Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION VI – WESTERN VISAYAS
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ILOILO
MINA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
BANGAC-TALIBONG GRANDE, MINA, ILOILO

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE

WORLD

MODULE 8
Literary Techniques: Identifying Figures of Speech and Imagery
Types used in a Text

The diagram below could help us better understand the different

literary devices.

Literary Devices are typical structures used by writers in their works

to convey his or her message. This could be classified into two: Literary
Elements and Literary Techniques. Literary elements are fundamental in
literary texts since they are required parts while literary techniques are
the supplementary parts since they are mostly employed for greater
artistic aspect and appreciation. The ten common literary elements are
plot, setting, protagonist, antagonist, narrator, narrative mode, dialogue,
conflict, mood and theme. On the other hand, the eight common literary
techniques are simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, alliteration,
onomatopoeia, irony and imagery.

1. Simile
Definition: A comparison between two things using "like" or "as."
Example: Her smile was as bright as the sun.
2. Metaphor
Definition: A direct comparison between two things without using
"like" or "as."
Example: Time is a thief.

3. Personification
Definition: Giving human qualities to non-human things or abstract
concepts.
Example: The wind whispered through the trees.

4. Hyperbole
Definition: An exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
Example: I’ve told you a million times!

5. Onomatopoeia
Definition: Words that imitate the sound they represent.
Example: The bees buzzed in the garden.

6. Alliteration
Definition: The repetition of the same consonant sound at the
beginning of words in a sentence or phrase.
Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

7. Irony
Definition: When the opposite of what is expected occurs or is
said.
Example: A fire station burns down.

8. Imagery
Definition: making use of particular words to create visual
representation of ideas in our minds.
Example: The river was roaring in the mountains.

Referring at the diagram, we can already see the three important

keywords for today’s lesson which are literary devices, literary techniques
and figures of speech. The latter could be found under common literary
techniques which are simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, irony,
onomatopoeia, and alliteration. Imagery is another literary technique.

Imagery is the use of figurative language to represent objects,

actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses.
The types of imagery are:

1. Visual imagery considers the use of color, shapes, size and

patterns.

2. Auditory imagery considers clue words for music, silence and noise.

3. Olfactory imagery appeals to sense of smell should include nice

fragrances and bad odors.

4. Tactile imagery appeals to sense of touch should include clue

words for texture, movement and temperature.

5. Gustatory imagery pertains to flavors or the sense of taste

 Let us read and examine each poem through identifying imagery
types and figures of speech used by the writer.
My then chaotic mind led me to a rather peaceful place:
Where splashing ocean waves caress my then exhausted body;
Where the swooshing breeze tries to wipe my almost dried tears;
And where I can hear neither my murmur, mumble nor giggle.

This is an example of auditory imagery which appeals to our sense

of
hearing. The following words are hint to this imagery type: splashing,
swooshing, murmur, mumble and giggle. For auditory imagery,
onomatopoeia is often used since both imagery type and figure of speech
appeal to sense of hearing. Onomatopoeia is used to mimic sounds of
objects or actions referred to when spoken. Apart from this, personification
is also present in this poetry since human characteristics are given to
mind, ocean waves and breeze.

That sweetest moment when somebody comes forward in slow-mo;

Too bitter when it’s an instance of you-and-me against the world;
The salty feeling of being left behind mountains after hearing tons;
I should not have thought of the spice of meeting you all along.

This is an example of gustatory imagery using the clue words

sweetest,
bitter, salty and spice. For the figures of speech, we could see hyperbole in
the first three lines. We have the following: comes forward in slow-mo,
you-and-me against the world and left behind mountains after hearing
tons. These words may come from somebody who just lost his/her special
someone.

The world has always been divided to two opposing forces:

One says poverty is a disease – where kids lie on rotting trash and stinky
slum area; The other says money is a friend – where kids are surrounded
by blooming flowers and enticing food and drinks after a fresh bath.

This is an olfactory imagery which should appeal to your sense of

smell. Let us verify this through extracting five clue phrases relating to
sense of smell. We have the following: rotting trash, stinky slum area,
blooming flowers, enticing food and drink and fresh bath. And for this
poem, we have metaphor with the examples: poverty is a disease and
money is a friend.

Be sure to entice your life with your designed patterns:

May it be zigzag and whirling like the road to your limitless dreams;
May it be as neon and bright as your extremely own colorful visions;
May it be as large and high as skyscrapers or as tiny as pebbles.

This poetry should appeal more to your sense of sight making it an

example of visual imagery. Let us emphasize these four helpful terms:
zigzag and whirling, neon and bright, large and high, and tiny. Apart from
this, we could also see samples of simile such aszigzag and whirling like
the road to your limitless dreams, as neon and bright as your extremely
own colorful visions and as large and high as skyscrapers or as tiny as
pebbles.

Nothing beats a perfect summer day stroll along the beach:

With scene of the sun stretching its muscles, burning;
 Making flowers and bees rather in cold waters, swim;
And animals laugh over men’s clothes, ragged or seamless.

For this poem, we can extract tactile imagery with the following
as
clues:stroll along the beach; stretching its muscles, burning; in cold
waters, swim, and; ragged or seamless. And finally, we can identify three
personification examples from this poem. These are the following: the
sun stretching its muscles, burning; flowers and bees rather in cold
waters, swim, and; animals laugh over men’s clothes, ragged or seamless.

ACTIVITY NO. 1
Write the type of imagery presented by each item.

1. _________________ - The tequila burned like liquid fire in her mouth as she
swallowed the shot of alcohol.

2. _________________ - She ran her hand across the dark, concrete wall. It
was cold as ice. When she came to the middle of the room, she felt a
thick, slimy substance actively oozing down the wall.

3. _________________ - She couldn't sleep. So, she got out of bed, trailed
through the delicate slips of moonlight twinkling in the frost-covered glass,
and turned on the kettle.

4. _________________ - I was looking for a white rabbit, those with no spots

of
other colors to be exact. I also want this supposed pet to be housed in a
rectangular queen-size cage so it could enjoy itself while I’m gone.

5. _________________ - Your fragrance reminds me of the most luxurious

perfume brand in Paris!

ACTIVITY NO. 2
Directions: Write a poem with five lines, advising the youth on how
they should value themselves. Each line must present one imagery
type with one figurative language used. Be sure not to use the
imagery type and figurative language more than once. Your work
shall be graded as follows:

Correct Use of Figures of Speech --------------------15 points

Correct Presentation of Imagery Type ---------------15 points
Language Use / Grammar ----------------------------10 points
Evident Theme ------------------------------------------10 points

TOTAL - 50 POINTS