Term Definition Examples Practice

Alliteration

A pattern of sound that includes the repetition of a consonant.

- Alice’s aunt ate apples and acorns.- Carrie’s cat clawed her carpet.- Perry and Pauly patted the penguin- The baby bear bounced towards its brother.- Cam carries kangaroos carefully.

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Allusion

Pointing to something from literature or history to express your point.

- He was a real Romeo with the ladies.- I thought the information was useful, but it was a Trojan horse.- Her house is like the Garden of Eden.

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Idiom

Popular expressions that do not make literal sense.

- I am sick as a dog.- He has a chip on his shoulder.- The ending was out of the blue.- It is raining cats and dogs!

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Hyperbole

Exaggeration. - I am starving, I have not eaten since ten o’clock- His arms are as thin as toothpicks!- I have a ton of chores to do.- I am so hungry, I could eat a horse.

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Metaphor

Comparison without using like or as.

- Her emotions are wild animals.- He is an angel.- You are my sunshine.- She has a heart of gold.- The world is a stage.

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Onomatopoeia

Words that describe sound.

- Pop pop pop! The corn kernels jumped in the pan.- Achoo! The boy sneezed all over his papers.- Bring bring! The phone shook and rang on its cradle.

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Personification

Giving ideas, animals, or objects human characteristics.

- The flowers beamed under the sun’s golden rays.- The sun climbed the sky and smiled down at the earth below.- The trees cowered at the sight of her.

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Simile

Comparison using like or as.

- Her eyes were clear like glass.- The ripples in the lake were like miniature mountain ranges.- Her fingers were as thin as twigs.- Her feet were as big as boulders.

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Literary Terms Practice Worksheet

Literary Terms Practice Worksheet

Alliteration Idiom Metaphor Personification

Allusion Hyperbole Onomatopoeia Simile

Use the word bank to correctly label the examples below. Words can be reused.

____________ 1. Those twins were two peas in a pod.

____________ 2. His hands were lion paws.

____________ 3. I am so hungry; I could eat an elephant.

____________ 4. The rollercoaster was like a tornado.

____________ 5. The water gurgled as it continued down the stream.

____________ 6. The moon sat silently, watching the children play in the night.

____________ 7. Her hungry hippo hoards hamburgers.

____________ 8. She is such a Scrooge!

____________ 9. Boom! The books hit the table.

____________ 10. Sadly, Sally sat in silence.

____________ 11. He is as slow as a snail!

____________ 12. The table stood above the carpet.

____________ 13. She is so fast; she is a tiger!

____________ 14. Clap! The rain hit the sidewalk.

____________ 15. He was a Romeo with the ladies.

____________ 16. She rubbed her the wrong way.