ATI TEAS Version 7 Day 31st Topic 27 Literary Devices
What Are
Literary Devices?
Literary
devices are specific
techniques writers use to convey meaning, create emotion, enhance imagery, or
add structure. They go beyond literal language to make writing more powerful,
memorable, or thought-provoking.
Common Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
Meaning: A direct comparison between two
unlike things without using "like" or "as."
Use: Creates vivid imagery or explains
abstract ideas.
Example: "Time is a thief."
(Time doesn’t steal, but it takes moments away like a thief.)
2. Simile
Meaning: A comparison using "like"
or "as."
Use: Helps readers visualize by linking to
familiar experiences.
Example: "Her smile was as bright as
the sun."
3. Personification
Meaning: Giving human traits to non-human
things.
Use: Builds emotional connection or makes
descriptions lively.
Example: "The wind whispered through
the trees."
4. Alliteration
Meaning: Repetition of initial consonant
sounds in nearby words.
Use: Adds rhythm, mood, or emphasis.
Example: "Peter picked pickled peppers."
5. Hyperbole
Meaning: Extreme exaggeration not meant
literally.
Use: Emphasizes a point or adds
humor/drama.
Example: "I've told you a million
times."
6. Irony
Meaning: A contrast between expectation and
reality.
- Verbal
irony:
saying the opposite of what you mean.
- Situational
irony:
outcome opposite of what's expected.
- Dramatic
irony:
audience knows more than the character.
Use: Creates surprise, humor, or
criticism.
Example: A fire station burns down. (situational
irony)
7. Imagery
Meaning: Descriptive language appealing to the
five senses.
Use: Makes scenes immersive and emotional.
Example: "The crisp autumn air carried
the scent of cinnamon and wet leaves."
8. Symbolism
Meaning: Using an object, person, or action to
represent a deeper idea.
Use: Adds layers of meaning.
Example: A dove symbolizes peace.
9. Foreshadowing
Meaning: Hints about what will happen later in
the story.
Use: Builds suspense and prepares readers
for events.
Example: A character finds a loaded gun in a
drawer early in a mystery.
10. Onomatopoeia
Meaning: Words that imitate natural sounds.
Use: Makes writing more sensory and
dynamic.
Example: "Buzz,"
"sizzle," "boom," "hiss."
11. Allusion
Meaning: A brief reference to a well-known
person, place, event, or work of art.
Use: Adds depth without lengthy
explanation.
Example: "He has the Midas
touch." (reference to the Greek myth of King Midas)
12. Oxymoron
Meaning: Pairing two contradictory terms.
Use: Highlights complexity or irony.
Example: "Deafening silence,"
"bittersweet," "living death."
Quick Reference Table
|
Device |
Meaning |
Example |
|
Metaphor |
Direct
comparison |
Life is a
highway |
|
Simile |
Comparison
using like/as |
Brave as a lion |
|
Personification |
Human traits to
objects |
The sun smiled
down |
|
Hyperbole |
Exaggeration |
I'm so hungry I
could eat a horse |
|
Irony |
Contrast of
expectation/reality |
A pilot afraid
of heights |
|
Foreshadowing |
Hint of future
events |
A broken mirror
before a tragedy |
|
Symbolism |
Object = idea |
Red rose = love |
Questions
1–10: Metaphor & Simile
1. Which sentence contains a
metaphor?
A) Her voice is like honey.
B) The classroom was a zoo.
C) He runs as fast as the wind.
D) The leaves danced in the wind.
Answer: B
2. "The test was a piece of
cake" is an example of:
A) Simile
B) Personification
C) Metaphor
D) Hyperbole
Answer: C
3. Which option uses a simile?
A) Time is a thief.
B) The alarm clock screamed at me.
C) She slept like a log.
D) I have a ton of homework.
Answer: C
4. "His temper was a volcano
ready to erupt" means:
A) He is cold and distant
B) He is about to become very angry
C) He is physically hot
D) He enjoys nature
Answer: B
5. Which sentence is not a simile?
A) As brave as a lion
B) Fluent as a river
C) The world is a stage
D) Like two peas in a pod
Answer: C
6. "Hope is the thing with
feathers" (Emily Dickinson) is a:
A) Simile
B) Metaphor
C) Hyperbole
D) Personification
Answer: B
7. What is the effect of the
metaphor "Books are windows to the world"?
A) Books are fragile
B) Reading allows you to learn about different places and ideas
C) Books have glass covers
D) Reading is difficult
Answer: B
8. "She moved through the crowd
like a ghost" contains:
A) Metaphor and hyperbole
B) Simile and personification
C) Simile only
D) Metaphor only
Answer: C
9. Which of the following is true
about a metaphor?
A) It uses "like" or "as"
B) It compares two unlike things directly
C) It exaggerates for effect
D) It gives human traits to objects
Answer: B
10. "Life is a
rollercoaster" suggests life has:
A) Loops and tracks
B) Ups and downs, excitement, and fear
C) Mechanical parts
D) A definite end
Answer: B
Questions
11–20: Personification, Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia
11. "The wind howled in the
night" is an example of:
A) Simile
B) Personification
C) Hyperbole
D) Alliteration
Answer: B
12. "I've told you a thousand
times" uses:
A) Metaphor
B) Simile
C) Hyperbole
D) Irony
Answer: C
13. Which word is an example of
onomatopoeia?
A) Whisper
B) Buzz
C) Shout
D) Talk
Answer: B
14. "The car groaned under the
heavy load" personifies the car to show:
A) The car is angry
B) The car is struggling with weight
C) The car needs oil
D) The car is a living thing
Answer: B
15. Which sentence contains
hyperbole?
A) The bag weighed a ton.
B) The bag was heavy.
C) The bag is like a rock.
D) The bag sighed under pressure.
Answer: A
16. "The sun smiled down on the
children" suggests:
A) The sun has a face
B) The weather is pleasant and happy
C) It is raining
D) The children are outdoors
Answer: B
17. Which is not onomatopoeia?
A) Bang
B) Splash
C) Run
D) Hiss
Answer: C
18. "I'm so hungry I could eat
a horse" is effective because it:
A) Compares hunger to a horse
B) Exaggerates to emphasize extreme hunger
C) Gives human hunger to a horse
D) Uses sound imitation
Answer: B
19. "The flowers nodded their
heads" uses personification to create:
A) Scientific accuracy
B) A lively, gentle image of flowers moving in the breeze
C) Confusion about plants
D) A sad mood
Answer: B
20. Which option uses both
personification and hyperbole?
A) The stars winked at me a million times.
B) The stars are diamonds.
C) The stars shone like tiny lamps.
D) The stars were silent.
Answer: A
Questions
21–30: Symbolism, Irony, Foreshadowing
21. In literature, a symbol is:
A) A comparison using like/as
B) An object representing a larger idea
C) An exaggerated statement
D) A repetition of sounds
Answer: B
22. A red rose commonly symbolizes:
A) Danger
B) Love and romance
C) Anger
D) Death
Answer: B
23. Situational irony occurs when:
A) The audience knows more than the character
B) What happens is the opposite of what is expected
C) You say the opposite of what you mean
D) A word imitates a sound
Answer: B
24. A fire station burns down. This
is an example of:
A) Verbal irony
B) Dramatic irony
C) Situational irony
D) Foreshadowing
Answer: C
25. Dramatic irony happens when:
A) A character says one thing but means another
B) The reader knows a secret a character does not
C) Exaggeration is used for humor
D) An object stands for an idea
Answer: B
26. In a horror movie, the audience
sees the killer hiding, but the character does not. This is:
A) Situational irony
B) Dramatic irony
C) Verbal irony
D) Symbolism
Answer: B
27. Foreshadowing is used to:
A) Summarize the plot
B) Hint at future events
C) Describe a character's appearance
D) Compare two things
Answer: B
28. A character reads a book titled How
to Survive a Shipwreck before a boat trip. This foreshadows:
A) A happy vacation
B) A possible disaster at sea
C) The character dislikes reading
D) The book is boring
Answer: B
29. Which color often symbolizes
purity or peace in Western literature?
A) Red
B) Black
C) White
D) Green
Answer: C
30. "What a beautiful
day," said during a hurricane is:
A) Dramatic irony
B) Verbal irony (sarcasm)
C) Situational irony
D) Foreshadowing
Answer: B
Questions
31–40: Alliteration, Allusion, Oxymoron
31. "Peter picked pickled
peppers" is an example of:
A) Onomatopoeia
B) Alliteration
C) Simile
D) Symbolism
Answer: B
32. Alliteration is the repetition
of:
A) Vowel sounds at the end of words
B) Consonant sounds at the beginning of words
C) Entire words
D) Similar meanings
Answer: B
33. An allusion is a reference to:
A) The author's life
B) A well-known person, event, or work
C) The dictionary definition of a word
D) A sound effect
Answer: B
34. "He has a Hercules
complex" alludes to:
A) A scientist
B) A weak person
C) Greek mythology (great strength)
D) A type of disease
Answer: C
35. Oxymoron is:
A) Two opposite words together
B) A long comparison
C) A repeating sound
D) A type of irony
Answer: A
36. Which is an oxymoron?
A) Pretty ugly
B) Fast runner
C) Bright sun
D) Old friend
Answer: A
37. Deafening silence creates
meaning by:
A) Exaggerating sound
B) Pairing contradictory terms to highlight tension
C) Comparing silence to deafness
D) Imitating a sound
Answer: B
38. "She's the Einstein of our
class" is an allusion that means:
A) She has messy hair
B) She is very intelligent
C) She is a physicist
D) She is German
Answer: B
39. Which phrase uses alliteration?
A) Busy as a bee
B) Sweet sorrow
C) Living dead
D) Alone together
Answer: A
40. Bittersweet is an oxymoron
because:
A) It sounds like two words
B) It combines opposite feelings (pleasure and pain)
C) It is a metaphor
D) It uses like/as
Answer: B
Questions
41–50: Mixed Review & TEAS-Style Application
41. Read the sentence:
"The warning lights flashed like angry red eyes."
Which two devices are used?
A) Simile and personification
B) Metaphor and hyperbole
C) Onomatopoeia and symbolism
D) Allusion and irony
Answer: A (“like” = simile; “angry eyes” = personification)
42. Which device best creates
suspense by hinting at danger to come?
A) Symbolism
B) Foreshadowing
C) Alliteration
D) Oxymoron
Answer: B
43. "I'll love you until the
ocean folds its clothes" uses:
A) Simile and metaphor
B) Hyperbole and personification
C) Onomatopoeia and alliteration
D) Irony and symbolism
Answer: B (hyperbole = forever; ocean folding clothes =
personification)
44. An author writes "The final
exam was a guillotine hanging over their heads." This metaphor suggests:
A) The exam is historical
B) The exam is sharp and dangerous
C) The exam causes extreme anxiety and threat of failure
D) The exam is made of metal
Answer: C
45. Which device is used in
"Parting is such sweet sorrow" (Shakespeare)?
A) Oxymoron
B) Simile
C) Hyperbole
D) Allusion
Answer: A
46. To determine the meaning of a
symbol in a text, a reader should:
A) Look only at the dictionary definition
B) Consider the context and how the symbol is used repeatedly
C) Ignore the symbol as decorative
D) Replace it with a simile
Answer: B
47. Which sentence contains all
three: simile, personification, and hyperbole?
A) The wind screamed like a million angry ghosts.
B) The wind was strong.
C) The wind blew the leaves.
D) The wind and rain arrived together.
Answer: A (screamed = personification; like = simile; a million =
hyperbole)
48. A writer uses "the cold,
calculating clock counted down the seconds" mainly to create:
A) A happy, playful tone
B) A tense, urgent, or ominous mood
C) A romantic setting
D) A scientific report
Answer: B (personification of clock as cold/calculating suggests
pressure)
49. Which statement about literary
devices is true for the TEAS?
A) Only poetry uses literary devices.
B) Literary devices never affect the meaning.
C) Recognizing devices helps interpret an author's purpose and tone.
D) Alliteration is only used in children's books.
Answer: C
50. A patient's chart notes:
"The pain was a sharp knife twisting in his side." This is a metaphor
because:
A) It uses "like"
B) It exaggerates the pain
C) It directly compares pain to a knife without "like" or
"as"
D) It gives human traits to pain
Answer: C
Key
Ideas & Details (Main Idea, Topic, Summary, Details)
Passage
1
The peppered moth (Biston
betularia) is often cited in evolutionary biology. Before the Industrial
Revolution in England, the light-colored form was common because it blended
with lichen-covered trees. After pollution killed lichen and darkened bark, the
dark-colored form became more common due to camouflage from predators.
1. What is the main idea of this
passage?
a) Pollution is harmful to all moth species.
b) Natural selection can favor different traits as environments change.
c) Lichen is essential for moth survival.
d) Dark-colored moths are always better camouflaged.
Passage
2
To make ginger tea, first peel and
slice a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add
ginger, and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain into a cup and add honey or lemon if
desired.
2. Which of the following is a
necessary step in making ginger tea as described?
a) Adding honey before boiling
b) Using dried ginger only
c) Simmering the ginger in water
d) Boiling the ginger for 20 minutes
Passage
3
Despite common belief, tomatoes are
botanically classified as fruits because they develop from the ovary of a
flower and contain seeds. However, in culinary contexts, they are treated as
vegetables due to their savory flavor profile.
3. Which statement best summarizes
the passage?
a) Tomatoes are always vegetables.
b) Classification of tomatoes depends on whether the context is botanical or
culinary.
c) Botanists and chefs never agree on food classification.
d) Only fruits with sweet flavors are true fruits.
Passage
4
In 2019, researchers found that
regular aerobic exercise improved memory test scores in older adults by 15%
over six months. The control group that did only stretching showed no
improvement.
4. Which detail is explicitly stated
in the passage?
a) Aerobic exercise prevents Alzheimer’s disease.
b) The study lasted one year.
c) The control group performed only stretching.
d) Memory improved by 25% in the exercise group.
Passage
5
The term “Renaissance” means rebirth
in French. It refers to the period in Europe from the 14th to 17th century when
art, science, and literature revived after the Middle Ages.
5. According to the passage, the
Renaissance is associated with:
a) A decline in scientific thought
b) A rebirth of art, science, and literature
c) The beginning of the Middle Ages
d) A French political revolution
Craft
& Structure (Tone, Purpose, Word Meaning, Text Structure)
Passage
6
The new policy requiring ID badges
at all times is draconian and unnecessary. Employees have worked safely for
years without such intrusive measures.
6. The tone of this passage is best
described as:
a) Neutral
b) Critical
c) Enthusiastic
d) Apologetic
Passage
7
First, the cells were lysed to
release proteins. Next, the lysate was centrifuged at 10,000g for 10 minutes.
Finally, the supernatant was collected for Western blot analysis.
7. Which text structure is used
here?
a) Cause and effect
b) Compare and contrast
c) Chronological/sequential
d) Problem and solution
Passage
8
The author argues that school
uniforms reduce bullying, but opponents claim they stifle self-expression.
Neither side has conclusive data.
8. The word “stifle” most nearly
means:
a) Encourage
b) Suppress
c) Express
d) Decorate
Passage
9
“The forest wept with morning dew”
is an example of figurative language that gives human qualities to nature.
9. The phrase “the forest wept” is
an example of:
a) Simile
b) Personification
c) Hyperbole
d) Alliteration
Passage
10
This manual explains how to operate
the centrifuge safely. Always balance the rotor and never open the lid while
spinning.
10. What is the primary purpose of
this text?
a) To persuade
b) To entertain
c) To instruct
d) To describe
Integration
of Knowledge & Ideas (Inferences, Conclusions, Graphics, Arguments)
Passage
11
In a study of 500 patients, 80% who
took Vitamin D daily reported fewer colds. However, the study did not control
for diet or exercise.
11. Which conclusion is most
reasonable based on the passage?
a) Vitamin D definitely prevents colds.
b) Diet and exercise may have influenced the results.
c) Only 20% of people get colds.
d) The study proves a causal relationship.
Answers
with Short Reasons
1. b) Natural selection can favor
different traits as environments change.
Reason: The moth color changed as the environment changed.
2. c) Simmering the ginger in water
Reason: The recipe specifically says to simmer the ginger for 10
minutes.
3. b) Classification of tomatoes
depends on whether the context is botanical or culinary.
Reason: Botanically they are fruits, but culinarily they are vegetables.
4. c) The control group performed
only stretching.
Reason: This detail is directly stated in the passage.
5. b) A rebirth of art, science, and
literature
Reason: The passage defines the Renaissance as a period of revival.
Craft
& Structure
6. b) Critical
Reason: Words like "draconian" and "unnecessary"
show criticism.
7. c) Chronological/sequential
Reason: The steps are presented in time order (first, next, finally).
8. b) Suppress
Reason: "Stifle" means to hold back or suppress
self-expression.
9. b) Personification
Reason: The forest is given a human action ("wept").
10. c) To instruct
Reason: The manual gives directions for safe operation.
Integration
of Knowledge & Ideas
11. b) Diet and exercise may have
influenced the results.
Reason: The study did not control for those factors, so they could
affect the outcome.
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