Commonly, the term Literary Devices refers to the typical structures used by writers in their works to convey his or her message(s) in a simple manner to his or her readers. When employed properly, the different literary devices help readers to appreciate, interpret and analyze a literary work.
Two Kinds of Literary Devices Literary Devices have two aspects. They can be treated as either Literary Elements or Literary Techniques. It will be convenient to define them separately.
Literary Elements have an inherent existence in literary piece and are extensively employed by writers to develop a literary piece e.g. plot, setting, narrative structure, characters, mood, theme, moral etc. Writers simply cannot create his desired work without including Literary Elements in a thoroughly professional manner.
Literary Techniques, on the contrary, are structures usually a word s or phrases in literary texts that writers employ to achieve not merely artistic ends but also readers a greater understanding and appreciation of their literary works. Examples are: metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, allegory etc. In contrast to Literary Elements, Literary Techniques are not unavoidable aspect of literary works.
To have a better understanding of Literary Devices, it is useful to look at their definition and examples:
Common Literary Elements
Two Kinds of Literary Devices Literary Devices have two aspects. They can be treated as either Literary Elements or Literary Techniques. It will be convenient to define them separately.
Literary Elements have an inherent existence in literary piece and are extensively employed by writers to develop a literary piece e.g. plot, setting, narrative structure, characters, mood, theme, moral etc. Writers simply cannot create his desired work without including Literary Elements in a thoroughly professional manner.
Literary Techniques, on the contrary, are structures usually a word s or phrases in literary texts that writers employ to achieve not merely artistic ends but also readers a greater understanding and appreciation of their literary works. Examples are: metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, allegory etc. In contrast to Literary Elements, Literary Techniques are not unavoidable aspect of literary works.
To have a better understanding of Literary Devices, it is useful to look at their definition and examples:
Common Literary Elements
- Plot: It is the logical sequence of events that develops a story.
- Setting: It refers to the time and place in which a story takes place.
- Protagonist: It is the main character of story, novel or a play e.g. Hamlet in the play Hamlet
- Antagonist: It is the character in conflict with the Protagonist e.g. Claudius in the play Hamlet
- Narrator: A person who tells the story.
- Narrative method: The manner in which a narrative is presented comprising plot and setting.
- Dialogue: Where characters of a narrative speak to one another.
- Conflict. It is n issue in a narrative around which the whole story revolves.
- Mood: A general atmosphere of a narrative.
- Theme: It is central idea or concept of a story.
- The room was dark and gloomy. -The words “dark” and “gloomy” are visual images.
- The river was roaring in the mountains. – The word “roaring” appeals to our sense of hearing.
- “My love is like a red red rose” (Simile)
- He is an old fox very cunning. (Metaphor)
- Your bag weighs a ton!
- I have got a million issues to look after!
- The flowers are dancing beside the lake.
- Have you see my new car? She is a real beauty!
- Better butter always makes the batter better.
- She sells seashells at seashore.
- “Animal Farm”, written by George Orwell, is an example allegory using the actions of animals on a farm to represent the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WW II. In addition, the actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the Revolution.
- The bread is soft as a stone.
- So nice of you to break my new PSP!
alliteration the repetition of the initial consonant sound in words
assonance the repetition of vowel sounds
consonance the repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or at the end of words
enjambment when the writer uses line breaks meaningfully and abruptly to either emphasize a point or to create dual meanings
imagery when the writer or speaker uses their descriptions to access the senses of the reader of listener
repetition when the writer or speaker knowingly repeats a word or group of words for effect
rhyme when the end or final sound of two or more words are identical
rhythm when the arrangement of words creates an audible pattern or beat when read out loud
onomatopoeia when the words sound like what they mean
idiom an accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal
simile a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')
metaphor a comparison between two unlike things
hyperbole a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor
personification representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature
meter a pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables in poetry
end rhyme rhyme that occurs at the end of two or more lines of poetry
allegory a story, play, or picture in which characters or settings are used as symbols or abstract ideas
allusion a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
slant rhyme two words that have some sound in common but do not rhyme exactly
tone the attitude a writer takes towards a subject, character, or the reader
internal rhyme rhyme that occurs within a line, rather than at the end
diction a writer's or speaker's choice of words
oxymoron an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined
cacophony loud, harsh, or disagreeable sounds
blank verse poetic form written in unrhymed iambic pentameter
free verse poetic form that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
ballad a type of poem that is meant to be sung and is both lyric and narrative in nature
colloquial language informal language; language that is "conversational"
euphemism an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
elegy A sad or mournful poem, especially one mourning the dead
irony a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens
foil two characters that highlight each other by their differences
foreshadowing the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
juxtaposition placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
lyric a short poem of songlike quality
monologue a speech made by one actor or speaker
ode a poem usually addressed to a particular person, object or event that has stimulated deep and noble feelings in the poet
paradox an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
pun a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings
rhetorical question a question asked for an effect, not actually requiring an answer
sarcasm harsh words intended to hurt someone
satire a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
symbol something that stands for or represents something else
understatement saying less than one means, for effect
wit intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights
stream of consciousness a style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind
sonnet Fourteen-line poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and has one of several rhyme schemes.
epiphany a moment of sudden realization or insight
epitaph an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there
atmosphere The emotional mood created by a literary work
assonance the repetition of vowel sounds
consonance the repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or at the end of words
enjambment when the writer uses line breaks meaningfully and abruptly to either emphasize a point or to create dual meanings
imagery when the writer or speaker uses their descriptions to access the senses of the reader of listener
repetition when the writer or speaker knowingly repeats a word or group of words for effect
rhyme when the end or final sound of two or more words are identical
rhythm when the arrangement of words creates an audible pattern or beat when read out loud
onomatopoeia when the words sound like what they mean
idiom an accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal
simile a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')
metaphor a comparison between two unlike things
hyperbole a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor
personification representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature
meter a pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables in poetry
end rhyme rhyme that occurs at the end of two or more lines of poetry
allegory a story, play, or picture in which characters or settings are used as symbols or abstract ideas
allusion a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
slant rhyme two words that have some sound in common but do not rhyme exactly
tone the attitude a writer takes towards a subject, character, or the reader
internal rhyme rhyme that occurs within a line, rather than at the end
diction a writer's or speaker's choice of words
oxymoron an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined
cacophony loud, harsh, or disagreeable sounds
blank verse poetic form written in unrhymed iambic pentameter
free verse poetic form that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
ballad a type of poem that is meant to be sung and is both lyric and narrative in nature
colloquial language informal language; language that is "conversational"
euphemism an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
elegy A sad or mournful poem, especially one mourning the dead
irony a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens
foil two characters that highlight each other by their differences
foreshadowing the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
juxtaposition placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
lyric a short poem of songlike quality
monologue a speech made by one actor or speaker
ode a poem usually addressed to a particular person, object or event that has stimulated deep and noble feelings in the poet
paradox an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
pun a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings
rhetorical question a question asked for an effect, not actually requiring an answer
sarcasm harsh words intended to hurt someone
satire a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
symbol something that stands for or represents something else
understatement saying less than one means, for effect
wit intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights
stream of consciousness a style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind
sonnet Fourteen-line poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and has one of several rhyme schemes.
epiphany a moment of sudden realization or insight
epitaph an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there
atmosphere The emotional mood created by a literary work