Understanding literary devices is essential for analysing and appreciating literature. These devices enhance storytelling by adding depth, emotion, and creativity. The following set of 20 advanced questions is tailored for the 11+ assessment tests in UK schools, aiming to help students recognise and understand various literary devices commonly found in texts.
Sample Example
Question:
Identify the literary device used in the following sentence and explain its effect:
Sentence:
“The leaves danced in the wind.”
Answer:
- Literary Device: Personification
- Explanation:
The leaves are given human qualities by describing them as “dancing.” This creates a vivid and lively image of the scene, making the description more engaging and imaginative.
Questions
1. Identify the Literary Device
Read the sentence and name the literary device used.
Sentence:
“The thunder grumbled like an old man.”
2. Simile Identification
Find the simile in the following sentence.
Sentence:
“Her smile was as bright as the sun on a summer day.”
3. Metaphor Identification
Identify the metaphor used in this sentence.
Sentence:
“Time is a thief that steals our moments.”
4. Alliteration Recognition
Point out the alliteration in the sentence below.
Sentence:
“Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”
5. Onomatopoeia Identification
What onomatopoeic word is used in this sentence?
Sentence:
“The bees buzzed busily around the flowers.”
6. Hyperbole Recognition
Identify the hyperbole in the following sentence.
Sentence:
“I’ve told you a million times to clean your room.”
7. Personification Identification
Find the personification in this sentence.
Sentence:
“The wind whispered through the trees.”
8. Oxymoron Identification
What oxymoron is present in this sentence?
Sentence:
“The silence was deafening after the loud concert.”
9. Imagery Recognition
Identify the type of imagery used in the sentence below.
Sentence:
“The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen.”
10. Idiom Identification
What is the idiom used in this sentence?
Sentence:
“It’s raining cats and dogs outside.”
11. Symbolism Recognition
Identify the symbol in the following sentence and explain its meaning.
Sentence:
“The dove is a symbol of peace.”
12. Irony Identification
What type of irony is used in this sentence?
Sentence:
“A fire station burned down last night.”
13. Repetition Recognition
Find the repetition in the following sentence.
Sentence:
“The big, big elephant walked slowly through the forest.”
14. Assonance Identification
Identify the assonance in this sentence.
Sentence:
“The early bird catches the worm.”
15. Consonance Recognition
What consonance is present in the sentence below?
Sentence:
“The lumpy, bumpy road was hard to navigate.”
16. Allusion Identification
Find the allusion in this sentence.
Sentence:
“He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
17. Anaphora Recognition
Identify the anaphora in the following passage.
Sentence:
“Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
18. Euphemism Identification
What euphemism is used in this sentence?
Sentence:
“He passed away peacefully in his sleep.”
19. Synecdoche Recognition
Identify the synecdoche in the following sentence.
Sentence:
“All hands on deck for the storm.”
20. Pun Identification
What is the pun in this sentence?
Sentence:
“I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.”
Answers
1. Identify the Literary Device
Answer:
Simile
2. Simile Identification
Answer:
Simile: “as bright as the sun on a summer day.”
3. Metaphor Identification
Answer:
Metaphor: “Time is a thief.”
4. Alliteration Recognition
Answer:
Alliteration: “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”
5. Onomatopoeia Identification
Answer:
Onomatopoeia: “buzzed.”
6. Hyperbole Recognition
Answer:
Hyperbole: “I’ve told you a million times.”
7. Personification Identification
Answer:
Personification: “The wind whispered.”
8. Oxymoron Identification
Answer:
Oxymoron: “deafening silence.”
9. Imagery Recognition
Answer:
Olfactory Imagery: “The aroma of freshly baked bread.”
10. Idiom Identification
Answer:
Idiom: “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
11. Symbolism Recognition
Answer:
Symbolism:
- Symbol: Dove
- Meaning: Peace
12. Irony Identification
Answer:
Situational Irony: A fire station burning down.
13. Repetition Recognition
Answer:
Repetition: “big, big.”
14. Assonance Identification
Answer:
Assonance: Repetition of the “e” sound in “early” and “bird.”
15. Consonance Recognition
Answer:
Consonance: Repetition of the “m” sound in “lumpy, bumpy.”
16. Allusion Identification
Answer:
Allusion: “Romeo” refers to a romantic figure from Shakespeare’s works.
17. Anaphora Recognition
Answer:
Anaphora: Repetition of “every.”
18. Euphemism Identification
Answer:
Euphemism: “passed away” instead of “died.”
19. Synecdoche Recognition
Answer:
Synecdoche: “hands” referring to people.
20. Pun Identification
Answer:
Pun: “lost interest” plays on the double meaning of losing interest and losing money.
These advanced literary devices questions are designed to challenge and develop your ability to recognise and understand various literary techniques. Mastery of these concepts will enhance your analytical skills and appreciation of literature, which are vital for success in the 11+ English exam.
