Literary Devices

8th Grade Literature and Writing

Imagery

When imagery is used, the author describes a vivid picture to provide the reader with a mental image.

The gushing brook swooshed down the soft green mountain slope that was dotted with small pink and white flowers.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

Personification

Personification is when an object or animal takes on characteristics of a human.

The sun smiled brightly.

The cat sang a sour note as it meowed sorrowful for the long lost kitty.

The laughing cow didn’t make many friends because he ate all the hay.

Irony

Irony is an exaggeration of a situation. It exaggerates by meaning the opposite of what is stated.

What great luck I have when it comes to getting lottery tickets.

The thief was really upset that his most precious and expensive piece of art was stolen.

Tone

Tone is the attitude the author uses to help create the story.

It was a dark and dreary day even at six in the morning.

The snow covered hills stood boldly while the gusty wind blasted a chill upon them.

Conflict

A conflict is the problem a character has to overcome or defeat.

In the story, Zane and the Hurricane, Zane has to figure out a way to reunite with his mother and great grandmother.

Clare Innes in The Great Fire had to figure out how to get to safety and find her family.

Setting

The setting is where and when a story takes place.

In a galaxy far, far, away. . .

He hated doing chores on the farm and couldn’t wait to escape to the big city.

Alliteration

An alliteration is when words have the same beginning sound.

The Wicked Witch of the West went wild!

Green grass grows rapidly in the green garden.

Silly Sally says serious sentences several times a day.

Theme

The theme of the story is the author’s message in the story.

The theme of Romeo and Juliet is love.

A theme for the story All Summer in a Day could be jealousy.

The theme of the movie, The Blind Side is overcoming poverty and adversity.

Plot

The plot of the story is what a story is about.

The plot for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry! is the struggles of a family and how

they defeat racism, segregation and pursue the American dream.

Characters

Characters are the people in the story. A character could also be an animal.

Cassie Logan, Stacey Logan, Christopher John, TJ, Papa, Mama and Big Mama are all characters

in the book, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry!

Simile

A simile is a comparison between objects that use the words like or as.

He danced as graceful as a bull in a glass china shop!

Helen’s smile is like a beam of sunshine!

Metaphor

A metaphor is a comparison that does not use like or as.

The policeman reminded me of a cheerleader while directing traffic with his hands.

The shiny diamond of a moon lit the frosty path.

Allusion

An allusion is a reference to a place, event of literary work such as a story or poem.

The tall prairie grasses reminded him of the series, Little House on the Prairie and western frontier movies.

Paul thinks he is a modern day Robin Hood who takes lunch money from mean kids to feed poor ones.

Flashback

A flashback is a reference to an event that has happened in the past that the narrator refers to while telling the story.

Back in the day when I was a young girl. . .

I remember as though it were yesterday when we sailed on the Titanic.

The whistling reminded me of the day we took the long car ride to California when I was seven years old.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a literary device that is an over exaggeration.

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!

She is so busy, she meets herself coming and going.

Larry is so tired, he could fall asleep standing up.

Symbolism

Symbolism is a literary device that has different layers of meaning.

There is a new dawn upon us.

“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.”

A black cloud of death swept over the house.

He gave me the red rose to let me know he loved me.

Foreshadowing

When an author uses the literary device of foreshadowing, the author gives the reader a hint about something that will happen in the future.

Because he had no idea of the damage the floodwaters had caused to his home, he approached a disaster unknowingly.

The minute I turned on the light, I knew things would not be good.

Mood

The mood of a story refers to the emotional and mental state that the author wants the reader to adopt.

The movie Hunger Games is filled with adventure and excitement in every scene!

I cry every time I read the book, The Fault in Our Stars.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that makes a sound.

BAM! BAM! BAM! Went the hunter’s gun as he shot at the young running buck.

Swish! Swish! Went the broom as I hurried to clean up the broken glass.