Literary Devices

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Literary Devices
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Theme

• The idea about life that is revealed in a work of
  literature.
• The moral
• A theme is not the same as the plot!

• Example In the story, Rikki Tikki Tavi, one
  THEME might be It is important to defend your
  home.

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Atmosphere / Mood / Tone

• The overall mood or emotion of a piece.
• The atmosphere of a piece can usually be
  described with an adjective dreamy, happy, sad
  or nostalgic.

Example The story The Naming of Names has a
serious tone.
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Alliteration
-Repetition of the same or similar consonants in
words that appear close together.
Example Susie sells seashells by the seashore.
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Onomatopoeia

• A word that sounds like what it describes.

Examples pop, splash, gush
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Simile

• A comparison between two unlike things, using the
  words like or as.

• Example The stars were like diamonds.

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Metaphor

• A comparison between two unlike things where one
  is said to be the other.

Example My soul is an enchanted boat.
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Personification

• Something that is not human is given a human
  quality.

Example The sun smiled down on the emerald
green field.
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Hyperbole

• Exaggerating to get your point across.
• Stretching the truth to add humor for your
  audience.

Example There was so much snow, it was a new
ice age.
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Denotation

• The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Example tiny very small, diminutive
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Connotation

• The feelings and associations that a word
  suggests.
• Ones personal definition of any word

• Example tiny