Lesson 3: Literary Devices – Symbols, Imagery, and More

🟦 Introduction

Hello creative thinker! 👋
Have you ever read a story where an object seemed more important than it first appeared?
Or where the writer described a scene so clearly you could almost see, hear, or smell it?
That’s because authors use literary devices — special tools — to make stories more powerful, beautiful, and meaningful.

In this lesson, you’ll discover some common literary devices like symbols, imagery, and personification, and learn how to spot and explain them like a literature master!

Get ready to add some magic to your reading skills! 🌟

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What Are Literary Devices?
Literary devices are techniques that writers use to:

• Make their writing more interesting,

• Help readers understand ideas better,

• Create emotions (like happiness, sadness, excitement),

• Add deeper meaning to simple words.

They are like spices in food — they make stories taste better!

2. Important Literary Devices You Must Know

3. A Closer Look at Key Devices

Symbolism

• A symbol stands for something more than itself.

• Example:

  • A red rose = love

  • A road = life journey

Imagery

• Appeals to your five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch.

• Strong imagery makes you feel like you are inside the story!

Personification

• Brings objects, nature, or ideas to life.

• Makes stories more exciting and emotional.

🟨 Step-by-Step Walkthroughs

Walkthrough 1: Spotting Imagery in a Passage

Passage:
“The golden sun dipped behind the hills, painting the sky with strokes of orange and purple. The cool evening breeze carried the scent of ripe mangoes.”

Step 1: Which senses are being used?

• Sight → colors of the sky

• Smell → scent of mangoes

• Touch → feeling the cool breeze

Step 2: What is the effect?

• The reader feels calm, peaceful, and can clearly imagine the setting.

Walkthrough 2: Finding Symbols

Story:
“Akua always wore a small, broken bracelet her grandmother gave her. Even when rich people offered her new jewelry, she refused to take it off.”

Step 1: Identify the object.

• The bracelet.

Step 2: What bigger idea could it stand for?

• Family love, memory, tradition.

Answer:
The broken bracelet is a symbol of Akua’s love and loyalty to her grandmother.

🟨 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the Device to Its Example

Answers:

• Leaves danced → A. Personification

• Smile as bright as sun → B. Simile

• Black cloud → C. Symbolism (bad luck or sadness)

Exercise 2: Identify the Imagery

Read this:

“The spicy aroma of waakye and fried plantain filled the busy streets of Accra, where cars honked and music blasted from nearby shops.”

Questions:

1. Which senses are used?

2. What images do these words create?

Suggested Answer:

1. Smell (spicy aroma), Hearing (cars honking, music blasting), Sight (busy streets).

2. Creates a lively, busy, exciting street scene.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Examples

Complete the sentences using literary devices:

• Simile:
  “The baby cried like ____________.”

• Personification:
  “The moon ____________ across the night sky.”

• Symbol:
  “The broken fence represented ____________.”

Possible Answers:

• Like a siren.

• The moon danced across the night sky.

• The broken fence represented lost friendships.

Exercise 4: Literary Device Sorting Table

🔁 Recap

Today you learned that:

• Literary devices make stories richer, deeper, and more exciting.

• Symbols represent bigger ideas.

• Imagery paints pictures in your mind by using senses.

• Personification brings objects to life.

• Similes and metaphors create strong comparisons.

• Spotting literary devices makes you a smarter and more confident reader!

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Think about a story, poem, or even a song you like.

• Can you find one symbol, one example of imagery, and one simile or metaphor in it?

Write a few lines explaining what they are and how they make the story or song more powerful!