Literary Devices

Cornell Notes10/15/12

question or key point

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• Information and notes go here

What are literary

devices?

• A literary device is something that an author intentionally includes in pieces of writing.

• Also known as literary techniques or figurative language

mood/atmosphere

• the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage

• Example: – "Ask not what your country can

do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.“

--John F. Kennedy

– Supposed to make you feel empowered and good about your country.

alliteration

• the repetition of initial consonant sounds

• used to draw attention to certain words or idea

• example: – She sells seashells by the

seashore. – What consonant sound is

repeated here?

rhyme

• the repetition of sounds at the ends of words

endrhyme

• the repetition of sounds at the ends of lines of poetry

Roses are redViolets are blueI like rhyming, How about you?

internalrhyme

• rhyming words within lines of poetry

• used to make poetry flow better

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary

personification

• a type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics

• Example: The hair on his arms stood straight up when he was afraid.

metaphor

• a figure of speech in which something is described as though it were something else.

• Example: She was fairly certain that life was a fashion show.

imagery

• words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses

• Writers use these details to help the reader to experience the writing.