V6 Literary devices

V6 Literary devices

Literature & Culture

Get out your laptop/notebook

Put away your phone

Put your bag on the floor

learning goals

 I know the most important stylistic devices and sound techniques that can appear in literature

Look up the lyrics from a song that you like. 

Stylistic devices

Metaphor

a word or phrase that refers to something else

• The pillow was a cloud
• Wings chased us through the night

Simile

a metaphor that uses the words like or as to describe someone or something by comparing it with someone or something else

• I wandered lonely as a cloud
• You look like hell

personification

ascribing human traits to objects

• the waves danced
• Trees stretched their arms

Oxymoron

combining words with opposite meanings (creates dramatic effect and makes readers wonder how the two could be combined)

• Pretty ugly
• Loving hate

Imagery

author provokes sensory details through the use of descriptive language

• The sunset was the most gorgeous they’d ever seen; the clouds were edged with pink and gold.
• The familiar tang of his grandmother’s cranberry sauce reminded him of his youth.

sound techniques

consonance

a series of words (or close together) that have the same consonant sound

• He gives his harness bells a shake

      (why not the “s” of his?)

assonance

a series of words (or close together) that have the same vowel sound

• I made my way to the lake

Note that these are sound techniques and therefore may not be reflected in spelling, i.e. “do you like blue” is also considered assonance

alliteration

:(specific form of consonance) a series of words (or close together) that have the same first consonant sound

• While I nodded, nearly napping
• With beaded bubbles winking at the brim

onomatopoeia

words that sound like their meaning

• Jingling bells
• Bees are buzzing

Now, see if you can find these devices and techniques in your lyrics