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Jan 26, 2023 · 112 Common Literary Devices: Definitions, Examples, and Exercises. Common literary devices, such as metaphors and similes, are the building blocks of literature, and what make literature so enchanting. Language evolves through the literary devices in poetry and prose; the different types of figurative language make literature spark in different ...
- Allegory. An allegory is a story that is used to represent a more general message about real-life (historical) issues and/or events. It is typically an entire book, novel, play, etc.
- Alliteration. Alliteration is a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.
- Allusion. Allusion is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many allusions make reference to previous works of literature or art.
- Anachronism. An anachronism occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented.
People also ask
What is literary language?
What are literary devices and terms?
Why do authors use literary devices?
What are some examples of figurative language?
Literary language. Literary language is the form (register) of a language used when writing in a formal, academic, or particularly polite tone; when speaking or writing in such a tone, it can also be known as formal language. It may be the standardized variety of a language.
May 1, 2024 · Example: Veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) 11. Litotes. Litotes (pronounced lie-toe-teez) is the signature literary device of the double negative. Writers use litotes to express certain sentiments through their opposites, by saying that that opposite is not the case.
- What are literary devices?Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in...
- 10 of the most common literary devices1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Imagery 4. Symbolism 5. Flashbacks 6. Foreshadowing 7. Motif 8. Allegory 9. Juxtaposition 10. Point of view
- What is an 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 mor...
- What is 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...
- What is Allusion?An allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something. You probably allude to things all the time in everyday speech, without eve...
- What is an Anachronism?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...
- What is Anaphora?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...
- What is Anastrophe?Anastrophe is a figure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are...
- What is Anthropomorphism?To anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather. But unlike personification...
- What is an Aphorism?An aphorism is a universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to-the-point way. Aphorisms are typically witty and memorable, often becoming adag...
- Allegory. Allegories are narratives that represent something else entirely, like a historical event or significant ideology, to illustrate a deeper meaning.
- Alliteration. 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.
- Allusion. 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.
- Amplification. Amplification is the technique of embellishing a simple sentence with more details to increase its significance. Example: “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly.
Literary Devices & Terms. Literary devices and terms are the techniques and elements—from figures of speech to narrative devices to poetic meters—that writers use to create narrative literature, poetry, speeches, or any other form of writing. All.
Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative speech is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine. It's a common misconception that imagery, or vivid descriptive language, is a kind of figurative language.
