Literary Devices Terms with the Definitions Answers to Write Your Own Literary Devices Simile The bells sounded like clanging pots as they rang. On Christmas Day, I am as happy as

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Literary Devices Terms with the Definitions

Literary devices are used by a writer to help the reader see, feel, hear, and experience what the

writer is writing about through the use of certain types of words and phrases. Below are some

common types of literary devices used by writers.

imagery – The use of words to create a picture for the reader with explicit details and using the

five senses to allow the reader to experience what the author is portraying in the story.

simile – A comparison between two different objects using “like” or “as”.

metaphor – A comparison between two different objects NOT using “like” or “as”. The

metaphor actually says one thing IS another thing.

personification – Giving a non-human thing the characteristics of a human thing or the ability to

perform a human action.

alliteration – When words around one another have the same sound repeated for effect and to

create a mood.

hyperbole – An exaggerated statement to make an impact and have effect.

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Literary Devices Terms – Fill in the Definitions

imagery –

simile –

metaphor –

personification –

alliteration –

hyperbole –



Examples of Literary Devices

Imagery

Imagery uses words that are specific details about what the reader sees, hears, feels, tastes, or

smells as the writer describes a scene. It allows the reader to envision and experience what is

happening as the writer describes it.

This description of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens uses imagery to

describe in detail what Scrooge looked like, was feeling, and what he sounded like in the cold

weather.

“The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek,

(sense of feeling) (sense of sight is description)

stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue and spoke out shrewdly in his grating

(sense of feeling or sight) (sense of sight) (sense of hearing)

voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin.”

(sense of sight) (sense of sight)

Simile

A simile is a comparison between two different unalike object using either the word “like” or

“as” in the comparison.

For example:

Rudolph's nose is as red as a stoplight. (Rudolph’s nose is being compared to a stoplight using

“as” in the comparison.)

Rudolph's nose was like a shiny Christmas ornament. (Rudolph’s nose is being compared to an

ornament using “like” in the comparison.)

When Dickens describes Scrooge’s deceased partner, Marley with this simile –

“Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.”

Here, Old Marley is being compared to a doornail using the word “as” in the comparison.



When Scrooge returns home from work, Dickens explains what he hears when he enters his

home with a simile –

“The sound resounded through the house like thunder.”

Here, the sound Scrooge heard is being compared to thunder using the word “like”.

Metaphor

A metaphor is a comparison between two different objects NOT using “like” or “as”. The

metaphor actually says one thing IS another thing.

For example:

Rudolph's nose is a stoplight. (Rudolph’s nose is being compared to a stoplight, but saying it “is”

a stoplight.)

Rudolph's nose was a shiny Christmas ornament. (Rudolph’s nose is being compared to an

ornament, but saying it “was” an ornament.)

When Marley visits and speaks to Scrooge he describes why he is so miserable after he has

passed away and blames it on how he conducted his life on Earth (describing how he should

have been focusing more time on helping his fellow man instead of focusing on making money

for his business) with this metaphor –

“The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my

business.”

Here, Marley compares his “dealings of my trade” with “a drop of water” and does not use the

word “like” or “as”, but instead says that the dealings were a drop of water.

(He means that his business dealings should have been small compared to the amount of time he

should have been focusing on doing good things to help out his fellow humans.)



Personification

Personification is giving a non-human thing the characteristics of a human thing or the ability to

perform a human action.

For example:

The aroma from the tree waltzed over to me. (The aroma is being given the human ability to

waltz.)

The snow moaned under the incredible weight of our car. (The snow is being given the human

ability to moan.)

When Dickens describes the clock tower outside his office in the square, he uses personification

that gives the clock human characteristics (like body parts it doesn’t have) and human abilities

(like seeing with eyes it doesn’t have).

“ The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slyly down at

Scrooge…”

(Here, Dickens gives the human characteristic of being gruff and old as if it is an old man and

has the ability to have a gruff personality. He also gives the clock eyes and the ability to see or

“peep down”)

“…with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up

there.”

(Here, Dickens gives the clock the body parts of teeth and the ability to feel the cold so that its

teeth chatter. He also gives the clock a head and the ability to feel frozen.)

Alliteration

Alliteration is when the writer uses words close to one another that have the same sound in them

and is repeated for effect and to create a mood.

For example:

Crazy kids clamor for candy canes and Christmas cookies. (The alliteration is the “k” sound – it

doesn’t matter that the letters are different as long as it makes the “k” sound.)

Toy trains travel and toot along the track. (The alliteration is the “t” sound.)



When Dickens describes Marley with -

“Marley was as dead as a doornail.”

The “d” sound here is repeated and creates an effect or mood with its heavy sound.

“To see the dingy cloud come drooping down…”

Again, the “d” sound here is repeated and creates an effect or mood of something heavy and

drooping as described.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole is an exaggerated statement to make an impact and have effect on the reader.

Dickens has Scrooge in the story say, "If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly,

"Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own

pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!"

This is an exaggeration of Scrooge’s feelings toward those who enjoy Christmas and his feelings

about Christmas so the reader understands how strongly Scrooge feels about it.



Now Write Your Own Literary Devices

Simile

The bells sounded like_____________________________________________________ .

On Christmas Day, I am as _________________________________________________

happy as a _______________________________________________________________.

The snowboarder was as fast as_______________________________________________.

The candy cane was as sweet as_______________________________________________.

The Christmas tree was like a ________________________________________________ .

Metaphor

The snowflake is a ___________________________________________________________.

Santa Clause is a _______________________________________________________________.

The stars were _________________________________________________ in the sky.

The snow was a _______________________________________________________________ .



Personification

The leaves ___________________________________________________________________ .

The flowers __________________________________________________________________ .

The Christmas lights ___________________________________________________________ .

The candle flame ______________________________________________________________ .

Alliteration

Write some sentences about Christmas that use words with the same sounds.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Hyperbole

Write some sentences that use exaggerations to describe some Christmas sights, sounds, scents,

or feelings.

1.

2.

3.



Possible Answers to Write Your Own Literary Devices

Simile

The bells sounded like clanging pots as they rang.

On Christmas Day, I am as happy as a puppy with a new chew toy.

The snowboarder was as fast as lightning.

The candy cane was as sweet as a bowl full of sugar.

The Christmas tree was like a lighthouse in the middle of the living room with its bright lights.

Metaphor

The snowflake is a puzzle of shapes and designs.

Santa Clause is a large elf.

The stars were diamonds in the sky.

The snow was a blanket of white satin.



Personification

The leaves leapt and twirled through the sky as they fell to the ground.

The flowers bowed and dipped in the wind.

The Christmas lights winked at us as we drove through our neighborhood.

The candle flame blinked as I blew out the candle.

Alliteration

Write some sentences about Christmas that use words with the same sounds.

1. Santa's super sleigh slips so swiftly through the snow.

2. Chilly children cheer and chant.

3. Tiny Tim trims the tallest tree with tons of terrific tinsel.

4. Red-nosed Rudolph romps readily 'round ruby wreaths.

Hyperbole

Write some sentences that use exaggerations to describe some Christmas sights, sounds, scents,

or feelings.

1. The fruitcake was so hard to cut you could use it as a doorstop.

2. The little boy believed Christmas would never come.

3. Christmas Eve went on forever as I waited for Christmas morning.


Imagery – Sight Details




Alliteration “nestled” “snug”

Alliteration “shutters” “sash

”

Alliteration “when” “what” “wondering”

Personification – visions danced

Imagery - sound “clatter”

Simile – “I” compared to “flash” using “like”



Imagery – Sound “whistled” “shouted” “called”

Alliteration “prancing” “pawing” Imagery – Sound “prancing” “pawing”

Simile – comparing the reindeer to leaves using “as”





Simile – “he” (meaning Santa) compared to “peddler” using “like”

Simile – “His cheeks” compared to “roses” using “like”; “his nose” compared to “a cherry”

Simile – “mouth” compared to “a bow” using “like”

Simile – “beard of his chin” compared to “snow” using “as”

Simile – “smoke” compared to “a wreath” using “like”

Simile – “belly” compared to “bowl full of jelly” using “like”

Metaphor – “He” (Santa) compared to “a jolly old elf” using “was”

Simile – “reindeer” compared to “down of a thistle” using “like”

The Grinch Theme Song

“Mr. Grinch” (Lyrics by Dr. Seuss)

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a heel,

You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch,

You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch,

Your heart’s an empty hole, your brain is full of spiders,

You have garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch,

I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole!

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, you have termites in your smile,

You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch,

Given a choice between the two of you, I’d take the seasick crocodile!

You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch, you’re the king of sinful sots,

Your heart’s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch,

You’re a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce.

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, with a nauseous super “naus”!

You’re a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch,

Your soul is an appalling dump heap

overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled knots!

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch,

You’re a nasty wasty skunk,

Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch,

The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, “stink, stank, stunk”!

The Grinch Theme Song

“Mr. Grinch” (Lyrics by Dr. Seuss) (Imagery is used through out to paint visual images of Mr. Grinch in great detailed descriptions – the use of hyperbole (exaggeration)

is also used to add to the description of how terrible Mr. Grinch really is.)

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch, you really are a heel,

You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch, (simile- Grinch compared to cactus and eel using

“as”) (alliteration – “cuddly” “cactus”)

You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel! (metaphor – Grinch compared to banana using “you are”) (alliteration –

“bad” “banana” “black”)

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch, (metaphor – Grinch compared to monster using “you are”)

Your heart’s an empty hole, your brain is full of spiders, (metaphor – Grinch’s heart compared to an empty hole)

You have garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch,

I wouldn’t touch you with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole!

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch, you have termites in your smile,

You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch, (alliteration – “sweetness” “seasick”)

Given a choice between the two of you, I’d take the seasick crocodile!

You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch, you’re the king of sinful sots, (metaphor – Grinch compared to a rotter (stingy person))

(alliteration – “sinful” “sots”)

Your heart’s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch, (metaphor – Grinch’s heart to a dead

tomato)

You’re a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce. (metaphor – Grinch compared to a

sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich) (alliteration – “sauerkraut” “toadstool” “sandwich” “arsenic sauce”)

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch, with a nauseous super “naus”! (alliteration – “nauseate” “nauseous” “super” “naus”)

You’re a crooked dirty jockey and you drive a crooked hoss, Mr. Grinch, (metaphor – Grinch compared to a cheating

jockey)

Your soul is an appalling dump heap (metaphor – Grinch’s soul compared to a dump heap)

overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of rubbish imaginable mangled up in tangled knots!

You’re a foul one, Mr. Grinch,

You’re a nasty wasty skunk, (metaphor – Grinch compared to a skunk)

Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch,

The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote, “stink, stank, stunk”! (alliteration – “stink” “stank”

“stunk”)

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Literary Devices Terms with the Definitions Answers to Write Your Own Literary Devices Simile The bells sounded like clanging pots as they rang. On Christmas Day, I am as happy as