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Learning Interchange
Units of Practice

Lesson 3: Literary Devices

Lesson Details


Subject: English/Languages Arts
Learning Level: Middle School
Author(s): Bonnie Frazier and Brian Grisetti
Submitted by:

Abstract

The focus of this lesson is the identification and definition of literary devices and understanding how they bring the story to life for the reader. The students will be writing original samples of literary devices.

Lesson fundamental understandings:
Essential Questions:

a. Literary devices are used to bring a story to life (i.e. simile, metaphor, personfication)
b. A simile is a comparison using like or as.
c. A metaphor is comparison of two unlike things (i.e. Juliet is the sun) without the use of like or as.
d. Personification is the humanizing of a non-human object.
e. A literal telling of a story is the telling of events without the use of literary devices and descriptive language.
f. In contrast, a creative telling of a story would include literary devices and descriptive language.
g. Creative telling of a story makes it more memoriable.


Standards

National Standards

Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

State Standards

3.5.5 Locate and interpret figurative language, including simile, metaphor, and personification in text.


Lesson

Prerequisite Skills

Students will have been introduced to simile, metaphor, personification. The understanding of these devices will be reinforced as the student learns to use them to enhance the readers' enjoyment of their original stories.

Teacher Information/Situations/Setting/Time

Time Frame: 1-2 50 minute class periods

Materials/Resources: Pencil, paper
Poetry samples and other forms of literature using simile, metaphor and personification
Story created from previous lesson(s)

Suggested Poetry & Literature Samples:
Simile - The collective poetry of Langston Hughes
Metaphor - "I Know Why a Cage Bird Sings" By Maya Angalu
Personification - Trees & Other Poems & Candles That Burn by Joyce Kilmer
Descriptive Language - "Stopping By Woods on Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost

Assessment

Assess English journals for at least 2 examples each of simile, metaphor, and personification. Students will share them with the whole class and the teacher will check the journals for completeness and accuracy.

Student Activity/Tasks

Day One
1. Using samples of poetry and other literature, the students will find literary devices: simile and metaphor
2. Students define each device, and cite examples from previous lesson's stories.
3. Students will define simile and metaphor and list examples of each in their English journal.
4. Students will divide into their small group and create original examples of simile and metaphor.
5. Each group will present one example of each literary device.

Day Two
1. Using samples of poetry and other literature, the students will find the literary device, personification
2. Students define personification and cite examples from previous lesson's stories.
3. Students will list examples of each in their English journal.
4. Students will divide into their small group and create original examples of personification.
5. Each group will present an example of personification.

Enrichment/Alternate Activity:

Students will draw a picture of one literary device sample.

Cross-Curricular:

Reading

Technology Requirements/Tools/Materials

Acknowledgements:

The collective poetry of Langston Hughes "I Know Why a Cage Bird Sings" By Maya Angalu Trees & Other Poems & Candles That Burn by Joyce Kilmer "Stopping By Woods on Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost


Additional Resources

Main URL:

Related Lessons

Related Resources




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