By Maria Topliff

Onomatopoeia: the use of words that mimic sounds. Example: Splat, Craackle, Pow!

Personification: gives human characteristics to objects or events. › "daylight was being born".

Metaphor: is an implied comparison. That means that the comparison is not really state directly› For example: "My dad is a bear.“

Simile: the comparison of two things using like or as› For example "Bob runs like a deer," or "She's as

sweet as candy.” Hyperbole: is a deliberate and wild

exaggeration› For example: "I've told you a million times!”› “You are the most annoying person in the

entire world!”› “She is the funniest person in all of

America!”

Oxymoron: is putting two contradictory words together. Example: Smart Jock, Jumbo Shrimp, Honest Lawyer

Mood: is the emotional attitude the author takes towards his subject. Example: anger, love, happiness, and sadness

Tone: is the attitude a writer takes towards a subject or character. Example: serious, humorous, ironic, sarcastic, etc.

Irony: is a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens.› A man wins the lottery he gets on the plane

the next day and it crashes. The man dies!› You are starving at lunch, and you cant wait to

eat your soup. Unfortunately there are no spoons in the cafeteria.

› Barack Obama’s grandmother voted for her grandson to become the next president. She dies before the election results.

There are three main types: Situational Dramatic Verbal

When there is a contrast (difference) between what you expect to happen and what actually happens.

A clumsy boy is learning to ride a bike. Finally, he has overcome all obstacles. Nothing can stop him now! Then, a bump in the sidewalk flings him off his bike, and he lands in the neighbor’s flower bed.

When a character says one thing but actually means another.

“I’m so excited to take my science test!” when I really haven’t studied.

When the reader knows some important piece of information that a character does not know.

In a horror story, the reader knows there is a murderer hiding in the closet. The character is unaware and is talking on the phone about having to pick out an outfit for the dance. She is walking towards the closet.

Alliteration: The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words.Example: "A moist young moon hung above the mist of a neighboring meadow.""The soul selects her own society."

Allusion: An allusion is a reference to a famous person, place, thing or part of another work of literature.

Example: When Mrs. T makes fun of middle school couples and calls the boy “Romeo” and the girl “Juliet” that is an allusion for the Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet.”

Foreshadowing: is the presentation in a work of literature of hints and clues that tip the reader off as to what is to come later in the workExample: In Romeo and Juliet when Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio, is stabbed he tells Romeo not to worry, “For tomorrow you will find me a grave man.” Shakespeare uses the word “grave” to foreshadow Mercutio’s death.

In a literary work the plot goes back in time to remember/describe a scene from the past

Example: The entire movie, “The Sandlot” is one big flashback.

“New Moon” when Bella flashbacks to what Edward would say.