English

Literary Devices

Literary devices are techniques writers use to create meaning beyond literal words. Identifying them lets you analyze why a text affects you the way it does. The most-tested in school are metaphor, simile, irony, foreshadowing, symbolism, allusion, personification, and hyperbole.

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How to Approach Literary Devices

Distinguish by structure

Simile uses 'like' or 'as' (her eyes were like the sea). Metaphor doesn't (her eyes were the sea). Personification gives human traits to non-human things (the wind whispered). Hyperbole exaggerates (I've told you a million times).

Spot the meaning-making devices

Irony (situational, dramatic, verbal) creates gaps between expectation and reality. Foreshadowing hints at later events. Symbolism uses concrete things to represent abstract ideas. Allusion references other works (the Bible, mythology).

Write about effect, not just identification

Don't just say 'this is a metaphor.' Say WHY the author chose it: what feeling, image, or idea does it create? Strong literary analysis always answers 'so what.'

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😊 Alright, got it! Here are 20 JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) English questions for practice: 1. The manager _ the meeting to order. A. called B. calls C. calling D. call 2. She to school every day. A. go B. goes C. going D. gone 3. The students their books. A. is reading B. are reading C. reads D. read 4. If it rains, we the game. A. will cancel B. would cancel C. cancel D. cancelled 5. The book is the table. A. in B. on C. at D. with 6. She is than her sister. A. tall B. taller C. tallest D. more tall 7. They to Lagos next week. A. travel B. travels C. will travel D. travelling 8. The teacher asked the student . A. why he was late B. why was he late C. why he is late D. why is he late 9. I my homework yesterday. A. do B. does C. did D. doing 10. The cat on the mat. A. sleep B. sleeps C. sleeping D. slept 11. She a book now. A. read B. reads C. is reading D. reading 12. They football every Saturday. A. play B. plays C. playing D. played 13. If I had money, I a car. A. buy B. will buy C. would buy D. bought 14. The sun in the east. A. rise B. rises C. rising D. rose 15. She is interested music. A. in B. on C. at D. with 16. The baby all night. A. cry B. cries C. crying D. was crying 17. I to the store. A. go B. goes C. going D. went 18. He is the boy in the class. A. tall B. taller C. tallest D. more tall 19. They their project. A. finish B. finishes C. finishing D. have finished 20. She _ dinner when I arrived. A. cook B. cooks C. cooking D. was cooking Want answers or more questions? 😊

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between theme and motif?+

Theme is the underlying message of the work (e.g., 'corruption corrupts'). Motif is a recurring element (image, phrase, situation) that develops the theme. Themes are abstract; motifs are concrete repetitions.

Is symbolism the same as metaphor?+

Related but distinct. A metaphor is a single instance of one thing standing for another. A symbol is a recurring element that carries layered meaning across the work — the green light in Gatsby is a symbol, not just a metaphor.

How do I find literary devices in a poem?+

Read it aloud first — sound devices (alliteration, assonance, rhyme) emerge. Read again silently — figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification) becomes visible. Read a third time for structure (rhyme scheme, meter, line breaks).

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Literary Devices

How to Approach Literary Devices

Distinguish by structure

Spot the meaning-making devices

Write about effect, not just identification

Recently Solved English Questions on ScanSolve

Frequently Asked Questions

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Stuck on a Literary Devices problem?

Recently Solved English Questions on ScanSolve