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