Exploring the Tricks Authors Use

Literary devices are special tools writers use to make their stories interesting, funny, or dramatic. Learning to spot them makes reading even more enjoyable!

Common Literary Devices

• Simile: Comparing two things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., "Her smile was as bright as the sun.")
• Metaphor: Saying something is something else (e.g., "The classroom was a zoo.")
• Personification: Giving human qualities to things (e.g., "The wind whispered.")

How to Analyze

• Look for creative language.
• Ask: What effect does this device have on the story?
• Think: How does it help the reader imagine or feel something?

Why It Matters

Understanding literary devices helps you appreciate stories and become a more creative writer.