What are Literary Devices

Introduction
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

1. Plot: It is the logical sequence of events that develops a story.
2. Setting: It refers to the time and place in which a story takes place.
3. Protagonist: It is the main character of story, novel or a play e.g.
Hamlet in the play Hamlet
4. Antagonist: It is the character in conflict with the Protagonist e.g.
Claudius in the play Hamlet
5. Narrator: A person who tells the story.
 6. Narrative method: The manner in which a narrative is presented
comprising plot and setting.
7. Dialogue: Where characters of a narrative speak to one another.
8. Conflict. It is n issue in a narrative around which the whole story
revolves.
9. Mood: A general atmosphere of a narrative.
10. Theme: It is central idea or concept of a story.

Common Literary Techniques

1. Imagery: It is the use of figurative language to create visual representations
of actions, objects and ideas in our mind in such a way that they appeal to our
physical senses. For example:

 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.

2. Simile and Metaphor: Both compare two distinct objects and draws
similarity between them. The difference is that Simile uses “as” or “like” and
Metaphor does not. For example:

 “My love is like a red red rose” (Simile)

 He is an old fox very cunning. (Metaphor)

3. Hyperbole: It is deliberate exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of

emphasis. For example:

 Your bag weighs a ton!

 I have got a million issues to look after!

4. Personification: It gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. For

example:

 The flowers are dancing beside the lake.

 Have you see my new car? She is a real beauty!

5. Alliteration: It refers to the same consonant sounds in words coming

together. For example:

 Better butter always makes the batter better.

  She sells seashells at seashore.

6. Allegory: It is a literary technique in which an abstract idea is given a form

of characters, actions or events. For example:

 “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.

7. Irony: It is use of the words in such a way in which the intended meaning is
completely opposite to their literal meaning. For example:

 The bread is soft as a stone.

 So nice of you to break my new PSP!

Function of Literary Devices

In general, the literary devices are a collection of universal artistic structures
that are so typical of all works of literature frequently employed by the writers
to give meanings and a logical framework to their works through language.
When such works are read by readers, they ultimately recognize and
appreciate them. Because of their universality, they also allow the readers to
compare a work of one writer to that of the other to determine its worth. They
not only beautify the piece of literature but also give deeper meanings to it,
testing the very understanding of the readers along with providing them
enjoyment of reading. Besides, they help motivating readers’ imagination to
visualize the characters and scenes more clearly.

alliteration
the repetition of the first sound in words

Alice's aunt ate apples and acorns around August.

Better butter makes a batter better.
allusion
a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader
will recognize

"When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn't
necessary."

"He was a Good Samaritan yesterday when he helped the lady start her car."
assonance
vowels are repeated in words that are close to each other

"Men sell the wedding bells."

The same vowel sound of the short vowel "-e-" repeats itself in almost all the words
anaphora
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

"I want my money right now, right here, all right?"

metaphor
a comparison between two unlike things

Her voice is music to his ears.

The assignment was a breeze.
The skies of his future began to darken.
simile
comparing two unlike things usually formed with 'like' or 'as'

He's as happy as a clam.

Her cheeks are red like a rose.
hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke
humor

You always get to go first!

I never get the answer right.
imagery
when the writer or speaker uses their descriptions to access the senses of the reader of listener
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
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
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
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