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Learn the definitions and examples of common literary devices used in prose and poetry, such as allegory, alliteration, anaphora, and more. This article will help you improve your literary analysis skills and prepare for SAT / ACT tests.
- What Are Literary devices?
- Literary Devices vs. Literary Elements vs. Literary Techniques
- How to Identify Literary Devices When You’Re Reading
- How to Use Literary Devices in Your Writing
- 28 Different Literary Devices and Their Meanings
“Literary device” is a broad term for all the techniques, styles, and strategies an author uses to enhance their writing. With millennia of literature in hundreds of different languages, humankind has amassed quite a few of these writing devices, which continue to evolve. Literary devices can entail general elements that come back again and again i...
There are a few competing terms when discussing literary devices, so let’s set the record straight. Literary elementsand literary techniquesare both types of literary devices. Literary elements are “big-picture” literary devices that extend throughout the entire work, such as setting, theme, mood, and allegory. Literary techniquesare the literary d...
You don’t necessarily need to understand literary devices to enjoy a good book. Certain devices like personification, onomatopoeia, and anthropomorphismare still entertaining to read, even if you don’t know them by their proper name. However, identifying literary devices enables you to reflect on the artistry of a piece of writing and understand th...
To use literary devices in your own writing, you first need to recognize them “in the wild.” Read the list below so you know what you’re looking for, and then pay extra attention when you’re reading. See how literary devices are used in the hands of expert writers. When you’re ready to experiment with literary devices yourself, the most important t...
Allegories arenarrativesthat represent something else entirely, like a historical event or significant ideology, to illustrate a deeper meaning. Sometimes the stories are entirely fabricated and only loosely tied to their source, but sometimes the individual characters act as fictional stand-ins for real-life historical figures. Examples: George Orwell’s Animal Farm, an allegory about the Russian Revolution of 1917, is one of the most famous allegories ever written; a more modern example is t...
Alliteration is the literary technique of using a sequence of words that begin with the same letter or sound for a poetic or whimsical effect. Examples: Many of Stan Lee’s iconic comic book characters have alliterative names: Peter Parker, Matthew Murdock, Reed Richards, and Bruce Banner.
An allusion is an indirect reference to another figure, event, place, or work of art that exists outside the story. Allusions are made to famous subjects so that they don’t need explanation—the reader should already understand the reference. Example: The title of Haruki Murakami’s novel 1Q84is itself an allusion to George Orwell’s novel 1984. The Japanese word for the number nine is pronounced the same as the English letter Q.
- Metaphor. Metaphors, also known as direct comparisons, are one of the most common literary devices. A metaphor is a statement in which two objects, often unrelated, are compared to each other.
- Simile. Similes, also known as indirect comparisons, are similar in construction to metaphors, but they imply a different meaning. Like metaphors, two unrelated objects are being compared to each other.
- Analogy. An analogy is an argumentative comparison: it compares two unalike things to advance an argument. Specifically, it argues that two things have equal weight, whether that weight be emotional, philosophical, or even literal.
- Imagery. Is imagery a literary device? Absolutely! Imagery can be both literal and figurative, and it relies on the interplay of language and sensation to create a sharper image in your brain.
May 22, 2024 · A literary device is a writing technique that writers use to express ideas, convey meaning, and highlight important themes in a piece of text. A metaphor, like we mentioned earlier, is a famous example of a literary device. These devices serve a wide range of purposes in literature.
- Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in...
- 1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Imagery 4. Symbolism 5. Flashbacks 6. Foreshadowing 7. Motif 8. Allegory 9. Juxtaposition 10. Point of view
- An allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes. In an allegorical story, things represent mor...
- Alliteration describes a series of words in quick succession that all start with the same letter or sound. It lends a pleasing cadence to prose and...
- An allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something. You probably allude to things all the time in everyday speech, without eve...
- Anachronism is when something happens or is attributed to a different era than when it actually existed. This is usually a mistake, such as an auth...
- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a series of clauses or sentences. It’s often seen in poetry and speeches, intend...
- Anastrophe is a figure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are...
- To anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather. But unlike personification...
- An aphorism is a universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to-the-point way. Aphorisms are typically witty and memorable, often becoming adag...
Learn about the techniques and elements that writers use to create literature, poetry, speeches, and more. Browse the alphabetical list of literary devices and terms, from acrostic to zeugma, with explanations and examples.
What Are Literary Devices? Literary devices, also known as literary elements, are techniques that writers use to convey their message more powerfully or to enhance their writing. Many Authors use literary devices without even realizing it.
III. Types of Literary Device. The varieties of literary devices are basically infinite – since the invention of storytelling, people have been honing the craft of literature and have come up with all sorts of tricks. For simplicity’s sake, we can separate the types of literary device based on scale:
