Literary Devices & Figurative Language

He has the Midas touch

Allusion

Allusion

● A brief and indirect reference to a

person, place, thing, or idea of historical,

cultural, literary, or political significance.

● It does not describe in detail the person

or thing to which it refers.

The sibilant sermons of the

snake as she discoursed upon

the disposition of my sinner's

soul seemed ceaseless.

Alliteration

Alliteration

● Alliteration is the repetition of the same

initial consonant sounds in a sequence

of words.

● It is often used in poetry and prose to

create rhythm and mood.

I’m so hungry I could eat a

horse.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole

● Hyperbole is a figure of speech that

uses extreme exaggeration to make a

point or show emphasis.

● It is often used for comedic effect or to

create a strong impression.

Wear my heart upon my

sleeve.

Idiom

Idiom

● An idiom is a common expression whose

meaning cannot be understood from the

literal meanings of the words that make it up.

● Idioms often reflect cultural nuances and can

be challenging for non-native speakers.

A fire station burns down.

Irony

Irony

● A contrast between expectation and

reality.

● It can be verbal, situational, or

dramatic.

Bittersweet

Oxymoron

Oxymoron

● a combination of contradictory or

incongruent words.

● It is often used to create a new

meaning or to highlight a particular

quality.

Less is More

Paradox

Paradox

● A paradox is a statement that

contradicts itself but may still be true.

● It often provokes thought and

challenges conventional wisdom.

Oxymoron vs Paradox

• Oxymoron focuses on the contratictory meanings of the words

• Paradox focuses on the contradiction in the ideas

Bang

Boom

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

● Onomatopoeia refers to words that

sound like what they describe.

● It is commonly used in poetry and

literature to create vivid imagery.

The snow was a white

blanket

Metaphor

Metaphor

● A metaphor asserts that one thing is

another, helping to illustrate a point

or idea.

● It is used to create connections and

deepen understanding.

The wind whispered

through the trees

Personification

Personification

● Giving human traits to non-human

things.

● It helps create relatable imagery and

emotional connections.

Cool as a cucumber

Simile

Simile

● A simile is a comparison that

highlights similarities between two

different things.

● Compares two different things using

"like" or "as."