Literary Devices
8th Grade Literature and Writing
Imagery
When imagery is used, the author describes a
vivid picture to provide the reader with a
mental image.
The gushing brook swooshed down the soft
green mountain slope that was dotted with
small pink and white flowers.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
Personification
Personification is when an object or animal
takes on characteristics of a human.
The sun smiled brightly.
The cat sang a sour note as it meowed
sorrowful for the long lost kitty.
The laughing cow didn’t make many friends
because he ate all the hay.
Irony
Irony is an exaggeration of a situation. It
exaggerates by meaning the opposite of
what is stated.
What great luck I have when it comes to
getting lottery tickets.
The thief was really upset that his most
precious and expensive piece of art was
stolen.
Tone
Tone is the attitude the author uses to help
create the story.
It was a dark and dreary day even at six in the
morning.
The snow covered hills stood boldly while the
gusty wind blasted a chill upon them.
Conflict
A conflict is the problem a character has to
overcome or defeat.
In the story, Zane and the Hurricane, Zane has
to figure out a way to reunite with his
mother and great grandmother.
Clare Innes in The Great Fire had to figure
out how to get to safety and find her family.
Setting
The setting is where and when a story takes
place.
In a galaxy far, far, away. . .
He hated doing chores on the farm and
couldn’t wait to escape to the big city.
Alliteration
An alliteration is when words have the same
beginning sound.
The Wicked Witch of the West went wild!
Green grass grows rapidly in the green garden.
Silly Sally says serious sentences several times
a day.
Theme
The theme of the story is the author’s
message in the story.
The theme of Romeo and Juliet is love.
A theme for the story All Summer in a Day
could be jealousy.
The theme of the movie, The Blind Side is
overcoming poverty and adversity.
Plot
The plot of the story is what a story is about.
The plot for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry! is the
struggles of a family and how
they defeat racism, segregation and pursue the
American dream.
Characters
Characters are the people in the story. A
character could also be an animal.
Cassie Logan, Stacey Logan, Christopher John,
TJ, Papa, Mama and Big Mama are all characters
in the book, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry!
Simile
A simile is a comparison between objects that
use the words like or as.
He danced as graceful as a bull in a glass
china shop!
Helen’s smile is like a beam of sunshine!
Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison that does not use
like or as.
The policeman reminded me of a cheerleader
while directing traffic with his hands.
The shiny diamond of a moon lit the frosty
path.
Allusion
An allusion is a reference to a place, event of
literary work such as a story or poem.
The tall prairie grasses reminded him of the
series, Little House on the Prairie and
western frontier movies.
Paul thinks he is a modern day Robin Hood
who takes lunch money from mean kids to
feed poor ones.
Flashback
A flashback is a reference to an event that has
happened in the past that the narrator refers to
while telling the story.
Back in the day when I was a young girl. . .
I remember as though it were yesterday when we
sailed on the Titanic.
The whistling reminded me of the day we took the
long car ride to California when I was seven years
old.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a literary device that is an over
exaggeration.
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!
She is so busy, she meets herself coming and
going.
Larry is so tired, he could fall asleep standing
up.
Symbolism
Symbolism is a literary device that has different
layers of meaning.
There is a new dawn upon us.
“All the world’s a stage and all the men and
women merely players.”
A black cloud of death swept over the house.
He gave me the red rose to let me know he loved
me.
Foreshadowing
When an author uses the literary device of
foreshadowing, the author gives the reader a
hint about something that will happen in the
future.
Because he had no idea of the damage the
floodwaters had caused to his home, he
approached a disaster unknowingly.
The minute I turned on the light, I knew things
would not be good.
Mood
The mood of a story refers to the emotional
and mental state that the author wants the
reader to adopt.
The movie Hunger Games is filled with
adventure and excitement in every scene!
I cry every time I read the book, The Fault in
Our Stars.
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that makes a sound.
BAM! BAM! BAM! Went the hunter’s gun as he
shot at the young running buck.
Swish! Swish! Went the broom as I hurried to
clean up the broken glass.