Literary Elements

Figures of Speech

Part I

English II

You will draw this line.

Cornell Notes

Write key words on this small side of the page

Directly across from the key words or topics, write the main idea/ideas that you need to remember. You may use phrases rather than complete sentences.

Your notes will go here.Key

words will go here

Allusion

A reference to a person, a place, an event or a literary work which a writer expects the reader to recognize (recognized by many)

Reference can be from history, geography, literature, religion

Allusion

Reference to person, place, event, literary work

Recognized by many Can be history, geography,

literature, religion

ALLUSION Watch this film clip and list as many

ALLUSIONS as you see ….

Hyperbole

A figure of speech using exaggeration for special effect

Example:

“I have a TON of homework!”

“Coach made us run a MILLION

miles!”

HYPERBOLE

Turn to a neighbor and share one thing that you have already exaggerated today.

Imagery Words or phrases that create pictures

or images in the reader’s mind 5 senses Example: The ocean was a cool shade of

sapphire blue, with white-capped waves that lapped playfully at the sandy shore.

IMAGERY Write 5 descriptive details that paint a

picture of how your bedroom looked as you left your house this morning.

Metaphor

Comparison between two seemingly unlike things WITHOUT using “like” or “as”

Example: She was a rose, beautiful and

delicate.

METAPHOR Can you think of a metaphor that your mom

has used to describe you?

OnomatopoeiaUse of words to describe soundsExamples:“Oink! Oink!” (pig snorting)“Brrrrrrrrrring…” (telephone ringing)“Zzzzz...” (student snoring)

ONOMATOPOEIA What is your favorite?

Oxymoron

Two words that have opposite meanings used together

Example: “Civil War”, “same difference”, “pretty ugly”

OXYMORONYour turn ….

Simile

Comparison between two seemingly unlike things using “like” or “as”

Example:

She was as beautiful as a rose.

SIMILE Compare your best friend to an animal

using a simile.

Personification Human characteristics are given to

nonhuman things

EX: time flies

the storm howls

the trees dance in the wind

PERSONIFICATION How would you personify your homework?

Alliteration

Repetition of the same sound at the beginning of each word, phrase, or sentence

Example:

“The lovely ladies liked lollipops.”

ALLITERATION Using the first letter of either your first or

last name, write a tongue twister with at least 3 words using alliteration.

Symbol

When something stands for or represents something else

Often a concrete object that represents an abstract idea

SYMBOL Write what these symbols represent to you:

American flag –

Heart –

Irony Difference between appearance vs.

reality. 3 types: Verbal – what is said is not really

what is meant (sarcasm) Dramatic – reader/audience knows

something a character does not Situational – expect one thing to

happen but what actually happens is a surprise

IRONY

IRONY

Cornell Notes

At the end of a lecture, write down what stood out to you – main points, things you want to remember, things you still don’t understand