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Literary terms have the power to create serious, comedic, or whimsical moods via tools of persuasion, poeticism, and wordplay. When to use Literary Terms. This depends. The variety of uses for literary terms spans across genres and is remarkably wide-ranging based on the goals or needs of the writer. Below we have categorized this vast subject.
- Essay Guide
Essay Introduction 1. Mastering the Introduction. An...
- Flashcards
Instructions: Click on a deck name to use the flaschards;...
- Glossary
F . Fairy Tale. A fairy tale is a story, often intended for...
- Allusion
Examples. In Persepolis, the young Marji has a vision of God...
- Flashback
Example 2. The movie We Are Marshall uses a flashback in the...
- Soliloquy
VII. Related Terms Monologue. Any time a character speaks at...
- Alliteration
IV. Examples of Alliteration in Literature. Alliteration...
- Analogy
II. Examples of Analogy. Analogies are commonly used to show...
- Connotation
II. Examples of Connotation. Connotation is an additional...
- Essay Guide
Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Instant PDF downloads. Refine any search. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more.
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- Sentence-Level Devices
- Narrative Devices
- Conceptual Devices
1. Alliteration
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 Hamlet and the dollar as currency in Macbeth. Example: “One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.” — “Death, Be Not Proud” by John Donne Exercise: Pick a letter and write a sentence where every word starts with that letter or one that sounds similar.
2. Anaphora
Anaphorais 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, intended to provoke an emotional response in its audience. Example:Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. "… and I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to...
3. Anastrophe
Anastropheis a figure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are you ready?” becomes a Yoda-esque adjective-verb-subject question: “Ready, are you?” Or a standard adjective-noun pairing like “tall mountain” becomes “mountain tall.” Example:“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.” — “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe Exercise: Write a standard verb-subject-adjective sentence or adjecti...
21. Allegory
An allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes. In an allegorical story, things represent more than they appear to on the surface. Many children's fables, such as The Tortoise and the Hare, are simple allegories about morality — but allegories can also be dark, complex, and controversial. Example: Animal Farmby George Orwell. This dystopian novella is one of modern literature’s best-known allegories. A commentary on the events leading up t...
22. Anecdote
An anecdote is like a short story within a story. Sometimes, they are incredibly short—only a line or two—and their purpose is to add a character’s perspective, knowledge, or experience to a situation. They can be inspirational, humorous, or be used to inspire actions in others. Since anecdotes are so short, don’t expect them to be part of a main story. They’re usually told by a character and part of the dialogue. Example: Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way, part of his series of novels, In Search o...
23. Deus Ex Machina
Literally meaning “god in the machine” in Greek, deus ex machina is a plot device where an impossible situation is solved by the appearance of an unexpected or unheard of character, action, object, or event. This brings about a quick and usually happy resolution for a story and can be used to surprise an audience, provide comic relief, or provide a fix for a complicated plot. However, deus ex machinas aren’t always looked upon favorably and can sometimes be seen as lazy writing, so they shoul...
34. Allusion
An allusion is a reference to a person, place, thing, concept, or other literary work that a reader is likely to recognize. A lot of meaning can be packed into an allusion and it’s often used to add depth to a story. Many works of classic Western literature will use allusions to the Bible to expand on or criticize the morals of their time. Example: “The two knitting women increase his anxiety by gazing at him and all the other sailors with knowing unconcern. Their eerie looks suggest that the...
35. Analogy
An analogy connects two seemingly unrelated concepts to show their similarities and expand on a thought or idea. They are similar to metaphors and similes, but usually take the comparison much further than either of these literary devices as they are used to support a claim rather than provide imagery. Example: “It has been well said that an author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a man who drops a rose petal down the Grand Canyon of Arizona and liste...
36. Anthropomorphism
To anthropomorphizeis to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather. But unlike personification, in which this is done through figurative description, anthropomorphism is literal: a sun with a smiling face, for example, or talking dogs in a cartoon. Examples: In Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Mrs. Potts the teapot, Cogsworth the clock, and Lumière the candlestick are all household objects that act and behave like humans (which, of course, the...
Browse through our list of literary devices and literary terms with definitions, examples, and usage tips. Explore each device in depth through literature.
This handout gives a rundown of some important terms and concepts used when talking and writing about literature. Included below is a list of literary terms that can help you interpret, critique, and respond to a variety of different written works.
Jan 26, 2023 · 1. 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. Example of metaphor: This tree is the god of the forest. Obviously, the tree is not a god—it is, in fact, a tree.
Aug 17, 2021 · Write with Grammarly. What are literary devices? “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.
