3. Introduction
Literary Devices or Literary Techniques are
used to help writers communicate their message
easily, quickly and efficiently.
They convey ideas easier, faster and better
(EFB)
There are 3 levels of cognition in mastering
them -
1) Acquiring knowledge of them
2) Analysing them
3) Applying them
4. Knowing Literary Devices
6 types will be introduced, the 1st 3 you have learnt.
1) Metaphor – Symbolic object to describe another
2) Simile – using 'like' or 'as ___ as' for comparison
3) Personification – Giving Non-human, human
characteristics
4) Rhymes – Exact, front and end rhymes
5) Hyperbole – Exaggeration
6) Onomatopoeia – Words that sound the same as
what they mean
7) Pun – words that have double meaning
5. Rhymes
There are 3 types of rhymes:
Exact Rhymes, Front Rhymes & End Rhymes
1)Exact rhymes: again and again, on and on, little
by little, layer by layer, step by step, piece by
piece
2)Front rhymes: within and without, barked and
bayed, tossed and turned, clawed and cawed
3)End rhymes: development and improvement,
attackers and defenders
Q: What effect does it have on the reader?
6. Hyperbole
A big imaginative leap is made to emphasise an
object's quality – again, to convey meaning EFB.
1) Her pregnant belly was bigger than the planet
on which she stood.
2) The bag weighed a ton.
3) It was a magnificent log of excrement.
4) We stood on the shoulders of giants in
exploring science.
5) This bungalow must have cost you your family
fortune!
7. Onomatopoeia
Like rhymes, onomatopoeia employ an auditory
effect to help convey an idea EFB. The word
sounds the same as what it means.
1) Boom goes the dynamite
2) Dink drops the ring
3) Water sloshed in the bottom of the boat
4) The bell rings.
5) The car zoomed past, leaving us with dust and
smoke in its wake.
8. Pun
Pun is a word play that has double meanings.
By exploiting multiple meanings of words, it
has a deeper and sometimes funny effect.
1) He's quite well-endowed.
2) You have a change of heart after the operation
in the surgical theatre?
3) I am having a friend for dinner.
4) The rock on your ring sparkles
Q: Are you able to spot the double meanings of
each pun?
9. Acquiring, Analysing, Applying
Acquiring knowledge of literary devices is the
first level of cognition.
Analysing them requires you to identify which
has been used (your knowledge) and explain the
literary device used.
E.g.: The video of the thief caught in the act
speaks volumes to the investigator.
Acquire - 'speaks volumes' is the literary device.
Analyse – Pun, the video has volume AND it
gives many important clues to the investigator.
10. Acquiring, Analysing, Applying
Once you have acquired the knowledge and have
analysed them, applying them seals it.
1)Your actions speak volumes about your character.
2)Your words speak volumes of your hatred towards
your friend.
3)The silence amongst the spectators speaks
volumes about the tension in the badminton game.
Q: In 1 and 2, it is used as a pun, 3, an irony.
Why?
11. Learning Activity
Acquire, analyse then apply the literary devices
used.
1) The majority of free time spent watching
television programmes will enslave the
children, making them walking zombies.
2) “You are quite the magician, aren't you?” the
police said to the trickster.
3) There was a palpable buzz in the air as many
seniors returned to the school hall to collect
their 'O' level results.
12. Learning Activity Answers
1) ...television programmes will enslave the
children, making them walking zombies.
Hyperbole – slave is a strong word for someone
without freedom, will take away their time.
Metaphor – zombies are mindless, TV will
make children without a mind of their own.
2) “You are quite the magician, aren't you?”
Pun – he's a magician AND has escaped
capture.
3) There was a palpable buzz in the air as many
seniors returned ... Onomatopoeia – same
sound as the word's meaning.
13. Learning Activity Answers-Applying
Applying the literary devices used:
Computer addiction is a real problem amongst
teenagers. It enslaves them in a cyber world
even though they are heroes in it as they return
to the real world as walking zombies.
The crooked magician finally ran out of escape
antics as the long arm of the law caught up
with him.
There was a buzz amongst netizens when the
Punggol by-election was called.
15. In Summary
Literary Devices help writers convey their ideas
easier, faster and better as well as establish their
unique writing style.
To master them, we need to acquire knowledge
of them, analyse then apply them.
