Literary Terms

Messy Room By: Shel Silverstein Whosever room this is should be ashamed! His underwear is hanging on the lamp. His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair, And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp. His workbook is wedged in the window, His sweater's been thrown on the floor. His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV, And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door. His books are all jammed in the closet, His vest has been left in the hall. A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed, And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall. Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or-- Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar! Whosever room this is should be ashamed! His underwear is hanging on the lamp. His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair, And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp. His workbook is wedged in the window, His sweater's been thrown on the floor. His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV, And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door. His books are all jammed in the closet, His vest has been left in the hall. A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed, And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall. Whosever room this is should be ashamed! Donald or Robert or Willie or-- Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear, I knew it looked familiar!

Imagery Definition: A set of mental pictures or images. In a poem, the imagery should give you a mental image of what is being said

Hyperbole Definition: an extreme exaggeration not taken literally. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Definition: an extreme exaggeration not taken literally. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

Simile Definition: figure of speech, comparing two unlike things; usually uses the words “like” or “as” –Ex: “The stove felt as hot as the sun.” –Ex: “Her white smile sparkled like ice.” Definition: figure of speech, comparing two unlike things; usually uses the words “like” or “as” –Ex: “The stove felt as hot as the sun.” –Ex: “Her white smile sparkled like ice.”

Metaphor Definition: a figure of speech, comparing one thing to another without the use of like or as; a phrase used as a symbol. Ex: “My mother is my rock” Definition: a figure of speech, comparing one thing to another without the use of like or as; a phrase used as a symbol. Ex: “My mother is my rock”

Alliteration Definition: words that begin with the same consonant sound. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” Definition: words that begin with the same consonant sound. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Allusion Definition: an indirect reference to some piece of knowledge (work of literature) not actually mentioned. Ex: Harriet Tubman was called the Moses of her time. =

Symbolism Definition: a person, place, or item that has a deeper, non- literal meaning. Ex: The grim reaper represents death. Definition: a person, place, or item that has a deeper, non- literal meaning. Ex: The grim reaper represents death.

Personification Definition: personification is giving human traits to non- living objects. “The waves quickly caressed the shore.”

Tone Definition: conveys the author’s attitude toward the audience and/or the subject matter

Mood Definition: the feeling or emotion that a reader receives from a piece of literature.

Foreshadow Definition: author’s use of hints that give insight into the conclusion. CluesEvents Definition: author’s use of hints that give insight into the conclusion. CluesEvents

Flashback Definition: interruption in the plot that takes the audience back to earlier events. Past Story Events Definition: interruption in the plot that takes the audience back to earlier events. Past Story Events

Imagery Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Hyperbole Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Simile Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Metaphor Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Alliteration Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Allusion Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Symbolism Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Personification Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Tone Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Mood Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Foreshadow Definition: Example: Definition: Example:

Flashback Definition: Example: Definition: Example: