LITERARY

DEVICES IN
VARIOUS MODE
OF FICTION
 LITERARY DEVICES
Literary devices are specific techniques that
allow a writer to convey a deeper meaning
that goes beyond what’s on the page.
Literary devices work alongside plot and
characters to elevate a story and prompt
reflection on life, society, and what it means
to be human.
A literary device is a tool used by writers to hint
at larger themes, ideas, and meaning in a story or
piece of writing. There are many styles of literary
devices, each serving a different purpose. Some
operate at the sentence level, while others serve
the piece of writing as a whole. Writers often use
multiple literary devices in tandem.
Differen
t Types
of
Literar
y
Devices
Writers use a wide variety of literary
devices across different genres.
Each literary device serves a specific
purpose. 
 ALLEGORY
Allegory is a literary device used to express
large, complex ideas in an approachable
manner. Allegory allows writers to create
some distance between themselves and the
issues they are discussing, especially when
those issues are strong critiques of political
or societal realities.
 ALLUSION
An allusion is a popular literary device
used to develop characters, frame
storylines, and help create
associations to well-known works.
Allusions can reference anything from
Victorian fairy tales and popular
culture to the Bible and the Bard. 
 DRAMATIC IRONY
Remember the first time you read or watched Romeo
and Juliet? The tragic ending of this iconic story
exemplifies dramatic irony: The audience knows that
the lovers are each alive, but neither of the lovers
knows that the other is still alive. Each drinks their
poison without knowing what the audience knows.
Dramatic irony is used to great effect in literature,
film, and television. 
 FORESHADOWING
At its core, storytelling has one ambition: to
capture and sustain your reader’s attention
and keep them reading your story.
Foreshadowing, or slyly indicating a future
event, is one technique a writer can use to
create and build suspense.
 HUMOR
Humor brings people together and has the power
to transform how we think about the world. Of
course, not everyone is adept at being funny—
particularly in their writing. Making people laugh
takes some skill and finesse, and, because so
much relies on instinct, is harder to teach than
other techniques. However, all writers can
benefit from learning more about how humor
functions in writing.
 SUSPENSE
No matter what type of story you’re telling,
suspense is a valuable tool for keeping a reader’s
attention and interest. Building suspense involves
withholding information and raising key questions
that pique readers’ curiosity. Character
development plays a big role in generating
suspense; for example, if a character’s desire is
not fulfilled by the end of the book, the story will not
feel complete for the reader.
 SYMBOLISM

An object, concept, or word

does not have to be limited to a
single meaning.