Pun, Innuendo and Exaggeration

1. LESSON ONE:
LITERARY DEVICES
(Pun, Innuendo, and Exaggeration

2. What is a device?
■ is a technique a writer uses to produce a special effect in their
writing.
■ A device is usually word(s) or phrase(s) in literary texts that
writers employ to achieve not merely artistic ends but also
readers a greater understanding and appreciation of their
literary works.
■ Some examples of common devices are metaphor, simile and
alliteration to name some.
■ In these lessons we will be learning about puns, innuendos,
exaggeration, irony and symbolism.

3. PUN
■ A pun is a play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by
using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting
similar sounding words having different meanings.
■ Humorous effects created by puns depend upon the ambiguities
words entail.The ambiguities arise mostly in homophones and
homonyms.
■ These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use of
homophonic, homographic, metonymic, or figurative language.
■ A play on words that capitalizes on a similarity of spelling and/or
pronunciation between words that have different meanings.
■ To learn about the different types of punsVisit: Literary Devices,
Terms, and Elements: Pun

4. Examples of Puns
■ “Corduroy pillows are making headlines.” The word
“headlines” usually refers to something that is new and
popular, but this pun changes the meaning in that after
having slept on a corduroy pillow, a person would wake up
with lines on their heads.
■ “Atheism is a non-prophet institution” the word “prophet”
is used instead of “profit” to produce a humorous effect as
atheist do not believe that there is a good or a prophet.
■ “Put that down, it’s nacho cheese.” the use of the word
nacho instead of not yours is to create humour as the snack
Nachos carry cheese.
■ Can you think of any other pun you have heard before

6. INNUENDO
■ An indirect or a subtle observation about a thing or a person. It is
generally critical, disparaging or salacious in nature, and its use is
almost always derogatory.
■ An innuendo is when you say something which is polite and innocent
on the surface, but indirectly hints at an insult or rude comment, a
dirty joke, or even social or political criticism.
■ Innuendos are commonly used in everyday conversation as a socially
acceptable way to be critical, mean, sexual, humorous, or even
flirtatious.
■ To learn more about the types of innuendo visit: Literary Devices-
Definition and Examples of LiteraryTerms: Innuendo

7. Examples of Innuendo
■ Mark’s been spending a lot of time with Allison, if you know what I mean.
The use of “if you know what I mean” is a common way to signal to people
that you are using innuendo.The comment implies Mark has been doing
more than simply “spending time” with Allison. In this example, the
statement is used to gossip in a way that is socially acceptable.
■ I’ve found a way to get some “extra help” on the test. The use of quotation
marks to emphasize the phrase “extra help” is a common way to use
innuendo.This implies that the phrase is being used in a special way here
and allows your friend to boast about cheating without admitting that he is
cheating; it’s a safe way to talk about doing something that is not allowed.
■ Hmm. It seems strange that Scott has missed work on yet another Friday,
of all days. This implies that Scott’s reason for missing work is not sickness
but wanting to enjoy a three-day weekend. Perhaps he is not really sick, but
taking a nice trip, going to a concert, or watchingTV.
■ Can you think of any other innuendo you have heard before