This document provides an overview of 13 common literary devices and how they can be used to add impact to speaking or writing. It defines each device and provides examples. Literary devices discussed include allusion, foreshadowing, irony, alliteration, consonance, assonance, onomatopoeia, euphemism, hyperbole, idiom, metaphor, simile, and personification. The document concludes by assigning students a poster project where they must define and provide examples of 8 different literary devices.

1. Literary Devices!
USED FOR ADDING FLARE & IMPACT TO YOUR SPEAKING
*SONGS ARE FULL OF LITERARY DEVICES

2. Literary Device-
Used to help make a simple narrative into something beautiful, striking,
or memorable in some other way.
Attention GRABBING

3. 1. Allusion…
Is a direct or indirect reference to a specific person,
event, time, or work.
It allows you to get your point across w/o going into
lengthy explanation
◦ I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s
◦ When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge.
◦ I just went all Jackie Chan on him.
◦ I am afraid of heights, but I am no cowardly lion.
◦ Abby yelled, “Don’t treat me like Cinderella. I cannot get all
that stuff done!”

4. 2. Foreshadowing-
Use of clues to hint at what is going to
happen later in the plot or speech.
◦ Or new movie that is to come.
◦ Like Katniss killing the new President.

5. 3. Irony-
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
In simple words, it is a difference between the
appearance and the reality.
He was 6 ft tall 300 pounds and called “Tiny”
Fire station is on fire.

6. 4. Alliteration-
Repetition of same consonant or vowel sounds in words at the beginning of
the word.
Fiddler fought firefighters.
“Pigeons play ping pong.”
“Drawn into the dark deep recessions of doom, Donny drank his sorrows
away.”

7. Examples in Speeches-
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said about US/GB
relationship- Friendship forged and formed over two hundred
years.
Veni Vedi Veci- Caesar

8. 5. Consonance-
Repetition of consonance sounds at the end or middle of a
word.
◦ Known as an approximate rhyme.
◦ Makes prose sound more appealing/poetic
◦ Adds a lyrical feel
◦ Think Dr. Suess
Depressed and stressed, Dori dressed for success.

9. 6 Assonance-
Repetition of vowel sounds with words and phrases
Assonance is primarily used in poetry in order to
add rhythm and music, by adding an internal rhyme to a
poem

10. 7. Onomatopoeia
Naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated
with it.
Zoom Pow Kaboom

11. 8. Euphemism
Literary practice of using a comparatively milder or less
abrasive form of a negative description instead of its
original, unsympathetic form
Ex- Dolly was “put out to the pasture” (dead)
Ex- Preowned car (used)
Ex- Maintenance engineer (Janitor)

12. 9. Hyperbole-
Extreme exaggeration to prove a point.
Ex. He was so angry he was ready to explode.
Ex. I’m so tired I could not move another inch.

13. 10. Idiom
a group of words established by usage as
having a meaning not deducible from those
of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and
dogs, see the light ).

14. 11. Metaphor-
Makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things
withoutusing a connective word such as like, as,
than or resembles.
America is a melting pot
We went to cash the check of justice at the bank of
freedom.

15. 12. Simile-
Compares two nouns using like or as
She stood strong, like a bulldozer.

16. 13. Personification-
Using a nonhuman thing and giving it human characteristics
The stream roared.
The rock seemed to chuckle as it impeded the weary
traveler.

17. Assignment- Literary Device
Poster
Take 8 literary devices.
◦ Label and define each literary device
◦ Provide 2 examples. (Do not use the examples from this presentation,
create your OWN!!!)
◦ Draw picture of 1 of the examples given.
In the end you should have 8 words, 8 definitions, 8 pictures, and 16
examples.
Hint- do ones you struggle with so they are easier to remember.