Alliteration, Personification,

Allusion, and Hyperbole

Other Literary Devices

Have you noticed that many products and places have names that repeat the initial sound in two or more words?

The Party Palace Crafty Karen Daren’s Delicious Delights This is Alliteration: The repetition of

the initial sound in two or more words in order to create an auditory effect.

The snake slithered on the sand. Can you “hear” the snake?

ALLITERATION

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE ALLITERATED SOUND IN EACH SENTENCE?

Lefty Lyle left his car outside. L The new moon shined with a shimmery gray.

Sh Ten tired toddlers tumbled to bed together.

THe folded the faded flag at the ceremony.

FDonna did not do the dishes. D

PERSONIFICATION A writer uses this technique by

giving animals, nature and inanimate objects human characteristics. It is used widely in comedy and children’s stories.

The sun beat down with hot malice.

The mouse said to the lion,”Please, don’t eat me!”

The tree branches surrounded the baby with love and tenderness.

IDENTIFY THE HUMAN CHARACTERISTIC IN EACH PERSONIFIED TEXT.

The sun beat down with hot malice.

Only humans are capable of malice.

The mouse said to the lion,”Please, don’t eat me!”

Only humans can talk, not mice. The tree branches surrounded the baby with love and tenderness.

Branches are not capable of intention.

The soft grass invited us to lay down.

People invite, not grass.

The writer uses an exaggeration to cause an impression in a more imaginative way. Sometimes, it may combine the use of a metaphor, simile or other technique of literature:

The baby cried like an ambulance siren. (simile + hyperbole)

She is just a big marshmellow. (metaphor + hyperbole) Harry almost died when he heard

the good news.(alliteration + hyperbole)

HYPERBOLE

ELIMINATE THE NON-HYPERBOLES: Helen drinks gallons of cola every day.

Her belt size is “equator”. I love to watch science fiction. He is as tall as a tower. That dog barks like a foghorn. My boss argues with me everyday. I will die if you see me like this! Please, drink all your milk.

ALLUSION In this technique, the writer refers to a

historical or literary event in order to illustrate or clarify a present idea. It may cite a famous literary text or a recognizable historical moment:

Mary said, “To be or not to be. That is the question”.

(Shakespeare’s Hamlet) John reminded me of Martin Luther King

when he said,”I have a dream”. (famous speech)

It sounded like the Civil War in there. (historical event)

CLASSIFY AS A HYPERBOLE, AN ALLITERATION, A PERSONIFICATION

OR AN ALLUSION:

John and Mary are the Beauty and the Beast.

Allusion: Refers to a famous story or movie

The warm, summer breeze whispered words of peace to my ears.

Personification: breeze does not speak Calvin carefully cut the cucumber in half. Alliteration: the “C” is alliterated I was so thirsty I could drink up the Gulf of

Mexico. Hyperbole: It is an exaggeration

WRITE A CINQUAIN USING 2 TECHNIQUES FOR 24 PTS. It is a traditional French poem with 5 lines, and a

specific number of words in each line. One word ________

Three words _______ ________ ________ Five words _______ _______ ________ _________ _______

Three words _______ ________ _______ One word ________

This example uses personification:Flowers

They are pretty!Can tell us about life:

Life is short…Transitions

EXAMPLES OF CINQUAINSCOUNT THE WORDS:

ImaginationI am alive!

I can sing so softly, (alliteration)Jump over mountains, (hyperbole)

Imagine!

MoonIt is sad (personification)

It floats quietly waiting forAnother Apollo 17 (allusion)

NASA!

MORE EXAMPLESBaby

Cute, cuddly baby (alliteration)He is in my arms

Don’t ever go! (hyperbole)Stay!

TreesCall to me (personification)

They are my whole life (hyperbole)Give me oxygen

Beautiful!

RUBRIC WRITE 1 CINQUAIN INCLUDING 2 TECHNIQUES FROM THE LESSON, LIKE THE EXAMPLES.

CRITERIA 4 Awesome

3 Admirable

2 Acceptable

1 Amateur

TOTAL24 pts.

On time

Correct spelling

Used 1 of the techniquesUsed another techniqueMeaningful contentCommented on at least 2 peers