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SHS - Literary Devices notes
World Literature (University of Pangasinan)
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LITERARY DEVICES
LD refers to the typical structures used
by the writers in their works to convey his or her
messages in simple manners to the reader.
I. FIGURE OF SPEECH
1. ALLITERATION- repetition of the
consonant sound in a sequence.
EXAMPLES:
◆ Peter Piper picked a pick of pickled
peppers.
◆ “While I nodded, nearly napping,
suddenly there came tapping.” -The
Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
2. ASSONANCE- It is the repetition of the
similar vowel sound in between of the
neighboring words.
EXAMPLES:
◆ "Hear the mellow wedding bells"
◆ “Shine bright like a diamond.”
◆ “He’s so mad, but he won’t give up that
easy? No.”
3. APOSTROPHE-It addresses inanimate
objects as real objects or when the
speaker talks directly to someone who is
not present or is dead.
EXAMPLES:
◆ Oh, trees, how majestic you are as you
throw down your golden leaves.
◆ Dear love, please don't shoot me with
your Cupid's bow.
5. SYNECDOCHE-It is a part used to
represent a whole.
EXAMPLES:
◆
◆
◆
◆
6. HYPERBOLE-It
is
a
ridiculous
exaggeration that can be funny and
makes a point. A figure of speech in
which exaggeration is used for emphasis
or effect.
EXAMPLES:
◆ I am hungry, I could eat a horse.
◆ I waited an eternity for summer to get
here!
◆ I’m starving to death!
7. METAPHOR-A direct comparison of two
dissimilar objects.
EXAMPLES:
◆ Time is money.
◆ Time is a thief.
◆ You are my sunshine.
◆ He has a heart of stone.
◆ He is a shining star.
◆ Your voice is music to my ears.
8. IMAGERY-Language that speaks to your
senses. Words that create a picture in
your mind.
EXAMPLES:
Saturday morning jumped out of bed
and put on my best suit
Got in my car and raced like a jet, all
the way to you
Knocked on your door with heart in my
hand
To ask you a question
4. METONYMY-It refers to a word or phrase
substituted for another to which is
unidentifiable and associated with the
idea
referred
to.
Concrete
representation of ideas.
EXAMPLES:
◆ Crown - in place of a royal person
(We will swear loyalty to the crown.)
◆ Heart - to refer to love or emotion
(My dear, you have all of my heart.)
◆ Ears - for giving attention, listening
(Tell me about your first date. I'm
all ears!)
boots – soldiers
wheels – vehicle
roof – house
sail - ship
9. SIMILE-Comparing two unlike things with
the use of words “like” or “as”
EXAMPLES:
◆
◆
◆
◆
He is as funny as a monkey.
Our soldiers are as brave as lions.
My heart is like an open highway.
You're as cold as ice.
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10. PERSONIFICATION-Giving
human
characteristics to objects, animals, or
ideas. This can really add to a reader's
enjoyment of a poem as it changes the
way he looks at things.
EXAMPLES:
◆ "The sun played hide and seek with the
clouds."
◆ "Opportunity knocked on the door."
◆ "The vines wove their fingers together to
form a braid."
11. ONOMATOPOEIA-Onomatopoeia is
word that imitates the sound
represents.
a
it
EXAMPLES:
◆ Boom,
badoom,
boom,
boom,
badoom, boom, bass. Yeah that super
bass.
◆ Louder, louder than a lion
◆ ‘Cause I am champion and you’re
gonna hear me roar…roar…
12. PARADOX-It reveals something
which at first seems contradictory.
true
14. EUPHEMISM-It is a polite word or phrase
used in place of one that may be too
direct, unpleasant, or embarrassing.
EXAMPLES:
◆
◆
◆
◆
◆
◆
died - passed away
short - vertically challenged
used - pre loved
abortion – pregnancy termination
cheap – economical
broke – negative cash flow
15. OXYMORON-Two words placed close
together which are contradictory, yet
have truth in them.
EXAMPLES:
◆
◆
◆
◆
◆
peaceful war
dark sunshine
known secret
clearly misunderstood
original copy
II. SYMBOLISM- It is using an object or
action that means something more than
its literal meaning.
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:
◆
◆
◆
◆
He was a brave coward.
When you win all the time, you lose.
Save money by spending it.
Truth is honey, which is bitter.
13. ALLUSION-Figure of speech that makes
a reference to a place, event, literary
work, myth, or work of art, either directly
or by implication.
EXAMPLES:
◆ “Don’t act like a Romeo in front of her.”
(“Romeo” is a reference to
Shakespeare’s Romeo, a passionate
lover of Juliet, in “Romeo and Juliet”.)
◆ The girl's love of sweets was her Achilles
heel.
◆ Black is used to represent death or evil.
◆ White stands for life and purity.
◆ Red can symbolize blood, passion,
danger, or immoral character.
◆ Purple is a royal color.
◆ Yellow stands for violence or decay.
◆ Blue represents peacefulness and calm.
◆ A chain can symbolize the coming
together of two things.
◆ A ladder can represent the relationship
between heaven and earth or
ascension.
◆ A mirror can denote the sun but, when it
is broken, it can represent an unhappy
union or a separation.
III. FORESHADOWING-It
occurs
when
future events in a story are suggested by
the author before they actually
happened.
IV. FLASHBACK-A flashback takes the
narrative back in time to an earlier point
in the story. Often used to create
suspense or develop a character
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V. IDIOMS-These are expressions with
meanings different from the literal
meaning of the words.
EXAMPLES:
◆ I got cold feet before my speech.
-I was scared.
◆ My boss gave me the green light
-My boss said yes.
VI. THEME-The theme in a story is
underlying message, or 'big idea.'
its
VII. JUXTAPOSITION-It involves using two
themes, characters, phrases, words or
situations together for comparison
contrast.
EXAMPLES:
◆ What’s good for the goose is good for
the gander.
In this case, the female goose is a
contrast to the male gander, yet what is
good for one is good for the other. This
means that whatever is good for an
individual is for the good of all.
◆ Better late than never.
(While being late is a negative thing, the
possibility of something never
happening or someone never arriving is
much worse. Therefore, this juxtaposition
puts things into perspective.)
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