Literary Devices

What is a
literary
device?
Literary devices help
to construct the
author’s meaning.
 Literary devices help to
define the author’s/reader’s
purpose.
Literary devices are
found in all types
of writing:
Fiction
Nonfiction
Poetr
y
Did you know that…
 symbolism
is a literary
device…
…not an addiction to percussive
musical instruments?

However, a cymbal could be

used in symbolism.
Symbolism is when an author
uses an object or reference
to add deeper meaning to
their story.
Examples of

symbolism…
Storms often represent conflict
or high emotions.
Flowers can
symbolize
youth or
beauty.
Autumn often
represents
decline or
growing old.
 Popular novels/poems
that contain symbolism…
 The Old
Man and the
Sea
by Ernest
Hemingway
Of Mice and
Men
by John
Steinbeck
The Raven
by Edgar Allan
Poe
 What is another
popular literary device?
Imagery
 Imagery refers to descriptive
language that evokes sensory
experience...
Imagery can be visual:
“a blinding sun.”
Imagery can also be auditory:
“the chiming of the bells.”
Imagery can appeal to
taste:
“the bland taste of
starchy bananas.”
Imagery can convey a scent:
“the aroma of dirty sweat
socks.”
 Imagery can
arouse the sense
of touch:
“snow falling on
your nose.”
 Popular
literary
works that
contain
imagery…
 Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
The Great
Gatsby
by F. Scott
Fitzgerald
Preludes
by T.S. Eliot
Are you

aware…
that simile is a literary
device and a figure of
speech?
Similes indirectly compare
two different things…
by using the
words
“like”, “as”,
or
“than”.
Examples of similes…
“as proud as a peacock”
“fight like a
lion”
“slower
than
a
turtle”
Popular literature
that contains
similes…
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
The Catcher in the
Rye
by J.D. Salinger
 Birches
by Robert Frost
To wrap things
up…
Can you think
of an
example of
symbolism in
literature?
Can you think of a
way to use imagery
in writing to evoke
the senses?
Can you think
of a simile?
HYPERBOLE
an expression which exaggerates an
action so much that it cannot
possibly be true. It is often used to
evoke strong feelings.
For example, the sentence “I have
been waiting here forever!” uses a
hyperbole.
Irony
a contextual device that causes
us to have expectations that are
different from the actual
outcome.
For example, if your doctor was smoking
while talking to you about cancer, it would
be ironic.
 Oxymoron
a term made of two words that are
opposites of each other and
therefore imply each other’s
opposite.

For example, ‘cruel love’ or

‘terrible beauty’
Personification
a technique used to give living,
human characteristics to non-living
objects.

For example, ‘chatter of the brook’

implies that a brook can perform a
living action such as chattering while
it cannot, but conveys the sound.
Metaphor
a comparison device, but without
words such as like or as

For example, ‘She’s LIKE

a real pitbull.’
The End
QUIZ