Literature Sec 2 EOY Notes General

GENERAL Literary Devices 1. Simile A simile is a type of figurative language where you compare two different things using the words "like" or "as" to highlight a similarity between them. → Comparison: “This thing is similar to that thing.” Examples of Similes: ● Her smile was as bright as the sun. ● He ran like the wind. ● The classroom was as noisy as a zoo. ● She’s like a walking dictionary. Similes are often used in poetry, stories, and everyday speech to make descriptions more vivid and imaginative. 2. Metaphors A metaphor is also a type of figurative language, but instead of saying something is like something else (as in a simile), a metaphor says something is something else — even though that’s not literally true. → directly equating two different things to show a strong comparison. Examples of Metaphors: ● Her smile was the sun that lit up the room. ● He’s a walking dictionary. ● The classroom was a zoo. ● Time is a thief that steals our moments. Difference from a Simile: Simile → compares using like or as (Her smile was as bright as the sun.) Metaphor → says it is something else (Her smile was the sun.)

3. Hyperbole Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show strong emotion. It’s not meant to be taken literally — it’s used for dramatic or humorous effect. Examples of Hyperbole: ● I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. ● This bag weighs a ton! ● She cried a river of tears. ● I’ve told you a million times already. In these examples, you can see that the idea is impossible to fulfil. A person cannot actually eat a whole horse or cry a river of tears. Hyperbole exaggerates reality to emphasise how big, intense, or extreme something feels. 4. Alliteration Alliteration is a sound device in writing where the same starting sound (usually consonants) is repeated at the beginning of words that are close together. → often used in poems, tongue twisters, or catchy phrases to create rhythm, emphasis, or mood. Examples of Alliteration: ● Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. ● She sells seashells by the seashore. ● The wild winds whipped the willows. ● Bright blue birds basked beneath the branches. → Alliteration focuses on sound patterns. Sometimes it is used to create sound effects without really using *onomatopoeia. *Onomatopoeia: words that resemble sounds. For example: “Crash!”, “Argh!”, “Woosh!”

5. Imagery Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind by appealing to the senses — sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Writers use imagery to make their writing more engaging and to help readers imagine or feel what’s happening. For example: ● Sight (visual imagery): The golden sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and purple. ● Sound (auditory imagery): The thunder roared, and the windows rattled with each strike. ● Touch (tactile imagery): Her hands were cold as ice against his warm skin. ● Taste (gustatory imagery): The bitter coffee left a sharp sting on his tongue. ● Smell (olfactory imagery): The scent of freshly baked bread filled the room. → In short: Imagery = words that help the reader see, hear, feel, taste, or smell the scene more clearly. 6. Personification Personification is a literary device that uses human qualities or actions to describe non-human things. Writers use personification to make scenes feel alive and help readers connect emotionally. For example: ● The wind whispered through the trees. ● The flowers danced in the breeze. ● The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up. ● The moon smiled down on the city. → In short: Personification makes objects or nature feel human, adding life and emotion to writing.

7. Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is a literary device that uses words that imitate the sounds they describe. Writers use onomatopoeia to make descriptions more realistic and lively. For example: ● The bees buzzed around the flowers. ● The thunder boomed across the sky. ● The bacon sizzled in the pan. ● The door creaked open slowly. → In short: Onomatopoeia helps readers hear what’s happening, adding sound and realism to writing. 8. Oxymoron An oxymoron is a literary device that uses two opposite or contradictory words side by side. Writers use oxymorons to create contrast or highlight something complex or surprising. For example: ● Bittersweet memory ● Deafening silence ● Living dead ● Pretty ugly → In short: Oxymoron combines opposites to make readers think or feel tension in the description. 9. Symbolism Symbolism is a literary device that uses objects, people, or events to represent deeper meanings or ideas. Writers use symbolism to add layers of meaning and make their writing more meaningful. For example: ● A dove represents peace. ● A red rose symbolizes love. ● A storm symbolizes conflict or chaos. ● A road represents life’s journey. → In short: Symbolism gives objects or events deeper meanings beyond their literal sense.

10. Irony Irony is a literary device that uses a contrast between appearance and reality or between what’s expected and what actually happens. Writers use irony to create humor, surprise, or emphasize an idea. For example: ● A fire station burns down. ● The pilot is afraid of heights. ● The traffic cop gets a parking ticket. ● Saying “What a lovely day” during a storm. → In short: Irony highlights unexpected or opposite outcomes to create humor or make readers think.

Vocabulary Word Meaning Eternal Lasting forever Ephemeral Lasting for a very short time Mortal Subject to death Immortal Living forever or remembered forever Fleeting Passing quickly Decay To rot or break down over time Twilight The soft light between sunset and night Thou/Thee/Thy Old-fashioned words for you/your O’er Short for over ’Tis Short for it is Ere Before Hath Has (old-fashioned) Whence From where Yonder Over there, in the distance Lo Look or behold (used for emphasis) Melancholy A deep, gentle sadness Solitude The state of being alone, often peaceful Euphoria Intense happiness Desolation A feeling of emptiness or loneliness Tranquility Calmness or peace Despair The complete loss of hope Reverie A daydream or state of being lost in thought

Yearning A deep, emotional longing Zephyr A soft, gentle breeze Ethereal Extremely delicate, light, or heavenly Verdant Green with vegetation; lush Luminescent Glowing softly in the dark Cascade To flow or fall like a waterfall Tempest A violent storm Meadow A grassy field with wildflowers Horizon The line where the earth meets the sky