Exploring Literary Devices

Curriculum Area:

A-Level English Language & Literature
Specification Link: Analysis of literary devices in texts, developing critical thinking and evaluative writing skills.
Age Group: Year 12 (16-17 years old)

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Learning Objective:

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Confidently identify and explain the effect of key literary devices (e.g. metaphor, juxtaposition, irony, and motif).
2. Creatively apply these devices in their own writing to produce engaging short-form texts.

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Materials Needed:

• Excerpts from well-known literary works (e.g., Dickens, Austen, or Duffy)
• A printed “Literary Device Bingo” sheet for each student
• Whiteboard or flipchart
• Coloured sticky notes
• A mystery object (e.g., an interesting antique or random piece of artwork)

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Lesson Outline (30 minutes):

1. Welcome & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Activity: "Speedy Synonyms Challenge"

• Write a simple sentence on the board with a clichéd description, e.g., “The night was dark and scary.”
• In pairs, students have 60 seconds to rewrite it using more precise and interesting synonyms (e.g., “The night was ink-black and foreboding”).
• Each pair reads their favourite version aloud. The teacher encourages enthusiasm and participation by awarding “best synonyms” or “most creative image” praise.

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2. Literary Device Breakdown (10 minutes)

Focus Activity: "Literary Device Bingo"

1. Provide each student with a “Literary Device Bingo” card featuring terms like metaphor, simile, irony, hyperbole, and personification.
2. Show them three brief excerpts from well-known texts (e.g., 4-5 lines each from Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, or a Carol Ann Duffy poem).
   • Example: From Great Expectations: “A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg … ” (juxtaposition).
3. As a class, discuss the devices they uncover in each text and briefly explore their effects.
   • E.g., “How does Dickens make the convict seem intimidating here?”
4. Students check off the devices they spot on their card and quietly celebrate when they get “Bingo!”

Stretch: Ask students to consider why the author used that specific device in the context of the passage.

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3. Creative Writing & Sharing (10 minutes)

Activity: "Transform the Mundane"

• Present a mystery object (e.g., an antique clock or abstract artwork) in front of the class.
• Students work independently to write a four-line descriptive passage about the object, incorporating at least two literary devices.
  • Examples: “The clock’s hands staggered like drunken dancers, trapped in eternal unrest.” (personification and metaphor).
• Once finished, they write their favourite literary device from their work onto a coloured sticky note and place it on the board under a heading that says: Words are Magic.
• Each student reads their sentence aloud, and the group provides constructive feedback or comments on the imagery. The teacher can highlight the devices and applaud creativity.

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4. Final Reflection & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Closing Activity: Lightning Round Quiz

• Quickly quiz the students verbally by describing an example of a literary device and asking them to name it. For instance:
  • “What do we call it when we describe non-living things as having human-like qualities?” (Personification)
  • “What is the term for comparing two objects using ‘like’ or ‘as’?” (Simile)
• Time permitting: Ask, “Which literary device do you think is most powerful and why?” for a brief whole-class discussion.

Homework Extension (Optional):
Ask students to identify a passage in their current A-Level set text that uses a literary device effectively. Have them write 2-3 sentences explaining its effect in the context of the text.

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Assessment:

• Observing student engagement and participation in Bingo and the writing activity.
• Evaluating their creative use of literary devices in the independent writing task.
• Listening for accuracy and depth in the final wrap-up quiz.

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Differentiation:

• Provide simpler Bingo cards with fewer literary devices for students needing extra support.
• Challenge more advanced students to identify and explain less common devices such as synecdoche or chiasmus.
• Offer one-on-one guidance for those requiring help during the creative writing task.

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Notes for Teachers:

This highly interactive and fast-paced lesson is designed to keep students engaged while building their analytical and creative skills. Switching between group discussion, independent work, and competitive elements ensures varied learning styles are catered for.