As a student of literature, it is essential that you cannot only define and identify literary devices, but also understand their purpose.  What effect does a particular literary device have on the development of a story, fluidity of speech, or characterization of a protagonist?  What is the impact on mood or tone?  So many literary devices, so many questions!

Sometimes it is a conscious decision by the author in order to achieve a desired effect, other times it just feels right in the moment.  Either way, we, as the audience and analyzers of text, look to make meaning and learn from these classics of literature.

When finished with each independent novel in second semester, you will be required to post, explain, and analyze the best example of a figurative language device from your book to our class blog site.  In the weeks that follow, you will also be required to respond to other students’ posts.  This should increase your engagement and understanding of your text, all the while practicing with the identification and analysis of literary devices.

Think ahead as you pull your weekly quotes! You cannot repeat a figurative language device in an end of book post.

For each book, you must choose a different literary device to find and post about.  This includes copying a brief excerpt from your novel, citing the source, explaining how it is an example of that device, providing the context, and analyzing the effect of the example on the rest of the story.  It should be about 3-5 sentences between the explanation and analysis (that does not include the excerpt).

After the first week, you will also need to respond to another student in a different category than your original post.  Example:  If you posted a metaphor from your independent reading, then you could NOT respond to a student in the metaphor blog in the same week.  Look in any of the other categories, allusion for example, and respond to another student there.

In responding to your classmate, you will be connecting with their analysis through comparison, agreeing or disagreeing with the analysis (not the explanation of how it fits the device), or building on the analysis.  If you have read the book referenced, remark whether you agree or disagree with the analysis AND EXPLAIN WHY you agree/disagree.  If you have not read the book, reply with a thoughtful comment - you can expand on their analysis or compare their piece/analysis with one that you have done.  Be specific and THOUGHTFUL.

The following literary devices are the ones you have to choose from for now:  metaphor, simile, allusion, personification, hyperbole, and symbol.