reaches you through all the walls

D. flutters like a butterfly

Thomas is worried about the map and the trip. He's never been to Boston. The people he is traveling with aren't very reliable and probably can't read a billboard let alone a map. He is like a jar of butterflies. Luckily, he has a GPS system in his car. Even still, he decides he will pay close attention for his next exit.

What is the effect of the simile used in the passage? A. to show that Thomas is traveling with butterflies

B. to show that Thomas is concerned about getting lost C. to show that Thomas does not drive well D. to show that Thomas' friends cannot be trusted

Count up your points!