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4 5 + Li t e r ar y Dev i ce s and Te r ms That Eve r yone S hou

Cont ent s

( ht t ps ://blog.r eedsy.com/lit er ar y-devices /)

What are literary devices? (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#what-are-literary-devices)

List of literary devices (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#list-of-literary-devices)

Allegory (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#allegory)

Alliteration (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#alliteration)

Allusion (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#allusion)

Anachronism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#anachronism)

Anaphora (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#anaphora)

Anastrophe (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#anastrophe)

Anthropomorphism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#anthropomorphism)

Aphorism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#aphorism)

Archetype (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#archetype)

Chiasmus (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#chiasmus)

Colloquialism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#colloquialism)

Cumulative sentence (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#cumulative-sentence)

Dramatic irony (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#dramatic-irony)

Euphemism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#euphemism)

Exposition (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#exposition)

Flashback (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/# ashback)

Foreshadowing (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#foreshadowing)

Frame story (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#frame-story)

Hyperbole (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#hyperbole)

Hypophora (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#hypophora)

Imagery (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#imagery)

Irony (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#irony)

Isocolon (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#isocolon)

Juxtaposition (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#juxtaposition)

Litotes (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#litotes)

/
 Malapropism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#malapropism)

Metaphor (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#metaphor)

Metonymy (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#metonymy)

Motif (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#motif)

Onomatopoeia (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#onomatopoeia)

Oxymoron (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#oxymoron)

Paradox (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#paradox)

Personi cation (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#personi cation)

Point of view (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#point-of-view)

Polysyndeton (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#polysyndeton)

Repetition (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#repetition)

Satire (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#satire)

Simile (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#simile)

Soliloquy (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#soliloquy)

Symbolism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#symbolism)

Synecdoche (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#synecdoche)

Tautology (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#tautology)

Tmesis (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#tmesis)

Tone (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#tone)

Tragicomedy (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#tragicomedy)

Zoomorphism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#zoomorphism)

Whether you're a writer, reader, student, or all of the above, it's important to know how literary devices work. For writers, strong device usage ca
meager to magni cent. For readers, they can provide a greater understanding of the text. And for students, knowing a few literary devices might j
English paper!

But rst, some of you may be wondering: what is a literary device, anyway? So for those of you who are new to the concept, let's go over the de n
and how they're typically used in writing.

What ar e liter ar y devices?

Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts i
narrative, and help readers connect to the characters and themes.

These devices serve a wide range of purposes in literature. Some might work on an intellectual level, while others have a more emotional effect. T
to improve the ow and pacing (https://blog.reedsy.com/pacing-in-writing/) of your writing. No matter what, if you're looking to inject somethin
literary devices are a great place to start.

Of course, for readers, literary devices can be dif cult to identify. But here's a good rule of thumb: if you're reading a book and you nd the autho
narrative structure in an unusual way, there's probably a literary device at work. Indeed, some devices show up so frequently, you may not even r
reading!

Her e ar e 10 of t he mos t common lit er ar y devices :

Simile (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#simile)
Metaphor (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#metaphor)
Imagery (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#imagery)
Symbolism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#symbolism)
Flashbacks (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/# ashback)
Foreshadowing (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#foreshadowing)
Motif (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#motif)
Allegory (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#allegory)
Juxtaposition (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#juxtaposition) /
 Point of view (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#point-of-view)

What are the 10 most common literary devices? Find out here! (https://twitter.com/share?
text=What+are+the+10+most+common+literary+devices%3F+Find+out+here%21&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://blog.
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text=What+are+the+10+most+common+literary+devices%3F+Find+out+here%21&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-device

You've probably heard of most (if not all) of the devices above. Again, they vary in terms of what they do: some of them relate to word usage and d
relate to how scenes play out. Some may be characteristic of speci c genres — for example, you'll often see ashbacks and foreshadowing in psyc
(https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/psychological-thrillers) — while others, like similes and metaphors, can be found in just about any text.

We'll also note that some literary devices double as rhetorical devices, which are used to convey meaning and/or persuade readers on a certain p
literary devices can be used to enhance writing in many different ways, not all of which involve trying to convince readers of something.

Basically, literary devices are artistic; rhetorical devices are informative and persuasive. That said, there can still be quite a bit of overlap between
learn more about rhetorical devices. (https://blog.reedsy.com/rhetorical-devices/)

Now for the pièce de résistance: our full list of literary devices everyone should know.

List of liter ar y devices

A llegor y

An allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-the-theme-
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 a
but allegories can also be dark, complex, and controversial.

Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell. This dystopian novella is one of modern literature’s best-known allegories. A commentary on the events
and the formation of the Soviet Union, the pigs at the heart of the novel represent gures such as Stalin, Trotsky, and Molotov.

A lliter ation

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 p
(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-poem/) both. And if you have any doubts about the impact of alliteration, consider the following unfor
(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-choose-book-titles/): Love’s Labour’s Lost, Sense and Sensibility, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Example: “Peter Piper picked a pot of pickled peppers.”

A llusion

An allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something. You probably allude to things all the time in everyday speech, without eve

Example: “This list of literary devices will turn me into a bona de Mark Twain (https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/mark-twain-books).”

A nachr onism

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
and accidentally using language that’s too modern. However, it can also be intentionally used as a literary device, if the author wants to comment
society.

Example: Cassius in Julius Caesar says that “the clock has stricken three," even though mechanical clocks had not been invented in 44 A.D. Of cou
Shakespeare did this on purpose to signify something else. Indeed, there are many famous anachronisms in Shakespeare, such as the University o
Hamlet and the dollar as currency in Macbeth.

A naphor a

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, intende
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 sit toge
brotherhood.

"… I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of the

Similar term: repetition

A nastr ophe

Anastrophe is a gure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are
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

A nthr opomor phism

To anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather. But unlike personi cati
through gurative 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 tha
humans (which, of course, they were when they weren’t under a spell).

Similar term: personi cation

/
 The household items in "Beauty and the Beast" have been anthropomorphized. (Image: Buena Vista)

A phor ism

An aphorism is a universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to-the-point way. Aphorisms are typically witty and memorable, often becoming a
people repeat them over and over.

Example: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” — Alexander Pope

A r chetype

An archetype (https://blog.reedsy.com/12-common-character-archetypes-every-writer-should-already-know/) is a “universal symbol” that brin

to a story. It can be a character, a setting, a theme, or an action. Archetypes represent feelings and situations that are shared across cultures and
therefore instantly recognizable to any audience — for instance, the innocent child character, or the theme of the inevitability of death.

Example: Superman is a heroic archetype: noble, self-sacri cing, and drawn to righting injustice whenever he sees it.

Chiasmus

Chiasmus is when two or more parallel clauses are inverted. “Why would I do that?” you may be wondering. Well, a chiasmus might sound confusin
theory, but it's much more convincing in practice — and in fact, you've likely already come across it before.

Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy

Colloquialism

Colloquialism is the use of casual and informal language in writing, which can also include slang. Writers use colloquialisms to provide context to
and to make their writing sound more authentic. Imagine reading a YA novel that takes place in modern America, and the characters speak to eac

“Good morning, Sue. I hope that you slept well and are prepared for this morning’s science exam.”

It’s not realistic. Colloquialisms help create believable dialogue (https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-dialogue/):

“Hey Sue, what’d you get up to last night? This science test is gonna suck.”

Example: Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh takes place in Scotland, a fact made undeniably obvious by the dialect: “Thing is, as ye git aulder, this char
becomes mair sapping. Thir wis a time ah used tae say tae aw the teachers, bosses, dole punters, poll-tax guys, magistrates, when they telt me ah
gadge, ah’m jist me, jist intae a different sort ay gig fae youse but, ken?’”

Cumulative sentence

A cumulative sentence (or “loose sentence”) is one that starts with an independent clause, but then has additional or modifying clauses. They’re o
clarifying details. This may sound complex, but even, “I ran to the store to buy milk, bread, and toilet paper” is a cumulative sentence, because the
store,” is a complete sentence, while the rest tells us extra information about your run to the store.

Example: “It was a large bottle of gin Albert Cousins had brought to the party, yes, but it was in no way large enough to ll all the cups, and in cer
times over, for the more than one hundred guests, some of whom were dancing not four feet in front of him.” – Commonwealth, Ann Patchett

Dr amatic ir ony

Dramatic irony is when the readers know more about the situation going on than at least one of the characters involved. This creates a difference
audience and the characters perceive unfolding events. For instance, if we know that one character is having an affair, when that character speak
pick up on the lies and double-meanings of their words, while the spouse may take them at face value.

Example: In Titanic, the audience knows from the beginning of the movie that the boat will sink. This creates wry humor when characters remark

Euphemism

A euphemism is an indirect, “polite” way of describing something too inappropriate or awkward to address directly. However, most people will sti
about what's happening.

Example: When an elderly person is forced to retire, some might say they’re being “put out to pasture.”

Ex position

Exposition (https://blog.reedsy.com/exposition-in-literature/) is when the narrative provides background information in order to help the reade
on. When used in conjunction with description and dialogue, this literary device provides a richer understanding of the characters, setting, and e
too much exposition will quickly become boring, thus undercutting the emotional impact of your work.
/
Example: “The Dursley’s had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it.” – H
Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling

Flashback

Flashbacks to previous events split up present-day scenes in a story, usually to build suspense (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-suspense/) towa
are also an interesting way to present exposition for your story, gradually revealing to the reader what happened in the past.

Example: Every other chapter in the rst part of Gone Girl is a ashback, with Amy’s old diary entries describing her relationship with her husban

Similar term: foreshadowing

For eshadowing

Foreshadowing (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-foreshadowing/) is when the author hints at events yet to come in a story. Similar to ashbacks
conjunction with them), this technique is also used to create tension or suspense — giving readers just enough breadcrumbs to keep them hungry

Example: One popular method of foreshadowing is through partial reveals — the narrator leaves out key facts to prompt readers’ curiosity. Jeffrey
The Virgin Suicides: “On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide – it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese, the
the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a rope.”

Similar term: ashback

Fr ame stor y

A frame story is any part of the story that "frames" another part of it, such as one character telling another about their past, or someone uncover
news articles that then tell the readers what happened. Since the frame story supports the rest of the plot, it is mainly used at the beginning and
in small interludes between chapters or short stories.

Example: In The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Kvothe is telling Chronicler the story of his life over the span of three days. Most of the no
telling, while the frame is any part that takes place in the inn.

Hyper bole

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that emphasizes the signi cance of the statement’s actual meaning. When a friend says, "Oh my god, I hav
years," that's hyperbole.

Example: “At that time Bogotá was a remote, lugubrious city where an insomniac rain had been falling since the beginning of the 16th century.” —
Gabriel García Márquez

Hypophor a

Hypophora is much like a rhetorical question, wherein someone asks a question that doesn't require an answer. However, in hypophora, the perso
answers it immediately themselves (hence the pre x hypo, meaning 'under' or 'before'). It’s often used when characters are reasoning something a

Example: “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it.” —

Musing Daisy Buchanan has a habit of hypophora. (Image: Warner Bros)

Imager y

Imagery appeals to readers’ senses through highly descriptive language. It’s crucial for any writer hoping to follow the rule of "show, don’t tell,"
(https://blog.reedsy.com/show-dont-tell/) as strong imagery truly paints a picture of the scene at hand.

Example: “In the hard-packed dirt of the midway, after the glaring lights are out and the people have gone to bed, you will nd a veritable treasur
frozen custard dribblings, candied apples abandoned by tired children, sugar uff crystals, salted almonds, popsicles, partially gnawed ice cream c
lollipops.” — Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Ir ony

Irony creates a contrast between how things seem and how they really are. There are three types of literary irony: dramatic (when readers know
characters do), situational (when readers expect a certain outcome, only to be surprised by a turn of events), and verbal (when the intended mean
/
opposite of what was said).
opposite of what was said).
Example: This opening scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4) from Orson Welles’ A Touch of Evil is a great example of how dra
tension.

Isocolon

If you’re a neat freak who likes things just so, isocolon is the literary device for you. This is when two or more phrases or clauses have similar struc
length — such that, when stacked up on top of each other, they would line up perfectly. Isocolon often crops up in brand slogans and famous say
rhythm makes the phrase catchier and more memorable.

Example: Veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”)

Jux taposition

Juxtaposition places two or more dissimilar characters, themes, concepts, etc. side by side, and the profound contrast highlights their difference
such an effective literary device? Well, because sometimes the best way for us to understand something is by understanding what it’s not.

Example: In the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens (https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/charles-dickens-books) uses juxtapos
societal disparity that led to the French Revolution: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…”

Similar terms: oxymoron, paradox

Litotes

Litotes (pronounced lie-toe-teez) is the signature literary device of the double negative. Writers use litotes to express certain sentiments through
that that opposite is not the case. Don’t worry, it makes more sense with the examples. 😉

Examples: “You won’t be sorry” (meaning you’ll be happy); “you’re not wrong” (meaning you’re right); “I didn’t not like it” (meaning I did)

Malapr opism

If Shakespeare is the king of metaphors, Michael Scott is the king of malapropisms (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YId_6G-YLpQ). A malapr
sounding words replace their appropriate counterparts, typically to comic effect — one of the most commonly cited is “dance a amingo,” rather
Malapropisms are often employed in dialogue when a character ubs up their speech.

Example: “I am not to be truf ed with.”

His last name is Christ. He has the power of ight. He can heal leopards. (Image: NBC)

Metaphor

A metaphor compares two similar things by saying that one of them is the other. As you'd likely expect, when it comes to literary devices, this on
standard metaphor doesn't do the trick, a writer can always try an extended metaphor (https://blog.reedsy.com/extended-metaphors/): a metap
initial comparison through more elaborate parallels.

Example: Metaphors are literature’s bread and butter (metaphor intended) — good luck nding a novel that is free of them. Here’s one from Franc
Glass: “Wishes are thorns, he told himself sharply. They do us no good, just stick into our skin and hurt us.”

Similar term: simile

One metaphor example not enough? Check out this post (https://blog.reedsy.com/metaphor-examples/), which has 97 of ‘em!

Metonymy

Metonymy is like symbolism, but even more so. A metonym doesn’t just symbolize something else, it comes to serve as a synonym for that thing o
single object embodies an entire institution.

Examples: “The crown” representing the monarchy, “Washington” representing the U.S. government

Similar term: synecdoche

Motif

Whatever form a motif takes, it recurs throughout the novel and helps develop the theme of the narrative. This might be a symbol, concept, or im

Example: In Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, trains are an omnipresent motif that symbolize transition, derailment, and ultimately violent death and

Similar term: symbol

Onomatopoeia

Amusingly, onomatopoeia (itself a dif cult-to-pronounce word) refers to words that sound like the thing they’re referring to. Well-known instanc
include whiz, buzz, snap, grunt, etc.

Example: The excellent children's book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. “Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hea
/
clack moo Clickety clack moo ”
clack, moo. Clickety, clack, moo.

Ox ymor on

An oxymoron comes from two contradictory words that describe one thing. While juxtaposition contrasts two story elements, oxymorons are ab
are using.

Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow.” — Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. (Find 100 more examples of oxymorons here (https://www.thoughtc
examples-of-oxymorons-1691814).)

Similar terms: juxtaposition, paradox

For Romeo and Juliet, parting is — oxymoronically — such sweet sorrow. (Image: 20th Century Fox)

Par adox

Paradox derives from the Greek word paradoxon, which means “beyond belief.” It’s a statement that asks people to think outside the box by provid
and yet actually true — premises.

Example: In George Orwell’s 1984, the slogan of the totalitarian government is built on paradoxes: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is
read these statements as obviously contradictory, in the context of Orwell’s novel, these blatantly corrupt sentiments have become an accepted t

Similar terms: oxymoron, juxtaposition

Per soni cation

Personi cation uses human traits to describe non-human things. Again, while the aforementioned anthropomorphism actually applies these trait
personi cation means the behavior of the thing does not actually change. It's personhood in gurative language only.

Example: “Just before it was dark, as they passed a great island of Sargasso weed that heaved and swung in the light sea as though the ocean were
something under a yellow blanket, his small line was taken by a dolphin.” — The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Similar term: anthropomorphism

Point of view

Point of view (https://blog.reedsy.com/point-of-view/) is, of course, the mode of narration in a story. There are many POVs an author can choos
different impact on the reading experience.

Example: Second person POV is uncommon because it directly addresses the reader — not an easy narrative style to pull off. One popular novel t
perspective successfully is Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney: “You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of th
are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy.”

Polysyndeton

Instead of using a single conjunction in a lengthy statements, polysyndeton uses several in succession for a dramatic effect. This one is de nitely
a bit of artistic air to their writing, or who are hoping to portray a particular (usually naïve) sort of voice.

Example: “Luster came away from the ower tree and we went along the fence and they stopped and we stopped and I looked through the fence
in the grass.” — The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Repetition

Repetition, repetition, repetition… where would we be without it? Though too much repetition is rarely a good thing, occasional repetition can b
(https://blog.reedsy.com/repetition-examples/) to drill home a point, or to create a certain atmosphere. For example, horror writers often use r
reader feel trapped and scared.

Example: In The Shining, Jack Torrance types over and over again on his pages,  “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” In this case, obsessiv
the character’s unraveling mind.

Similar term: anaphora

/
Not exactly what you want to see on your husband's desk (Image: Warner Bros)
 Not exactly what you want to see on your husband s desk. (Image: Warner Bros)

Satir e

Writers use satire to make fun of some aspect of human nature or society — usually through exaggeration, ridicule, or irony. There are countless
something; most of the time, you know it when you read it.

Example: The famous adventure novel (https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-adventure-books) Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift is a classi
fun at “travelers' tales,” the government, and indeed human nature itself.

Simile

A simile draws resemblance between two things by saying “Thing A is like Thing B,” or “Thing A is as [adjective] as Thing B.” Unlike a metaphor, a si
these things are the same, only that they are alike. As a result, it is probably the most common literary device in writing — you can almost always
the use of “like” or “as.”

Example: There are two similes in this description from Circe by Madeline Miller: “The ships were golden and huge as leviathans, their rails carve
They were towed by grinning dolphins or else crewed by fty black-haired nereids, faces silver as moonlight.”

Similar term: metaphor

Soliloquy

Soliloquy involves a character speaking their thoughts aloud, usually at length (and often in a Shakespeare play). The character in question may be
of others, but they’re not speaking for the bene t of other people; the purpose of a soliloquy is for a character to re ect independently.

Example: Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56965/speech-to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question) spe

on the nature of life and death, is a classic dramatic soliloquy.

Symbolism

Authors turn to tangible symbols to represent abstract concepts and ideas in their stories  Symbols typically derive from objects or non-human —
represent peace, or raven might represent death.

Example: In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg (actually a faded optometrist's billboard) to represent God and his

Similar term: motif

Synecdoche

Synecdoche is the usage of a part to represent the whole. That is, rather than an object or title that’s merely associated with the larger concept (a
synecdoche must actually be attached in some way: either to the name, or to the larger whole itself.

Examples: “Stanford won the game” (Stanford referring to the full title of the Stanford football team) or “Nice wheels you got there” (wheels referr

Similar term: metonymy

Tautology

A tautology is when a sentence or short paragraph repeats a word or phrase, expressing the same idea twice. Often, this is a sign that you should
the redundancy (such as “frozen ice”) but can also be used for poetic emphasis.

Example: "But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door" – The Rav

Tmesis

Tmesis is when a word or phrase is broken up by an interjecting word, such as abso-freaking-lutely. It’s used to draw out and emphasize the idea,
sarcastic slant.

Example: "This is not Romeo, he's some other where." – Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

Tone

Tone refers to the overall mood and message of your book. It’s established through a variety of means, including voice, characterization, symbolis
the feelings you want your readers to take away from the story.

Example: No matter how serious things get in The Good Place, there is always a chance for a character to redeem themselves by improving their b
hopeful for the future of humanity in the face of overwhelming odds.

Tr agicomedy

Tragicomedy is just what it sounds like: a blend of tragedy and comedy. Tragicomedy helps an audience process darker themes by allowing them
even when circumstances are bleak.

Example: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events uses wordplay, absurd situations, and over-the-top characters to provide humor in an

Zoomor phism

Zoomorphism is when you take animal traits and assign them to anything that’s not an animal. It’s the opposite of anthropomorphism and personi
a physical manifestation, such as a god appearing as an animal, or a comparison, like calling someone a busy bee.

Example: When vampires turn into bats, their bat form is an instance of zoomorphism.

Similar terms: anthropomorphism, personi cation

45+ literary devices to lend resonance to your writing #amwriting (https://twitter.com/share?

text=45%2B+literary+devices+to+lend+resonance+to+your+writing+%23amwriting&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://bl
devices/)
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Readers and writers alike can get a lot out of understanding literary devices and how they're used. Again, readers can use them to gain insight int
meaning behind their work, while writers can use literary devices to better connect with readers. But whatever your motivation for learning them
sorry you did! (Not least because you'll recognize the device I just used in that sentence. 😏)
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Which literary devices are your favorites? Share any thoughts, questions, or soliloquies in the comments below!
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6 Responses to “ 4 5+ Liter ar y Devices and Ter ms That Ever yone Should Know”
1. Ron B. Saunders says:

Januar y 16 , 2 019 at 7 :2 6 p m (ht t p s://b l og .r eed sy.com/l i t er ar y-d evi ces/#comment -1487 )

Paraprosdokians are also delightful literary devices for creating surprise or intrigue. They cause a reader to

rethink a concept or traditional expectation. (ht t ps ://en.wik ipedia.or g/wik i/ Par apr os dok ian ( ht t ps ://en.wik ipe

dia.or g/wik i/ Par apr os dok ian) )

2. ManhattanMinx says:

Januar y 17, 2 019 at 2 :07 am (ht t p s://b l og .r eed sy.com/l i t er ar y-d evi ces/#comment -1488)

That's pore, not pour. Shame.....

C ol i ne Har mon (ht t p ://t al esof or i g en.wor d p r ess.com) says:

June 14, 2 019 at 7 :06 p m (ht t p s://b l og .r eed sy.com/l i t er ar y-d evi ces/#comment -2 2 09)

It was a Malapropism

JC JC (ht t p ://g g) says:

Oct ob er 2 3 , 2 019 at 12 :02 am (ht t p s://b l og .r eed sy.com/l i t er ar y-d evi ces/#comment -3 044)

Yeah ManhattanMinx. It's a Malepropism!

jesus (ht t p ://g ood g i r l s.com) says:

Novemb er 7, 2 019 at 1:2 4 p m (ht t p s://b l og .r eed sy.com/l i t er ar y-d evi ces/#comment -312 7 )

no

3. Susan McGrath says:

Mar ch 10, 2 02 0 at 10:5 6 am (ht t p s://b l og .r eed sy.com/l i t er ar y-d evi ces/#comment -10076)

"But whatever your motivation for learning them, you certainly won't be sorry you did! (Not least because you'll

recognize the device I just used in that sentence. 😏)"

Litote

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