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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 analyse 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.

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.
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Common Literary Techniques and their Functions:

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 seen 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.

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!
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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.

Function of Imagery

- To generate a vibrant and graphic presentation of a scene that appeals to as many of the
reader’s senses as possible.

- It aids the reader’s imagination to envision the characters and scenes in the literary piece
clearly.
- images , which are drawn by using figures of speech
like metaphor, simile, personification, onomatopoeia etc. serve the function of beautifying a
piece of literature.

Function of Alliteration

- Creates a musical effect in the text that enhances the pleasure of reading a literary piece.
- It makes reading and recitation of the poems attractive and appealing; thus, making them
easier to learn by heart.
- It renders flow and beauty to a piece of writing.
- Helpful in attracting customers and enhancing sales.

Function of Assonance

- a tool to enhance a musical effect in the text by using it for creating internal rhyme, which
consequently enhances the pleasure of reading a literary piece.
- It helps writers to develop a particular mood in the text that corresponds with its subject
matter.
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Functions of Anaphora

- it gives prominence to ideas

- Adds rhythm to it and thus, making it more pleasurable to read and easier to remember.
- Serves the purpose of furnishing artistic effect to the passages of prose and poetry.
- As a rhetorical device, it is used to appeal to the emotions of the audience in order to persuade,
inspire, motivate and encourage them.

Function of Apostrophe

- To bring abstract ideas or non-existent persons to life so that the nature of emotions they want
to communicate gets across in a better way – because it is more convenient for the readers to
relate themselves to the abstract emotions when they observe them in their natural
surroundings.
- The use of apostrophe motivates the readers to develop a perspective that is fresh as well as
creative.

Function of Antithesis

- Antithesis uses words to convey ideas in different ways from the common words and
expressions of daily life. Thus, it conveys meaning more vividly than ordinary speech. When
contrasting ideas are brought together, the idea is expressed more emphatically.
- Makes contrasts in order to examine pros and cons of a subject under discussion and helps to
bring forth judgment on that particular subject.

Function of Comparison

- To link an unfamiliar or a new idea to common and familiar objects.

- It facilitates readers to comprehend a new idea, which may have been difficult for them to
understand otherwise.
- The understanding of a new idea turns out to be simpler when viewed with a comparison to
something that is familiar to them.
- Writers increase their chance of catching the attention and interest of their readers, as
comparisons help them identify what they are reading to their lives.
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Function of Euphemism

- Helps writers to convey those ideas which have become a social taboo and are too
embarrassing to mention directly. Writers skilfully choose appropriate words to refer to and
discuss a subject indirectly which otherwise are not published due to strict social censorship
e.g. religious fanaticism, political theories, sexuality, death etc. Thus, euphemism is a useful tool
that allows writers to write figuratively about the libellous issues.

Function of Hyperbaton

- It creates startling and sometimes confusing effects despite being used as inflected language.
In rhyming and metered poems, hyperbaton is employed to fit a sentence into the structure of
a poem properly.
- It can result in emphasis at the desired place when used appropriately.
- Also, the unconventional placement of words and phrases result in intriguing and complex
sentence structures.

Function of Hyperbole

- To emphasize for an amusing effect. However, in literature it has very serious implications.
- A writer or a poet makes common human feelings remarkable and intense to such an extent
that they do not remain ordinary. In literature, usage of hyperbole develops contrasts.
- When one thing is described with an over-statement and the other thing is presented normally,
a striking contrast is developed. This technique is employed to catch the reader’s attention.

Function of Irony

- Irony brings about some added meanings to a situation.

- Ironical statements and situations in literature develop readers’ interest.
- Irony makes a work of literature more intriguing and forces the readers to use their imagination
and comprehend the underlying meanings of the texts.
- Real life is full of ironical expressions and situations. Therefore, the use of irony brings a work of
literature closer to the life.
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Function of Juxtaposition

- To surprise their readers and evoke their interest by means of developing a comparison
between two dissimilar things by placing them side by side.
- The comparison drawn adds vividness to a given image, controls pacing of poem or a narrative
and provides a logical connection between two various vague concepts.

Functions of Metaphors

- Metaphors appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers, sharpening their imaginations
to comprehend what is being communicated to them.
- Moreover, it gives a life-like quality to our conversations and to the characters of the fiction or
poetry.
- Metaphors are also ways of thinking, offering the listeners and the readers fresh ways of
examining ideas and viewing the world.

Function of Onomatopoeia

- Words are used to tell what is happening. Onomatopoeia, on the other hand, helps the readers
to hear the sounds the words they reflect. Hence, the reader cannot help but enter the world
created by the poet with the aid of these words.
- The beauty of onomatopoeic words lies in the fact that they are bound to have an effect on the
readers’ senses whether they are understood or not. Moreover, a simple plain expression does
not have the same emphatic effect that conveys an idea powerfully to the readers.
- The use of onomatopoeic words helps create emphasis.

Function of Oxymoron

- Oxymoron produces a dramatic effect, it appeals to us instantly.

- It provokes our thoughts and makes us ponder on the meaning of contradicting ideas.
- This apparently confusing phrase expresses a complex nature of love that could never be
expressed through any other simple expression.
- The use of oxymoron adds flavour to speech.
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Function of Paradox

- One function of literature is to make the readers enjoy reading. Readers enjoy more when they
extract the hidden meanings out of the writing rather than something presented to them in an
uncomplicated manner. Thus, the chief purpose of a paradox is to give pleasure.
- In poetry, the use of paradox is not confined to mere wit and pleasure; rather, it becomes an
integral part of poetic diction. Poets usually make use of a paradox to create a remarkable
thought or image out of words.
- Strives to create feelings of intrigue and interest in readers’ minds to make them think deeper
and harder to enjoy the real message of the poem.

Function of Parallelism

- Allows speakers and writers to maintain a consistency within their work and create a balanced
flow of ideas.
- Moreover, it can be employed as a tool for persuasion as well because of the repetition it uses.

Function of Personification

- It serves the purpose of giving deeper meanings to literary texts.

- It adds vividness to expressions as we always look at the world from a human perspective.
- Writers and poets rely on personification to bring inanimate things to life, so that their nature
and actions are understood in a better way. Because it is easier for us to relate to something
that is human or that possesses human traits.
- Its use encourages us to develop a perspective that is new as well as creative.

Function of Pun

- Apart from being witty and humorous, puns add profound meanings to texts and shape the way
in which the text is interpreted by the readers.
- By playing with the words, the writers reveal their cleverness and the cleverness of their
characters.
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- Besides, puns in a literary works act as a source of comic relief or an intentional effort on the
part of the writer to show his/her creative ability in using language.

Function of a Rhetorical Question

- The idea becomes all the more powerful, and our interest is aroused to continue to read and
enjoy the technical and aesthetic beauty that a rhetorical question generates.
- Moreover, it is a requirement in persuasive speeches.

Function of Repetition

- It is not only stylistically appealing but it also helps convey the message in much more engaging
and notable way.
- The aura that is created by the usage of repetition cannot be achieved through any other
device.
- It has the ability of making a simple sentence sound like a dramatic one.
- It enhances the beauty of a sentence and stresses on the point of main significance.
- Repetition often uses word associations to express the ideas and emotions in an indirect
manner.
- The beauty of reading a piece with repetition in it is the balance where we, as readers, have to
decipher such associations and understand the underlying meanings.
- Repetition as a literary term can be used both constructively and destructively. The constructive
usage encompasses functions such as, putting emphasis on a point, confirming a fact or an idea,
cohesion, mimesis, transition, showing impartiality and or describing a notion. The same literary
device when used destructively can disintegrate the entire piece of writing. Erasure,
redundancy, continuous present, fragmentation, copying and habitual misuse of the literary
device are among the destructive effects.

Function of Symbolism

- Symbolism gives a writer freedom to add double levels of meanings to his work: a literal one
that is self-evident and the symbolic one whose meaning is far more profound than the literal
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one. The symbolism, therefore, gives universality to the characters and the themes of a piece of
literature.
- Symbolism in literature evokes interest in readers as they find an opportunity to get an insight
of the writer’s mind on how he views the world and how he thinks of common objects and
actions, having broader implications.

Function of Simile

- Attracts the attention and appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers encouraging
their imagination to comprehend what is being communicated.
- It inspires life-like quality in our daily talks and in the characters of fiction or poetry.
- Allows readers to relate the feelings of a writer or a poet to their personal experiences.
Therefore, the use of similes makes it easier for the readers to understand the subject matter of
a literary text, which may have been otherwise too demanding to be comprehended.
- Like metaphors, similes also offer variety in our ways of thinking and offers new perspectives of
viewing the world.

Function of Satire

- The role of satire is to ridicule or criticize those vices in the society, which the writer considers a
threat to civilization. The writer considers it his obligation to expose these vices for the
betterment of humanity. Therefore, the function of satire is not to make others laugh at
persons or ideas they make fun of.
- It intends to warn the public and to change their opinions about the prevailing
corruption/conditions in society.

Function of Sarcasm

- Sarcasm can be used for many purposes. However, in most of the cases, it is utilized as a mask
or scathe.
- Others use it as a defensive mechanism.
- It is used when bitterness is hard to express in a pleasant way or the objective is to say
something without hurting somebody directly.
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- The basic purpose of sarcasm in literary works is to bring a flavour in order to make the stories
seem real to the readers.

Function of Allusion

- Enables writers or poets to simplify complex ideas and emotions.

- The readers comprehend the complex ideas by comparing the emotions of the writer or poet to
the references given by them.
- Furthermore, the references to Greek Mythology give a dreamlike and magical touch to the
works of art.
- Similarly, biblical allusions appeal to the readers with religious backgrounds.