English Reading Comprehensionusually ages 11–14

Figurative Language and Literary Devices

Determine the meaning of figurative and connotative language in context, analyse the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, and identify literary devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, allusion, and irony

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Identify a metaphor or simile in a passage and explain its effect on the reader
Explain how an author's word choice creates a particular tone (e.g., menacing, humorous, melancholic)
Recognise an allusion to a myth, the Bible, or another text and explain what it adds to the meaning

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

When your child reads a passage containing a metaphor, irony, or allusion, can they explain what the author really meant — going beyond the literal words to describe the effect that device creates for the reader?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

How Language Choices Affect the Readerages 10–11KS3 figurative language analysis extends KS2 evaluating how authors use figurative language

Using and Evaluating Textual Evidenceages 11–14Analysing word choice impact requires citing evidence from the text

Figurative Language and Literary Devicesthis skill · ages 11–14

Unlocks

Advanced Figurative Languageages 11–14Advanced figurative language analysis requires the reading skill of analysing word choice in context

Poetic forms and conventionsages 11–14Analysing poetic technique requires understanding figurative language and word choice

Writing Techniques for Effectages 11–14Using literary devices in writing requires recognising them in reading first

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9E5LE04high confidenceYear 5 · Literature

examine the effects of imagery, including simile, metaphor and personification, and sound devices in narratives, poetry and songs

AC9E6LA08high confidenceYear 6 · Language

identify authors’ use of vivid, emotive vocabulary, such as metaphors, similes, personification, idioms, imagery and hyperbole

AC9E5LE02medium confidenceYear 5 · Literature

present an opinion on a literary text using specific terms about literary devices, text structures and language features, and reflect on the viewpoints of others

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

EN3-UARL-01medium confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 3

EN3-UARL-02medium confidenceEnglish K-10 · Stage 3

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2E6LA08high confidenceEnglish · Level 6 · Language strand

VC2E5LE04high confidenceEnglish · Level 5 · Literature strand

VC2E6LE02medium confidenceEnglish · Level 6 · Literature strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Analysing Text Structureages 11–14 Critical comparison across textsages 11–14 Evaluating Arguments in Non-Fictionages 11–14 Narrative Perspective and Unreliable Narratorsages 11–14

All Reading Comprehension skills →