Devices and their effects

Allegory - It creates multi-level meanings through

symbolic meanings in settings, events and
characters.
- The represented ideas stand for something
larger in meaning than what they usually
stand for.
Anthropomorphism - It renders the non-human subject worthy of
care and consideration.
- The anthropomorphized entities become
responsible for their own actions, be it a
reward or punishment.
Personification - It makes the object more subjective in
nature and enables it to have a mind of its
own.
- It helps the reader see from the object’s
POV.
- It makes the reader sympathetic towards the
condition of the object.
Oxymoron - It induces a brief dramatic effect in the
reader’s mind through the self-contradiction
of words to prove a rhetorical point.
- An oxymoron can evolve into a paradox.
Paradox - It serves as a point of reflection for the
reader.
- It is usually contrary to any existing belief or
opinion that the reader might have, enabling
him/her to look at the relation in an
innovative manner.
Imagery - It makes an abstract idea more tangible to
the reader.
- It helps the reader experience the emotions
as per the intent of the author.
- By supplementing more information to the
reader, it helps create a vivid picture in the
reader’s mind.
Alliteration - It narrows the reader’s attention towards a
specific section of a text.
- Certain letter sounds in an alliterative phrase
always have suggestive connotations
enhanced by repetition.
Allusion - It works on the assumption that both the
reader and the author know about a certain
body of knowledge, and therefore, the
former will understand what the latter is
referring to.
- It assists the reader in gaining a deeper
understanding of the author’s intent.
 Devices and their effects

Simile - It intends to describe one thing by

comparing it with another that is seemingly
unrelated to the former.
- By making that comparison, it attempts to
reinforce the initial impression of the thing
but not quite at the level of a metaphor.
Metaphor - It allows writers to convey meaning that
transcends the limits of literal interpretation.
- It already begins with the assumption that
both subjects being compared are one.
Interestingly, the reader is never aware of
the connection until it is made.
- It describes something which may not seem
accurate to the reader but will be able to
convey a nuanced emotion for which no
standard vocabulary exists.