Spot the Device
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.” Which device is being used?
A) Metaphor
B) Simile
C) Hyperbole
D) Symbolism
Simile (B)
Why do authors use imagery in descriptive passages?
A) To confuse the reader
B) To appeal to the senses
C) To hide meaning
D) To create irony
B) To appeal to the senses
Fill in the blank:
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled _______.” → Device:
Peppers → Alliteration
Which is more exaggerated: Hyperbole or Simile?
hyperbole
What device is at work when saying “He passed away” instead of “He died”?
Euphemism (“passed away”)
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” What device is this?
Metaphor
How does juxtaposition enhance meaning in literature? (One-sentence explanation)
Juxtaposition highlights contrast between two elements to create emphasis or deeper meaning.
Fill in the blank:
“Parting is such sweet ______.” → Device: Oxymoron
Sorrow → Oxymoron (“sweet sorrow”)
Difference: Irony vs. Sarcasm (short answer, 1–2 sentences).
Irony = contrast between expectation and reality; Sarcasm = verbal irony with intent to mock or hurt.
Which device is used in “This is the beginning of the end”?
Paradox (“the beginning of the end”)
Identify the device in: “The silence was loud as a cannon.”
Simile
Paradox
Explain why Shakespeare might have used an anachronism like mentioning a clock in Julius Caesar.
To make contemporary audiences connect with the story; sometimes to emphasize timelessness or irony.
Fill in the blank:
A symbol of innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird is the _______.
Mockingbird → Symbolism
How is paradox different from oxymoron? Give an example of each.
Paradox = a statement that seems contradictory but reveals truth (“Less is more”).
Oxymoron = two opposite words together (“bittersweet”).
In Animal Farm, the pigs represent totalitarian leaders. Which device is this?
Allegory (the focus on how all pigs represent different Russian totalitarian leaders)
Metaphor (collectively all of them represent the corruptive nature of power of any leader)
What device is at work when an object (like a dove) represents peace?
symbolism
What is the effect of using anaphora in Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech: “I have a dream…”?
Creates rhythm, emphasis, and emotional impact through repetition.
In George Orwell’s 1984, the phrase ‘War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength’ is a ______.
Paradox
How is a metaphor different from a symbol? (Use one example for each).
Metaphor = direct comparison (“Time is a thief”).
Symbol = object or image representing something broader (a rose symbolizes love).
Identify the device: “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes…” (Prologue, Romeo and Juliet).
Alliteration (repetition of the initial “f” sound).
In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, a character mentions the sound of a clock striking the hour. Why is this an example of a literary device?
Anachronism (mechanical clocks didn’t exist in ancient Rome).
Authors often use allegory to communicate moral, political, or spiritual meanings. Name one famous allegorical work and what it represents.
Animal Farm → allegory of Russian Revolution/totalitarianism.
The Pilgrim’s Progress → Christian moral allegory.
The Lord of the Flies → allegory of human nature and society.
A repeated idea or image, like blood in Macbeth, is called a ______.
Motif
What makes foreshadowing different from allusion?
Foreshadowing = hints about future events in the text.
Allusion = reference to another text, myth, or historical event.
Identify the device: A character says, “What a pleasant day!” while a hurricane rages outside.
verbal Irony