Literary Devices Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL 8.3, W.8.1.C

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Literary Devices relates to the any technique that an author uses to communicate their overall message to their audience. When used in concert with a well-developed idea, the proper device can really heighten a body of work and help audience grow a high level of affinity for it. In most cases the use of the device is to put a cherry on top. The thoughts could easily be transferred to the readers through straight simple sentences, but when a device is used appropriately it makes a tremendous difference and helps make the words come alive for readers. A quick way to observe this is by using the example sentence, "Nick's yellow shirt was bright." A few literary elements will help the readers really grasp your point. Here is the same message, but jazzed up with a few literary tweaks, "Nick's loud yellow shirt was like staring at the sun during a solar eclipse in January." We a few changes it went from being a shirt that might annoy you to a shirt that may melt your eyes out of your head. This series of worksheets will help you explore commonly used literary devices as well as help you explore specific devices and techniques in depth.

Literary Devices Worksheets To Print:

In Poetry - This is a great organizer to help you well thought out poems.

Fiction - Find an example of each literary device in the story.

Recognizing Them - You will need a poem to work off of for this worksheet.

Techniques - Fill in the missing information in the table.

Name It - What is being described on each line?

Hyperbole - Write a sentence that contains a hyperbole to describe each picture.

While Reading - As you read the assignment, identify at least four different literary devices. Write the name of each type and provide an example from the text.

Evidence - Show evidence of each type of method that is used.

Practice with Alliteration - Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. The example below contains two cases of alliteration: the "c" sound and the "s" sound.

The Frame Story - A frame story is an aspect of a story that "frames" some other part of the story. For example, a frame story could be one character relating a series of events to another character, or a character reading another character's diary. Frame stories are usually found at the beginning and the end of an overall narrative. It can also appear briefly between chapters.

Satire - A satire makes fun of the vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings of individuals or societies. Satire is characterized by humor. A work of satire can include one or more of the following elements.

Soliloquy - A soliloquy is a literary device in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud. A soliloquy is usually fairly long. Sometimes the character is alone, but they may be with others. If so, they are not speaking to the other people. A soliloquy is occurs when a character is speaking their own thoughts aloud to themselves.

Zoomorphism - Zoomorphism is assigning animal traits to anything that is not an animal. It's the opposite of anthropomorphism and personification. Zoomorphism can be physical, like when a god appears as an animal, or it can be a comparison, like either a physical manifestation, such as a god appearing as an animal, or a comparison, like calling someone a furry bear.

Which Is It? - Write four different sentences to describe the picture below. Use what you have learned to really show off your skills.

Writing with Them - We focus our time on explaining the thoughts behind commonly understood myths.

Specific Literary Device Worksheet Topics:

Allegory - A comfortable way to approach readers with touchy or hot button issues.

Alliteration - This is used to add some real pazaz to your work.

Allusion - This transfers an idea by implying something.

Analogy - When you flash a comparison between things that are not clearly related.

Antonomasia - This technique is used to reveal something about a character.

Apologia - This is when a work is put together to form a defense or excuse for a position that is taken.

Chronology - The order in which events in story occur have as much impact as events themselves.

Conundrum - Students learn how this technique is used literature to make characters more relatable.

Epigram - We look at how this rhetorical device can be used to add a twist to a piece of literature.

Flashback - Authors use this technique to build their character and provide more background detail on them.

Gerund - Not quite a verb or noun, but a common part of speech.

Hamartia - This technique inserts a character defect that can drive the entire plot of a story.

Hyperbole - When you want to exaggerate to the next level.

Idiom - Word and phrases that add flare, but are not meant to be taken literally.

Inferences - Using evidence to make a well intended guess at the truth.

Metaphor - Their primary purpose is to get your readers engaged.

Onomatopoeia - Words that mimic sounds.

Personification - A great way to make something feel more human.

Poetic Devices - We explore different techniques that are used to make poetry more artful.

Rhyming - Hip Hop artists and poets main instrument to their work.

Simile - These are often used to add humor to your work.

Subjunctive Mood - When we want to offer out a suggestion.

What Are the Most Commonly Used Literary Devices by Authors?

In many cases literary devices are used to make a comparison or allow the readers to understand something relative to them. There are some techniques that completely transform a work and there are others that just give your work a nudge. Your goal when using literary devices is not just to make your writing look cooler, but to connect with the people that are intended to read it. Literary Devices can be broken down into two categories which are elements and techniques. Elements usually are long form and last over the course of the entire body of work or a significant portion of it. Techniques are usually reserved to the use of words or phrases. As a result, they are the short form of usage. That said, why don't we take the various common uses of these techniques.


Allegory - This is when an author fits a hidden meaning in their work. In most cases it is to instill or explore a commonly held moral. This can often explore tough concepts or themes and soften the blow by presenting it in an easy-to-read manner. Animal Farm by George Orwell was a famous example where he used common farm animals to explore the Russian Revolution.


Allusion - These are relatively succinct references that are used to describe something. This is helpful because you can pack a great deal of meaning into a short space. This often used to help develop characters in stories for the audience.


Foreshadowing - This is when the author drops a hint that something is about to happen or will occur in the future. This helps build a level of excitement and anticipation for the reader. It is important to note that this technique can also be used to develop twists in a story that readers did not see coming.


Flashback - This is when a writer discusses or explores an event or experience that happened prior to the current moment in time. This is often used to build a character or casts of characters traits and tendencies. This can also be used to help develop stories and settings.


Hyperbole - These are excessive exaggerations that are used to provide a highly level of emphasis on something. This is a crossover, we used it in speech as much as we use it in written situations. You may have called your friend a couple of times last night, but you might convey that message much better by saying "I called you a thousand times last night!"


Onomatopoeia - This is word or phrase level device where a word or phrase is used to mimic a sound. Common examples would be the words: gulp, plop, blurt, bang, and bam. When you use this technique, it can make a work more tangible for your audience.


Simile - This is when you use a fascinating and engaging comparison between two things that readers are familiar with. This helps the reader make an instant connection to what you are discussing. Similes often use the words like or as to complete the comparison. An example would be to transform the sentence, "Hugh has a long neck.", into "Hugh has a neck as long as a giraffe."


Metaphor - These are very similar to similes, but the comparison that is created is direct comparison. There is not much wiggle room here. Not to pick on Hugh's neck, but if we were to convert that example to a metaphor it would be stated as, "Hugh has a neck like a giraffe!"