LITERARY DEVICES Learn about literary devices in English Learn with examples Figure of speech

to access free topic sheets worksheets or to book an online class visit ilearneasy.co.uk metaphor metaphor compares two different things this includes objects ideas feelings or thoughts we say that something is something else remember that we can also use other forms of the verb to be for example am are was and were for example jim is giraffe so this doesn't literally mean that jim is giraffe instead this metaphor compares jim with giraffe although they are two different things they're being compared due to their common characteristic which is their height so essentially i'm saying that jim is very tall metaphors make sentences more interesting and create an image in the reader's mind so rather than just saying jim is tall use the metaphor jim is giraffe another example is life is roller coaster again i'm comparing two different things life and roller coaster i'm comparing them due to their common characteristic which is that they both have highs and lows remember that metaphor is figure of speech this means that it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning simile simile compares two different things we say that something is like or as something else for example jim is as tall as giraffe in this example the simile compares two different things that are compared due to their common characteristic which is their height so essentially i'm saying that jim is very tall the simile makes the sentence more interesting and creates an image in the reader's mind rather than simply just saying jim is tall another example is she swam like fish again this simile compares two different things due to their common characteristic which is that they can both swim very well remember that simile is figure of speech this means that it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning lastly remember that similes always includes the words like or as onomatopoeia onomatopoeia is word that sounds like what it describes it's language technique used to make writing more interesting and helps the reader to hear the sounds in their minds for example the water went splash when jumped into it the emphasis is on the sound the water makes splash this is the onomatopoeia the lion roared loudly the onomatopoeia is roared this emphasizes the sound the lion makes another example is the balloon popped the onomatopia in this sentence emphasizes the sound the balloon makes personification personification is when we assign human qualities to something that isn't human these can be movements emotions or senses for example the tree is dancing in the wind so we know that trees don't have the human quality of dancing however this language technique makes the sentence more interesting and creates an image in the reader's minds it sounds more interesting than just saying the tree is moving in the wind another example is the stars winked in the night sky remember that personification is figure of speech therefore it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning idiom an idiom is group of words that have different meaning from the literal meaning they're interesting ways to get point across idioms are commonly used in spoken english for example break leg so this doesn't literally mean break leg rather it means good luck for example could say know you can do well on your exam break leg another example is the exam was piece of cake so this means that the exam was very easy it's important to learn the meanings of different idioms as they're commonly used in everyday spoken english remember that an idiom is figure of speech this means that it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning alliteration alliteration is the repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words alliteration is used to make writing more interesting for the reader usually in poems it also creates rhythm and sets the mood it's important to note that different repeated sounds will have different effect on the reader for example the sly snake slithers slowly in the sand the repeated sound in the sentence suggests snake-like qualities such as the movement of the snake or danger another example is fair is foul and foul is fair hyperbole hyperbole is an exaggerated statement it describes something to be worse or better than it actually is it's way to catch the reader's attention and to make writing more interesting for example they were dying of laughter this is an exaggerated statement to emphasize that they were laughing so much it doesn't literally mean that they were dying another example is my suitcase weighs ton again this is an exaggerated statement to emphasize how heavy my suitcase is remember that hyperbole is figure of speech this means that it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning assonance assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sound in sentence this language device is used to make writing more interesting and fun for the reader assonance is usually used in poems it also creates rhythm sets the mood and allows the sentences to flow the vowels are each vowel has two sounds short vowel sound and long vowel sound for example sam claps his hands and stamps his feet in this example the short vowel is repeated another example is the rain in spain falls mainly on the plane in this example the long vowel sound is repeated oxymoron an oxymoron is sentence or phrase with two opposite or contradicting words oxymorons are used to interest the reader and causes the reader to pay attention to what they're reading it also adds some playfulness in the sentence for example the chair is pretty ugly pretty and ugly are opposites another example is alex is seriously funny serious and funny are opposites remember that an oxymoron is figure of speech this means that it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning pan apan is humorous use of words that convey another meaning puns are commonly used in everyday spoken english we can also use puns in writing to make our writing more interesting to the reader and to create humorous effect for example like kids but don't think could eat whole one in this example the word kid has two meanings it can refer to child or young goat so this pun adds humorous effect to the sentence another example is boiled egg for breakfast is hard to beat in this example the word beet has two meanings remember that pan is figure of speech this means that it shouldn't be taken literally as the words in the sentence convey different meaning you