When teaching poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. Terms like “metaphor", "alliteration", "personification", "imagery", "apostrophe", and "assonance" are a few important terms.
After you have read the poem, ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the storyboard creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem. They will have an absolute blast and gain mastery of the words.
| DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Personification | Giving human-like characteristics to non-human objects or abstract ideas | “The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.” |
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line | “And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” |
| Assonance | The repetition of a vowel sound | “Half sunk, a shattered visage lies,” |
| Imagery | The use of descriptive or figurative language to create vivid mental imagery that appeals to the senses | “Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away.” |
| Apostrophe | A direct address to an absent person, concept, or inanimate object | “‘Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!’” |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows five examples of literary elements in "Ozymandias".
Boost student engagement by organizing a team-based scavenger hunt. Collaboration fosters discussion and helps students reinforce each other's understanding of literary terms.
Divide your class into teams of 3–4. Working in groups encourages participation from students who might feel shy or unsure when tackling literary analysis alone.
Give each team a unique list of 2–3 literary elements to locate in "Ozymandias." This ensures focused searching and reduces overlap, allowing every group to be an expert on certain terms.
Ask each group to collaborate on a single storyboard panel for each element, including a quote, explanation, and illustration. Presenting builds confidence and allows students to learn from their peers' perspectives.
Lead a class conversation where groups explain their choices. Encourage students to ask questions and respectfully debate different interpretations. This deepens critical thinking and clarifies misunderstandings.
The key literary elements in "Ozymandias" include metaphor, alliteration, personification, imagery, apostrophe, and assonance. These devices help convey the poem's themes and vivid imagery.
To teach literary elements in "Ozymandias", have students read the poem, then use a scavenger hunt activity where they identify and explain examples of each element using a storyboard creator. This interactive approach reinforces learning and engagement.
Yes! An example of personification is “The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.” For imagery, consider “Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away.”
A storyboard scavenger hunt lesson asks students to find and illustrate examples of literary elements in a poem, using a digital or physical storyboard. This hands-on activity helps students master terms like metaphor, alliteration, and more.
Effective strategies include using visual storyboards, group discussions, and targeted scavenger hunts. These methods encourage active participation and make learning figurative language in "Ozymandias" engaging and memorable.