LiteraryLiteraryDevicesDevices

Techniques Writer’s Use to Techniques Writer’s Use to

Make the Reading ExperienceMake the Reading Experience

More More InterestingInteresting

FlashbackFlashback An interruption of the action to An interruption of the action to

present events that took place present events that took place at an earlier time.at an earlier time.

Example: Example: In the “Christmas In the “Christmas Day in the Morning” story, Rob Day in the Morning” story, Rob thinks back to the time when thinks back to the time when his father told him the Bible his father told him the Bible story of Jesus’ birth.story of Jesus’ birth.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing Hints the writer gives to Hints the writer gives to

suggest future events in a suggest future events in a story.story.

Example: Example: In the myth of In the myth of “Icarus and Daedalus” “Icarus and Daedalus” Daedalus warns his son Daedalus warns his son about flying to close to the about flying to close to the sun.sun.

SuspenseSuspense Feeling of growing Feeling of growing

tension and tension and excitement felt by excitement felt by reader; makes the reader; makes the reader curious about reader curious about the outcomethe outcome

FigurativeFigurative LanguageLanguage

Identifying Identifying

Metaphor, Simile, HyperboleMetaphor, Simile, Hyperbole

Personification and IronyPersonification and Irony

PurposesPurposes Capture the reader’s interestCapture the reader’s interest Intensify the intended meaningIntensify the intended meaning Strengthen reader’s mental envisioningStrengthen reader’s mental envisioning Contribute to the mood or toneContribute to the mood or tone Help the reader make personal Help the reader make personal

connectionsconnections

SimileSimile A literary A literary

comparison using comparison using “like” or “as”“like” or “as”

Example: Example: Mary had Mary had a little lamb, its a little lamb, its fleece was white as fleece was white as snowsnow..

MetaphorMetaphor A literary A literary comparisoncomparison

between two things in which between two things in which something is described as something is described as though it were something though it were something else. This type of comparison else. This type of comparison does not use “like” or “as.”does not use “like” or “as.”

Example: Example: Ronnie Ronnie isis a pig a pig when he eats.when he eats.

HyperboleHyperbole A literary technique that A literary technique that

uses uses exaggerationexaggeration for for emphasis or humorous emphasis or humorous effecteffect

Example: Example: Sherri said she Sherri said she was so hungry she could was so hungry she could eat an elephant.eat an elephant.

PersonificationPersonification A literary technique A literary technique

where non-human things where non-human things are given human are given human characteristicscharacteristics

Example: Example: The graceful The graceful tree stretched out her tree stretched out her branches to touchbranches to touch the the sky.sky.

IronyIrony A literary technique that A literary technique that

involves surprising, interesting, involves surprising, interesting, or amusing or amusing contradictionscontradictions. A . A contrast between expectation contrast between expectation and reality. and reality.

Example: Example: The scientific genius The scientific genius Albert Einstein flunked out of Albert Einstein flunked out of math when he was in high math when he was in high school.school.

Correctly Correctly Identify the Identify the following following Phrases…Phrases…

1. Personification, Simile or Metaphor1. Personification, Simile or Metaphor

He wore a white oxford He wore a white oxford (shirt) that was perfectly (shirt) that was perfectly pressed and smooth as a pressed and smooth as a newborn’s flesh.newborn’s flesh.

--Mauren Stuart

Elements of Literature, First Course

2. Personification, Simile or 2. Personification, Simile or HyperboleHyperbole

““Your grandmother must Your grandmother must be as old as dirt,” be as old as dirt,” Jonathan whispered to Jonathan whispered to Joy.Joy.

3. Irony, Simile or Metaphor3. Irony, Simile or Metaphor

Even at nighttime Mama Even at nighttime Mama is a sunrise that promises is a sunrise that promises tomorrow and tomorrow.tomorrow and tomorrow.

--Evelyn Tooley Hunt

Elements of Literature, First Course

4. Irony, Hyperbole, or Simile 4. Irony, Hyperbole, or Simile

My sister wears so much My sister wears so much make-up that she loses make-up that she loses 30 pounds when she 30 pounds when she takes it off at night.takes it off at night.

5. Personification, Simile or 5. Personification, Simile or HyperboleHyperbole

The old car grumbled as The old car grumbled as grandpa tried to start the grandpa tried to start the engine. engine.

6. Irony, Personification, Metaphor6. Irony, Personification, Metaphor

When Brooke, the drama queen, When Brooke, the drama queen, tried out for the school play, she tried out for the school play, she was certain she would be awarded was certain she would be awarded the lead part. However, when the the lead part. However, when the cast list was posted she had been cast list was posted she had been assigned to be the leading lady’s assigned to be the leading lady’s servant.servant.

7. Irony, Personification, Hyperbole7. Irony, Personification, Hyperbole

Mr. Richards, an 89-year old Mr. Richards, an 89-year old man, won the PowerBall lottery man, won the PowerBall lottery for $7.8 million, and died in his for $7.8 million, and died in his sleep that same day.sleep that same day.

8. Personification, Simile or Metaphor8. Personification, Simile or Metaphor

For most of November, winter For most of November, winter toyed with Two Mills, whispered toyed with Two Mills, whispered in its ear, tickled it under the in its ear, tickled it under the chin.chin.

--Jerry Spinelli

Maniac Magee

9. Hyperbole, Simile or Irony9. Hyperbole, Simile or Irony

High above, a silver plane High above, a silver plane crossed the sky, silent as a crossed the sky, silent as a spider.spider.

--Jerry Spinelli

Maniac Magee

10. Hyperbole, Simile or Irony10. Hyperbole, Simile or Irony

I have a million things to do I have a million things to do today complained Ms. Fredrick today complained Ms. Fredrick as she hurried across the as she hurried across the parking lot.parking lot.

11. Irony, Simile or Metaphor11. Irony, Simile or Metaphor

““Humor is the shock absorber of Humor is the shock absorber of life; it helps us take the blows.”life; it helps us take the blows.”

--Peggy Noonan

12. Personification, Simile or 12. Personification, Simile or MetaphorMetaphor

Although the cowboy pushed Although the cowboy pushed with all his might, the heavy with all his might, the heavy rock refused to budge.rock refused to budge.

13. Personification, Simile or 13. Personification, Simile or MetaphorMetaphor

He slithered into town quietly so He slithered into town quietly so no one would notice when he no one would notice when he dug his fangs in and slowly dug his fangs in and slowly poisoned their minds.poisoned their minds.

14. Personification, Simile or 14. Personification, Simile or MetaphorMetaphor

He took a step further into the He took a step further into the room, his head swinging from room, his head swinging from side to side like an old tiger side to side like an old tiger scenting prey.scenting prey.

--Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book

15. Metaphor, Simile, Irony15. Metaphor, Simile, Irony

A poacher who killed elephants for their tusks snuck A poacher who killed elephants for their tusks snuck into a wild life refuge's animal hospital area to kill a into a wild life refuge's animal hospital area to kill a sick elephant because he thought it would be easy sick elephant because he thought it would be easy money. The elephant's problem was apparently money. The elephant's problem was apparently constipation, and the medicine they gave the old constipation, and the medicine they gave the old fellow decided to take effect about this time. The fellow decided to take effect about this time. The poacher was trying to sneak up behind the elephant, poacher was trying to sneak up behind the elephant, trying to get close enough to pop it with a tranquilizer trying to get close enough to pop it with a tranquilizer without making too much noise. As he got just behind without making too much noise. As he got just behind the elephant, out gushed about 2 weeks worth of... the elephant, out gushed about 2 weeks worth of... well... crap. The poacher was completely buried and well... crap. The poacher was completely buried and smothered to death.smothered to death.

Review Your NotesReview Your Notes

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

Name an example of either hyperbole or personification in song lyrics.

What is the most suspenseful movie you have ever watched?

Which television series often uses flashbacks?