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Grade: 10 IGCSE A
Subject: English
Worksheet No. 1
Date of sub:
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Topics/Skills covered: Literary Devices Notes/Worksheet
LITERARY DEVICES - NOTES / WORKSHEET
S.No
Name of
Literary Device
1.
Alliteration
2.
Meaning/your
understanding
Examples learnt
Examples
Searched
Examples created
Write-ups where you can
use it
Effect on the reader or
listener‘s mind/reason for
using it
Repetition of similar
consonant sounds
She sells seashells by the seashore
Peter Piper picked
a peck of pickled
peppers
An alligator aimed at
an apple
In titles of stories or
NEWS reports
Catches the reader‘s attention
Allegory
Representing an idea or
event
The novel Animal Farm by George
Orwell is an allegory for the Russian
Revolution, with characters
representing key figures in the
movement
The Christian
imagery
throughout the
story suggests
that Romeo and
Juliet's love is
an allegory to the
relationship of
people with God or
Christ.
In the book series of
Harry Potter
Both Harry and Jesus
had to flee their
birthplace for their
protection because
both had powerful
enemies from the time,
they were very young.
In a poem or picture as a
hidden message
Expressing complex ideas in a
more understandable way
3.
Allusion
An indirect reference to a
person, place, idea, thing
or even
The song ―American Pie‖ by Don
McLean is full of allusions to events
that occurred in the 1950s and 60s.
For instance, ―February made me
shiver‖ is an allusion to the plane
crash that killed Buddy Holly on
February 3, 1959.
His smile is like
kryptonite to me.
Does it count if we
were on a break?
In any kind of Informal
speech or in a story
Allusion can give a deeper
mean to the story by giving
the reader something to relate
to
4.
Analogy
Creates a comparison
between 2 seemingly
different entities are alike,
along with illustrating a
larger point due to their
commonalities.
―What‘s in a name? That which we
call a rose by any other word would
smell as sweet.‖ -William
Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act
2, Scene 2 In this instance, Romeo
is drawing an analogy between
Juliet and a rose.
Life is a box of
chocolates.
Apple is to a tree as
flower is to a plant
In speech writings
mainly (while talking to a
group of people)
Making a comparison that is
memorable, helps the reader
to understand better
5.
Anthropomorph
ism
Giving human traits,
ambitions, emotions, or
entire behaviours
to Animals, non-human
beings, natural
phenomena, or objects.
Inanimate objects such as Mrs.
Potts and Lumiere are
anthropomorphized in Beauty and
the Beast.
In Micky the
Mouse, the mouse
is talking
Simba in the movie
The Lion King
In fictional stories and
kid‘s books. It was
mostly used in Fables
It gives the reader the ability
to relate to inanimate objects
6.
Anachronism
An error of chronology or
timeline in a literary piece.
Mechanical clocks did not exist in
44 A.D., when the play takes place,
so the
inclusion of the clock here is an
anachronism.
Ross also provides
another interesting
anachronism in Act
1, scene 2
of Macbeth by
discussing dollars
even though it
wasn‘t the
monetary unit used
at the time.
In Forrest Gump, the
male lead invests in
Apple in 1975 but
Apple did not go public
till 1980
In fictional Books and
movies
It is usually considered an
error in the story writing, but it
can also give an artistic effect
on the readers mind
7.
Anti-climax
The opposite of climax, a
sudden descent from
higher to lower,
it is chiefly used for the
purpose of satire or
ridicule.
Tension builds in a horror movie as
a young girl approaches a closed
door.
There is a scratching sound coming
from behind the door. When she
opens it,
a cat comes out.
A firefighter enters
a burning house
because he hears
what sounds like a
child crying.
The rollercoaster
reaches the top of the
hill and you brace
yourself to down, but
you instead go steep
instead of down
In an Action movie script
to add some comedy
It gives the reader a little
disappointment but at the
same time it makes them
laugh
8.
Antithesis
It meansopposite;thus, it
is when opposite ideas are
put together in a sentence
to achieve a contrasting
effect.
Man proposes God disposes
Love is an ideal
thing, marriage a
real thing
Many are called, but
few are chosen. (from
the bible) Matthew
22:14
Speeches, though
provoking writ-ups
If used correctly, it highlights
a very small different between
two very similar things
9.
Colloquialism
An informal piece of
dialogue or turn of phrase
used in every day.
conversation.
Contractions such as ―Ain‘t‖ our
colloquialisms that are used in
everydayconversation or dialogue
to make the speaker and speech
sound more authentic.
Go bananas
Wasn‘t born yesterday
In Informal speech
Creates a bond between the
reader and writes, which
makes it easier for the reader
to agree to the writers point of
view which can be used to
make the reader understand
serious issues
10.
Diction
The word choice and
speaking style of a writer
or character.
Diction is involved in almost every
piece of writing because it is a
vehiclefor conveying the tone of the
work. In the Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, Huck
speaks in a distinctive way
characterized by his lack of
education and outsider.
status. This is his diction.
The man spoke to
his father in a low
voice so others
could not hear
As heretofore stated
by the representative
of the firm, any
indication of
microaggression
among colleagues will
not be tolerated.
Used in every form of
writing
It reaveals the writers style of
writing
11.
Elegy
A poem expressing grief
over a death.
O Captain! My Captain! by Walt
Whitman is an elegy for Abraham
Lincoln.
"Because I Could
Not Stop For
Death" by Emily
Dickinson.
"Dirge Without Music"
by Edna St.
In an emotional piece of
writing
Gives the reader sympathy
towards the writer or a
character in the poem
12.
Epiphany
A moment of sudden
realization by a character.
In the movie Clueless, Cher has an
epiphany that she is in love with
her.
stepbrother, Josh.
To keep his
marriage, he must
stop being so
aggressive
He must be a better
man if he wants his
daughters to like him
In a novel or a short
story
Used to change the opinion of
one character about the other
character, events, and places
after a sudden awareness of
the situation
13.
Euphemism
A less provocative or
milder term used in place
of a more explicit or
unpleasant one.
―I have to let you go‖ is
aeuphemistic expression for firing
someone.
Passed away
instead of died
Using vertically
challenged instead of
short
In creative writings
It is used to avoid
confrontation and hurting
people‘s feelings.
14.
Foreshadowing
Hinting at future or
subsequent events to
come to build tension in a
narrative.
In William Shakespeare‘s Macbeth,
the witches portend evil, chanting,
―Something wicked this way
comes.‖
A gun is a sign of
upcoming events
Showing a person
building a bomb
slowing
Thriller novels
It creates suspense in the
readers mind so that the
reader is more interested in
the book
15.
Hyperbole
A statement that is
obviously and intentionally
exaggerated.
―I have a million things to do‖ is a
hyperbolic statement, since no
individual has one million items on
her to-do list.
He's running faster
than the wind
I feel like I have not
eaten in a 100 years
In non-fiction essays,
stories, songs and
poetry
It creates images and makes
the text more dramatic
16.
Idiom
A figure of speech that is
indecipherable based on
the words alone.
―Don‘t cut any corners‖ is an idiom;
on its surface, it doesn‘t make
sensebut is a known phrase that
means don‘t take shortcuts
Pull someone‘s leg
So far so good
In speech, or novel
Idioms are used to express
complex ideas
17.
Imagery
A compilation of sensory
details that enable the
reader to visualize the
event.
―Now small fowls flew screaming
over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen
whitesurf beat against its steep
sides; then all collapsed, and the
great shroud of the searolled on as
it rolled five thousand years ago.‖
—Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
The autumn leaves
are a blanket on
the ground.
She was so pale, she
looked like snow
In descriptive essays
Using imagery, the writes can
make the readers fell what the
writer intends the reader the
feel
18.
Irony
An instance of language
conveying the opposite of
its literal meaning:
● Verbal irony: speech that
conveys the opposite of its
literal meaning
● Situational irony: An
event that occurs that is
the opposite of what is
expected
● Dramatic irony: Usually
applied to theatre or
literature, an instance in
which
the audience knows
something the characters
involved do not
Verbal Irony: ―That‘s nice‖ as a
response to an insulting statement
is an instance of
verbal irony.
Situational irony: In Oedipus Rex,
Oedipus‘s parents abandon him to
prevent the
prophecy of him killing his father
and marrying his mother from
coming true. The
abandonment itself leads him to
fulfil the prophecy.
Dramatic irony: In Psycho, the
audience knows a killer
approaching, but Marion.
does not.
The fire station
burns down
A pilot has a fear of
heights
Any type of writing
To give a humorous effect or
create suspense
19.
Interrogation
This is also known as
Rhetorical Question, as
the question is asked
Am I my brother‘s keeper?
the pope Catholic?
Can fish swim
Persuasive essays
To evoke emotions
nearly to
ask a question.
20.
Juxtaposition
Ideas, people, images,
ideas, or object placed
next to one another to
highlight their differences.
the age of foolishness, it was the
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of
incredulity, itwas the season of
Light, it was the season of
Darkness, it was the spring of hope,
itwas the winter of despair, we had
everything before us, we had
nothing before us,we were all going
direct to Heaven, we were all going
direct the other way.‖
—Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two
Cities
When it rains it
pours
All is fair in love and
war
In literature, drama, and
poetry.
It is used for rhetorical effect
21.
Malapropism
An incorrect word
intentionally or
unintentionally used in
place of a similar sounding
one, sometimes used for
humorous effect.
―Our watch, sir, have indeed
comprehended two auspicious
persons.‖
—William Shakespeare, Much Ado
Without Nothing, Act 3, scene 5
Mrs. Malaprop said,
"Illiterate him quite
from your memory"
He will dissolve my
mystery (used dissolve
instead of resolve)
Speech writing,
It produces a comic effect
22.
Metaphor
A comparison of two
ideas, events,objects, or
people that does not use.
―like‖ or ―as.‖
He fought like a Lion can be written
as he was a lion in the fight
John's suggestion
was just a BandAid for the
problem.
The world is your
oyster
In any kind of writings,
maybe not formal
It creates an image which is
easier to understand
23.
Metonymy
This is a change of name;
an object is designated by
the name ofsomething
which is generally
associated with it.
The Bench, for the judges
The White House.
(Referring to the
American
administration.)
The crown, for the kind
or the power of the
king
In speech writing
To give a more dramatic effect
or make the reader feel more
relatable
24.
Onomatopoeia
A word that is closely
associated or identical to
the sound it describes.
Buzz
The sheep went,
―Baa.‖
The cow went ―moo‖.
Most common is in
descriptive
It adds humour to the poem
25.
Oxymoron
A pairing of seemingly
contradictory terms used
to convey emphasis or
tension.
“A fine mess”: this is an
oxymoronic characterization
because ―fine‖ is.
typically associated with beauty and
order, while ―mess‖ is the opposite.
Act naturally
Pretty ugly
Speech writings, poems,
plays and movie scripts
It enhances the concept
26.
Paradox
An apparent contradiction
that, upon further
unravelling, may
containtruth, used for
effect on the reader.
Hamlet: ―I must be cruel to be kind.‖
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act
3, Scene 4
Save money by
spending it
compulsive liar
Creative writings, story
writings
It gets the readers attention
27.
Personification
Lending descriptions
generally applied to
human beings to
nonhumans.
This term differs
The shadows danced on the wall.
Lightning danced
across the sky
The wind howled in the
night
Story writing
Helps the reader sympathise
with the inanimate objects
fromanthropomorphism in
that the nonhuman entities
are not.
thought to behave in
human-like ways but are
merely described in these
terms.
28.
Pun
This consists in the use of
a word in such a way that
it is capable of morethan
one application, the object
being to produce a
ludicrous effect, for
Is life worth living? – It depends
upon the liver
The duck said to
the bartender ‗put
it on my bill‘.
I was thinking why the
ball was getting bigger.
Then it hit me
Informal writings
It creates a humorous effect
29.
Repetition
Multiple instances of a
word or phrase, often in
succession, used
foremphasis.
―The woods are lovely, dark, and
deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
—Robert Frost‘s Stopping by
Woods on a Snowy Evening
Let it snow, let it
snow, let it snow
It is okay not to be
okay
In political speeches
Helps the reader to
understand the importance of
the situation
30.
Rhyme
Poems often have a fixed
rhyme scheme.
Sonnets have 14 lines with the fixed
rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF
GG.
Rough and cough
Ball and fall
Poems
It gives a rhythm to the writing
piece
31.
Rhythm/Meter
Many poems contain a
repetitive beat or metre.
Tennyson's poem The
Lady of Shalott uses a
strong internal rhythm to
build up the sense of
unrelentingmonotony in
the poem.
Rhythm is the beat and
pace of a poem and is
created by the pattern of
stressed and unstressed.
syllables. It helps in
strengthening the meaning
and ideas of the poem.
There she weaves by night and
day/A magic web with colours gay.
/She has heard a whisper.
say, /A curse is on her if she stay/To
look down to Camelot. /She knows
not what the curse may be, /And so
she weavedsteadily, /And little other
care hath she, /The Lady of Shalott."
Tyger! Tyger!
Burning bright
In the forest of the
night.
What immortal
hand or eye
Could frame thy
fearful symmetry?
Cause I can never let
‘em on top of me
I play ‘em out like a
game of Monopoly
Let ‘em speed around
the board like an Astro
Then send ‘em to jail
for trying to pass Go
Shaking ‘em up,
breaking ‘em up,
taking no stuff
But it still ain‘t loud
enough
Poems
It creates a tone for the poem
32.
Satire
A phrase or entire work
that uses irony to critique
behaviours, events,
people, or vices.
Animal Farm is a work of satire,
critiquing Stalinism, and the
politics.
Soviet Union.
American Dad.
The office is an
example of a satire
Literature, songs and in
everyday life
It is meant to be humorous or
a social criticism
34.
Simile
A comparison between
objects, events, or people
that uses ―like‖ or ―as.‖
―I wandered lonely as a cloud.
that floats on high o‘er vales and
hills.‖
—William Wordsworth, Daffodils
You were as brave
as a lion
I ate like a pig
Anything
Where the writer wants the
reader to relate to them
35.
Symbolism
Something used to
represent a larger concept
In Macbeth, the ―spot‖ Lady
Macbeth cannot get off her dress is
White stands for
life and purity
Purple is a royal colour
Descriptive and story
Give addition meaning to an
action, object or a name,
or idea.
a symbol of her guilt-stained
conscience.
which also allows the writer to
convey something
36.
Synecdoche
An instance of a part
representing a whole or
vice versa.
When someone refers to looking out
at a ―sea of faces,‖ the faces.
represent whole people.
The word "sails" is
often used to refer
to a whole ship
The word "bread" can
be used to represent
food in general or
money
In everything
It allows the reader to
empathize with the writer
37.
Tone
The speaker or narrator‘s
attitude toward the subject
of the piece, distinct
from mood in that it is not
used to evoke a particular
feeling in the reader.
―I shall be telling this with a sigh.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in some wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the
difference.‖
—Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken
―leave me alone‖
said the girl to her
mother,
aggressively
―I really hate this food,
I hate everything, I hate
everyone, now go‖
said the boy to his
friend
In everything
To allow the reader to feel
what the writer is feeling