Introduction to literary terms and devices

Grade 5 · English

Semester 2 | Period 5 | Week 25

Download the Lessonotes Mobile Liberia app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.

Get it on Google Play Get it on the Apple App Store

Subject: English

Semester: 2

Period: 5

Week: 25

School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: English Language
Grade Level: Grade 5
Date: Week 25
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 25, Period 5
Topic: Introduction to Literary Terms and Devices
Sub-topic: Literary terms – Imagery, Foreshadowing, Allusion, Flashback, Irony
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to define literary terms, identify them in texts, and provide examples.

Previous Knowledge
Students already know basic reading comprehension and some figurative language.

Instructional Materials
English Language textbook for Grade 5, short passages, whiteboard, markers

Lesson Development – ABC Model
A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Ask students to share their favorite story or poem and discuss what makes it interesting. Introduce the idea of literary devices as tools authors use to make stories more vivid.

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

📚 1. Teacher Explanation: What Are Literary Terms? (5–6 minutes)

Begin by introducing literary terms as tools authors use to enhance their writing. These devices help readers visualize, feel, and think more deeply about a story or passage.

✅ Definition:

Literary terms (also called literary devices or techniques) are special language tools that:

  • Add meaning, emotion, or depth to a text
  • Help readers connect to the characters or events
  • Create mood, tension, or surprise
  • Make the writing more vivid and memorable

 

🧠 Key Literary Devices and Their Definitions (with Examples)

  1. Imagery – Language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).

📌 Example:

“The street lights burned yellow night and day, no matter the weather.”

📘 Explanation:
This helps the reader see the lights and imagine the setting vividly.

  1. Foreshadowing – Clues or hints about what will happen later in the story.

📌 Example:

“She didn’t notice the dark clouds gathering above.”

📘 Explanation:
Hints at an upcoming problem or conflict. Builds suspense.

  1. Allusion – A brief reference to a famous person, event, place, or literary work.

📌 Example:

“He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”

📘 Explanation:
Refers to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The author doesn’t explain, assuming the reader recognizes the reference.

  1. Flashback – A scene that interrupts the present timeline to describe something from the past.

📌 Example:

“She remembered her first day at school.”

📘 Explanation:
The author goes back in time to reveal past events, often to explain a character’s feelings or actions.

  1. Irony – When the opposite of what is expected happens.

📌 Example:

“The fire station burned down.”

📘 Explanation:
It’s ironic because a fire station is supposed to prevent fires, not be the victim of one. Creates humor or surprise.

 

✍️ 2. Teacher Modeling: Spotting Literary Devices (5–6 minutes)

Use short sample texts or 2–3 sentence mini-paragraphs that contain one or more of the above devices. Read them aloud and ask learners to identify which literary device is being used.

🖍 Sample Modeling Passage:

“As John stepped onto the old creaky bridge, he remembered the day his brother fell into the river. A sudden gust of wind blew through the trees. Somewhere in the distance, thunder growled.”

Ask:

  • “What literary devices do you notice here?”
  • Flashback → remembering brother falling
  • Imagery → “creaky bridge”, “gust of wind”, “thunder growled”
  • Foreshadowing → danger might happen again

🧠 Use this moment to show how authors combine devices to create rich, layered writing.

 

👥 3. Learners’ Activities (Expanded and Detailed) (12–14 minutes)

📘 Activity 1: Identify Literary Devices in Short Passages (6–7 minutes)

  1. Provide 5 short passages (one for each device) in a handout or on the board.
  2. In pairs or small groups, learners:
    • Read each passage carefully
    • Identify the literary device used
    • Explain why they chose that device using sentence starters:

“This is an example of ___ because…”

✅ Scaffold with sentence frames:

  • “This line appeals to the sense of ____, so it’s imagery.”
  • “The line hints at what will happen later, showing foreshadowing.”

 

✍️ Activity 2: Create Their Own Examples (6–7 minutes)

  1. In pairs, learners create one original sentence for each literary device.
  2. Encourage creativity:
    • They can write about school, home, or imaginary stories
    • Use real-life inspiration to make it relatable

🧠 Example student-created sentence:

Imagery: “The popcorn crackled and popped in the hot oil, its buttery smell filling the room.”

Irony: “The vegetarian accidentally ordered a meat lover’s pizza.”

  1. Volunteers share their favorite sentence with the class.

 

✅ 4. Assessment Checks (2–3 minutes)

📣 Oral Review:

Randomly ask students to:

  • Define one literary term
  • Give their own example
  • Identify the device in a sentence

🎯 Check for:

  • Understanding of definitions
  • Accuracy of identification
  • Creativity and effort in examples

 

✅ Teacher Observations:

  • Are learners engaged and collaborative in groups?
  • Are their examples appropriate and clearly match the device?
  • Are they using the sentence starters correctly?

📋 Collect their written examples or handouts as a quick formative assessment.

📝 5. Notes (Expanded & Detailed)

🎯 Why Teach Literary Devices?

  • They enrich storytelling and make texts more powerful
  • Help readers visualize, predict, and analyze deeper meanings
  • Allow students to express themselves creatively in writing
  • Enhance students’ ability to interpret literature, poetry, and even media like films

 

📌 Encouragement Tips:

  • Remind learners that literary devices are everywhere—in songs, movies, books, ads
  • Encourage them to highlight or underline devices when reading in the future
  • Use a Literary Devices Wall Chart or anchor chart in the classroom for ongoing reference

 

🔧 Differentiation Strategies

For Lower-Level Learners:

  • Provide definitions and examples on a handout
  • Use matching exercises instead of open creation
  • Allow students to choose from a word bank of sensory details or famous references

For Advanced Learners:

  • Challenge them to use more than one device in a sentence
  • Ask them to identify the effect the device has on the reader
  • Introduce additional devices (e.g., metaphor, symbolism, hyperbole) as extensions

 

🌟 Optional Extensions

  1. Literary Device Scavenger Hunt:
    Assign students to find examples of each device in a novel, story, or even a movie.
  2. Literary Device Flipbook:
    Students create a mini-book with definitions, examples, and drawings to illustrate each term.
  3. Creative Writing Task:
    Write a short paragraph or poem that uses at least 3 literary devices.

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Summary: Review the five literary terms with examples. Ask learners to recall one example of each from their reading or created sentences.

Evaluation Method (Expanded):
Exit slip/quiz: Name one literary term and provide an example. Teacher collects slips and gives oral feedback.

Assignment (Expanded):
Read a short story and highlight or underline examples of literary devices.

Follow-up Activity:
Prepare a short paragraph or mini-story using at least two literary devices for sharing next class.

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies
Pair stronger and weaker students for peer support; allow learners to express examples verbally or through drawing.

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)
What worked well? ___________________________________________
What needs improvement? ____________________________________
Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low