Literary Devices and Terminology Lesson Plans

Seventh graders examine the Latin roots -scrib, -script, -spec, and -spect, and discuss literary devices. They define the meaning of each Latin root, and in small groups generate a list of words containing each root. Students then write examples of two types of literary devices.

Eighth graders identify figurative language and poetry in this literary analysis lesson. Using Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and a YouTube video for "The Walrus and the Carpenter," young readers complete a literary device and element review worksheet. The lesson focuses on poetic devices, but you could work on concepts such as theme development as well.

Eighth graders work on Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes in the vocabulary portion of this Literacy block lesson plan. They investigate the spelling of a given list of words. They review literary devices in an inner and outer circle activity. Finally the class reads independently, individual students read their Latin word lists to the teacher.

Students explore anthropomorphism. In this literary devices lesson, students listen to the story The Wolf's Chicken Stew, then define and give examples of anthropomorphism, which is "a literary device in which animals are given human characteristics."  Students view a related video clip and PowerPoint presentation.  Students write a paragraph about the Marc Brown character "Arthur" and his friends explaining what the animal characters might be saying and doing in a picture.

Seventh graders analyze the content and structure of genres. They evaluate the literary elements and devices. Students use strategies to decode and comprehend the meaning of words in texts. They review the literary device of simile, metaphor, point of view, foreshadow, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.

Students study literary devices used in poetry. They gain access to a specific Internet poetry site that provides a step-by-step guide on how to write a poem. They each write a poem and then exchange it with others in a group for peer feedback. They rewrite their poems, incorporating literary devices to make them more creative.

Sixth graders review literary devices. In this lesson reviewing literary devices, 6th graders use both fiction and nonfiction texts to review metaphor, simile, alliteration, imagery, symbolism and personification. This lesson has a scripted guide for the teacher to follow.

Twelfth graders use song lyrics to complete a literary and stylistic analysis of poetry. For this poetry analysis lesson, 12th graders analyze poems without knowing they are songs and complete an organizer. Students listen to the songs and complete a group poetry analysis. Students write an essay that analyzes a poem and the impact of its stylistic and literary devices.

Identify literary devices (alliteration, repetition, allusion, etc.) that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used in his "I Have a Dream" speech. Middle schoolers go on to identify the literarcy devices Malcolm X used in "The Ballot or the Bullet?" and analyze the effectiveness of the literary devices used in these speeches. Use this lesson to compare text structures within a genre.

Ninth graders analyze the literary devices used in poetry and make a connection between song lyrics and poetry. They list favorite songs and share lyrics. They read the lyrics to "Closer to Fine" by the Indigo Girls and summarize the lyrics.