Learning Log 6

Literary devices are interesting and in fact, a continuation of those in Secondary 1. This year, we have learnt an extra 25 literary devices. They are listed down below, together with their definitions.

1. Simile - It is a comparison between two distinctly different things, indicated by the use of 'like' and 'as'.

2. Metaphor - Qualities of an object is applied to another. (Eg: A's qualities is used in B.)

3. Personification - The attribution of human beings to inanimate objects. (giving a dead object human qualities)

4. Symbol - An object will stand for something else. (like a dove for peace)

5. Visual - Descriptions to do with what we see.

6. Auditory - Descriptions to do with what we hear.

7. Olfactory - Descriptions to do with what we smell.

8. Gustatory - Descriptions to do with sensations of flavour or texture in smooth.

9. Kinesthetic - Descriptions to do with movement.

10. Tactile - Descriptions to do with what we touch.

11. Rhyme - Refers to the ending sounds existing between two words. (Humpty Dumpty)

12. Rhythm - Refers to the BEAT or the PATTERN of stresses as you read a poem.

13. Alliteration - Repetition of initial consonant sounds, to produce a rhythmical effect (Eg. A... A... .... A...)

14. Onomatopoeia - The formation of words, which echo the sounds that they describe. (Eg. Yawned, Roared)

15. Tone - The oral expression of mood, attitude or point of view. (Eg. Compassionate, Defensive)

16. Connotation - The images that a word may convey. (Eg. "You turn in early" implies you are tired.)

17. Oxymoron - A single idea, made up of contradictory / incongruent images. (Eg.Cool heat)

18.Hyperbole - A deliberate exaggeration to emphasize a point or feelings. (Eg. He must have suffered a stroke!!)

19. Paradox - A self-contradictory statement that makes good sense. (Eg. I am lying. How do you know if I am speaking the truth?)

20. Simple sentence - A sentence with one main idea. (Eg. Dog eats bone.)

21. Complex sentence - One or more main ideas together with minor phrases or clauses. (Eg. When happy, dogs eat bones and wag their tails.

22. Incomplete sentence - A group of words which appears to convey only part of a complete thought, lacking some component which is grammatically necessary to complete the thought. (Eg. Joe took the...)

23.Exclamation - A strong statement showing feelings or emphasis. *There are 3 exclamation marks here instead of 2 like in hyperbole.

24. Rhectorical question - A question asked no  to obtain a reply but to express a tone from a direct question. (Eg. How many times must I tell you?)

25. Repetition - Usage of a word many times, to emphasize and show feelings. (Eg. Go! Go! Go!)

The above that I had type is what I have learnt about Literature the past few days. To me it is kind of difficult to memorise everything listed here even they are not like scientific theories or whatever. My brain does not have that much capacity for such terms. However, as I mentioned, they evoke interest in me and I think that it is still fine knowing these definitions.