Module

G11/12-CNF-MELC 5.5 3
LITERARY DEVICES/TECHNIQUES Week
4-5
I What I Need to Know?

Commonly, the term Literary Techniques refers to the typical structures used by

writers in their works to convey his or her message(s) in a simple manner to his or her
readers.  When employed properly, the different literary devices help readers to
appreciate, interpret and analyze a literary work.

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. analyzes the techniques used in a particular text.
2. Creates sample of the different literary elements based on one’s
experience through a storyboard.

D What I Know?
Task 1: PRE-TEST

Direction: Read and analyze the story. The copy will be forwarded on your messenger.
Choose your answer from the given choices.
(Beheading of the Heads by Italo Calvino (Translation of Le Decapitazione Dei Capi by
Ubaldo Stecconi and Carmina Ma. Veronica Ll. Bautista)

1.The word "din" (par. 5) is another word for *

A. Construction C. Noise
B. Anticipation D. Excitement
2. "Invariably" (par. 18) is most closely synonymous with *
  A. annoyingly C. slowly
B. loudly D. constantly

3. "Springs" (par. 24) in this sentence means *

A. falls C. rolls
B. leaps D. separates

4.The word "calling" (par. 53) as used by the man with glasses means a/an *
A. invitation from the people C. vocation for the rest of one’s life
B. summons from the government D. career in which to get one’s source
of living

5. The narrator concluded that he arrived before a national holiday (par. 1-2) because
of the *
A. stands C. ribbons
B. flags D. palm tree

6. Having several people answer his question proves that the “festival” (par.1) was one
that was *

A. well-known by everyone C. feared by some

B. a new concept to the people D. disliked by most

1
7. Because the beheading is done on the stands, the actual decapitation becomes
more *
  A. mysterious C. efficient
B. lengthy D. dramatic

8. The carpenters in charge of building the guillotines were prepared for any
eventuality (par. 31) most likely because past beheadings were *
A. unsuccessful C. boring
B. too prolonged D. messy

9. The apparent happiness seen during the preparations (par. 32) were not due to the
people’s dislike of their leaders. Rather, it was based on their *
A. too much intoxication and drunkenness C. appreciation of what it represents
B. celebration of the mid-week holiday D. anticipation of the new leaders

10. The banter or teasing in paragraph 40 shows that the people were being *
A. funny C. sarcastic
B. disrepectful D. hopeful

D What is It?

Literary Devices/Techniques
Origin From the very first time humans began sharing stories, literary devices
have played a key role in our history. Along with the creation of
storytelling came the development of narrative elements like plot,
character, and tone. As storytelling evolved over the millennia, so too did
the range and complexity of techniques available to authors. Many of the
elements that authors use are so fundamental that they are not
necessarily conscious choices, such as theme or tone (though these two
examples, of course, could be consciously constructed by the author).
Other techniques, however, are more intentional, such as foreshadowing
and red herrings.
Nature A literary device is any specific aspect of literature, or a particular work,
which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Both literary
elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices.
Literary techniques are specific, deliberate constructions of language
which an author uses to convey meaning. An author’s use of a literary
technique usually occurs with a single word or phrase, or a particular
group of words or phrases, at one single point in a text. Unlike literary
elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every text.
Examples Below is a list of 22 common literary devices that are important to
understand:
Allegory:
 A literary device that is used to convey hidden meanings through
symbolic figures, actions, and imagery.
Ex. Seuss wrote The Sneetches as an allegory for racism and other
forms of prejudice. The story is all about creatures who are treated as
inferior because they don’t have stars on their bellies. Like all Dr.

2
 Seuss stories, it’s written in a child-friendly, playful style, but it still
contains an important political message.
Alliteration:
 The repetition of the same starting sound in a sequence of words.
Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. ...

Assonance:
 The repetition of vowel sounds in a phrase or sentence.
Ex. "I lie down by the side fo my bride"/"Fleet feet sweep by sleeping
geese"/"Hear the lark and harken to the barking of the dark fox gone to
ground" by Pink Floyd.
Cliché:
 A phrase that is used so commonly that it has little effect.
Ex. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
Colloquialism:
 The use of informal words or phrases in writing.
Ex. Ballpark - used to describe something that is close to accurate
Flake - a person who cancels plans regularly or the act of regularly
cancelling plans

Consonance:

 The repetition of consonant sounds in a sentence or phrase.

Ex. He stood on the road and cried.
He struck a streak of bad luck.
Euphemism:
 A literary device that uses a less negative or abrasive word instead of
the original.
Ex. Passed away instead of died.
Collateral damage instead of accidental deaths.
Foreshadowing:
 The author provides the reader with hints or clues as to what will
happen in the future.
Ex. The final graveyard flower is blooming, and its smell drifts through
their house, speaking gently the names of their dead.
(Foreshadows death)
The evening was still. Suddenly, a cool breeze started blowing and
made a windy night.
(Foreshadows thunderstorm)
In the middle of the night, the father hears the back door opening. He

3
 rushes to check on his kids, but a masked intruder is blocking the way
with a knife.
(Foreshadows threat)
Homophone:
 Two or more words that sound the same or are similar, but have
different spellings and meanings.

Ex. Ex. Rode — Road

Sauce — Source
Scene — Seen
See — Sea
Side — Sighed
Soar — Sore
Hyperbole:
 Highly exaggerated statements that create emphasis, but are not
necessarily true.

Ex. My grandmother is as old as the hills.

Your suitcase weighs a ton!
She is as heavy as an elephant!
I am dying of shame.
I am trying to solve a million issues these days.

Idiom:
 A common phrase in which the figurative meaning is different than the
literal meaning.

Idiom Meaning Usage

It's a piece of cake It's easy by itself

It's raining cats and

It's raining hard by itself
dogs

Kill two birds with Get two things done with a

by itself
one stone single action

Let the cat out of as part of a

Give away a secret
the bag sentence
Irony:
 The contrast or discrepancy between what happens, and what is
expected (verbal, dramatic, and situational).

Ex. The student was given ‘excellent’ on getting zero in the exam.
The roasted chicken was as tender as a leather boot.
He was in such a harried state that he drove the entire way at 20
miles per hour.
He enjoyed his job about as much as a root canal.
My friend’s kids get along like cats and dogs.

4
Juxtaposition:
 The deliberate placing together of two or more thoughts that
emphasize each other through their placement.

Ex. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. ...
When it rains, it pours. ...
All's fair in love and war. ...
Better late than never. ...
Beggars can't be choosers. ...
Making a mountain out of a molehill. ...
When the cat's away the mice will play. ...
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Metaphor:
 A literary device in which direct comparisons are made between two
unlike objects.
Ex. My brother was boiling mad. (This implies he was too angry.)
The assignment was a breeze. (This implies that the assignment
was not difficult.)
It is going to be clear skies from now on. (This implies that clear
skies are not a threat and life is going to be without hardships)
The skies of his future began to darken. (Darkness is a threat;
therefore, this implies that the coming times are going to be hard
for him.)
Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies that her voice makes
him feel happy)
Omniscient:
 A literary technique in which the narrator is all knowing and
seeing.

Ex. Da Vinci Code (By Dan Brown)

Dan Brown, in his novel Da Vinci Code, uses omniscient narrative, and
employs several characters to speak in front of the audience,
demonstrating what each character thinks and sees. Also the narrator
provides information about background and related knowledge that
characters are unaware of.

Onomatopoeia:
 The use of words that imitate sounds.
Ex. The buzzing bee flew away.
The sack fell into the river with a splash.
The books fell on the table with a loud thump.
He looked at the roaring
The rustling leaves kept me awake.

Oxymoron:
 The use of two contradictory words together.
Ex. Open secret

5
 Tragic comedy
Seriously funny
Awfully pretty
Foolish wisdom
Personification:
 A literary device that gives human attributes / characteristic to an
object or animal (non-human).

Ex. The shadow of the moon danced on the lake.

There was a heavy thunderstorm, the wind snorted outside,
rattling my windowpanes.
The flowers were blooming, and the bees kissed them every now
and then.
The flood raged over the entire village.
The tread of time is so ruthless that it tramples even the kings
under its feet.

Pun:
 A play on words that relies on the word having more than one
meaning.
Ex. “It is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied.” (Richard III)
“Now is the winter of our discontent … made glorious summer by
this sun of York.” (Richard III)
“Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles; I
have a soul of lead” (Romeo and Juliet)
Claudius: “… But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son…” Hamlet:
[aside] “A little more than kin, and less than kind.” (Hamlet)

Sarcasm:
 The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. The intended
meaning is different than its literal meaning.

Simile:
 A literary device in which a direct comparison is made using “like”
or “as."

Ex. When the teacher entered the class, the 6th-grade students
were fighting like cats and dogs.
The diplomat said the friendship of the two countries was as deep
as an ocean.
The desert traveler’s hopes were dashed, as when at last he
reached a well, it was as dry as a bone.
His opponent was trying to infuriate him, but he remained as cool
as cucumber.
The laborer remained busy at work all day long and slept like a log
that night.
Slang:
 The use of casual language in everyday speech in writing.
Ex. DIY
The abbreviation “DIY” stands for “Do It Yourself”, and it tends to refer to

6
 home improvements. Thus a shop selling items for home improvers (paint,
brushes, doors and so on) can be known as a “DIY shop”. You may hear
the abbreviation in certain other contexts, though less frequently: a “DIY
meal planner”, for instance.

E What’s More?
Task 2: STORYBOARD

Direction: Choose 10 of the 22 literary terms discussed in class to create

a Storyboard or Photo Story that illustrates the definition of each term (one panel per
term).
Each example must be different than what was provided during your class discussion.
Each panel should include:

 A title
 An appropriate illustration
 The definition of the literary term
The layout should be in classic view so that the panels follow a 3x4 format..

7
RUBRIC: DEPICTING LITERARY TERMS
Use this interactive rubric for easy, thorough assessment. It can even be used by
students for self-assessment.

5 4 3 2 1

Overview

Meaning

Style

Form

Conventions

–
TOTAL

Task 3: WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND…

Direction: Send the Storyboards through messenger that your class created that

illustrate various literary terms. Share these with your class through our online
classroom so that they can be critiqued by each student.

My comment/s:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

E What can I Engage In?

Task 4: APPLYING THE ANALYSIS

8
Directions: KWL Chart

Direction: Complete the table below based on topics discussed.

A What I have Learned?

Task 5: EXIT VISA: 3-2-1 CHART

EXIT VISA
Task: 3-2-1 chart

Have you learned so much from this module? Let us check the level of your
understanding through 3-2-1 chart.

3 best things I learned today:

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________

2 things that caught my interest:

1. ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________

1 thing that I wanted to learn more about:

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________

9
 A What I can Do?

Task 6: POST-TEST

A. True or False. Write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.

_____1. A literary device is any specific aspect of literature, or a particular work, which
we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze.
_____2. As storytelling evolved over the millennia, so too did the range and complexity of
techniques available to authors.
_____3. Literary techniques are not specific, deliberate constructions of language which
an author uses to convey meaning.
_____4. An author’s use of a literary technique usually occurs with a single word or
phrase, or a particular group of words or phrases, at one single point in a
text.
_____5. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every
text.

B. Identification: Identify the term/concept being defined in the given statements.

For Nos. 6-10:
Allegory Foreshadowing Euphemism
Homophone Irony

_____________6. A literary device that is used to convey hidden meanings through

symbolic figures, actions, and imagery.

_____________7. Two or more words that sound the same or are similar, but have
different spellings and meanings.

_____________8. The author provides the reader with hints or clues as to what will
happen in the future.

_____________9. A literary device that uses a less negative or abrasive word instead of the
original.

_____________10. The contrast or discrepancy between what happens, and what is

expected (verbal, dramatic, and situational).

C. Identification: Identify the kind of literary elements used from the given statements.
For Nos. 11-15:

Colloquialism Irony Pun

Onomatopeia Juxtaposition

_____________11. I wasn’t born yesterday.

_____________12. Beggars can’t be choosers. 
_____________13. I was just beginning to yawn with nerves thinking he was trying to
make a fool of me when I knew his tattarrattat at the door.
_____________14. “What a pleasant day” (when it is raining heavily)
_____________15. Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

10