Figurative Language and Literary Devices Flashcards
7 cards from real Reading Comprehension practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Figurative Language and Literary Devices flashcards as text
"The villain wore a smile that never reached his eyes — a mask he had perfected over decades of deceit." What literary device is 'a mask he had perfected,' and what does it reveal?
Answer: A metaphor comparing his smile to a mask, revealing that his friendliness is a deliberate, practiced deception hiding his true self.
His smile is directly called 'a mask' — a metaphor that conveys the smile is not genuine but a crafted tool of deception, hiding the character's true nature.
"The news spread like wildfire through the school, and by lunchtime everyone had heard the story." What literary device is 'spread like wildfire,' and what does it convey?
Answer: A simile comparing the spread of news to wildfire, conveying that the information traveled rapidly and uncontrollably.
The word 'like' signals a simile; comparing news to wildfire conveys that the information spread with fire's speed and unstoppable momentum.
"The white dove that landed on the memorial represented peace and remembrance to all who witnessed it." What literary device is used, and what does the dove convey?
Answer: Symbolism — the white dove represents peace, hope, and remembrance, serving as a meaningful symbol at the memorial.
The dove functions as a symbol — a concrete object (white bird) used to represent abstract concepts (peace, remembrance) that carry cultural meaning in the context.
"Every time she played the piano, the notes poured like a waterfall — cascading, unstoppable, and impossibly clear." What literary device is used, and what does it suggest about her playing?
Answer: A simile comparing her musical notes to a waterfall to convey the playing was fluid, powerful, and naturally beautiful.
The word 'like' introduces a simile that compares notes to a waterfall; the extended description (cascading, unstoppable, clear) develops the image to convey technical brilliance and natural ease.
"The broken clock on the mantle had witnessed four generations of the family's joys and sorrows." What literary device is 'had witnessed,' and what effect does it create?
Answer: Personification — giving the clock the capacity to witness events transforms it into a silent but enduring keeper of family memory.
Clocks cannot witness events; attributing this human cognitive ability to the object is personification that creates the sense of a household object absorbing and holding family history.
"The highway stretched ahead of them like a gray ribbon unrolling toward the horizon." What literary device is used, and what image does it create?
Answer: A simile comparing the highway to a ribbon, creating a visual image of a long, narrow, smooth road disappearing into the distance.
The word 'like' signals a simile; the ribbon comparison creates a precise visual image — long, narrow, flat, and continuous — that captures the appearance of the road ahead.
"He was the black sheep of the family, always finding trouble where others found success." What literary device is 'the black sheep,' and what does it mean in context?
Answer: An idiom meaning he was the outcast or troublesome member of the family who behaved differently from everyone else.
'Black sheep' is a widely recognized idiom for a family member who does not conform or fit in, often causing problems; its meaning is fixed and not derived from literal sheep.