Literary Devices

& Figures of
Speech
MYP 2 - LNL
What are literary devices?

• A literary device is a ‘trick’ or tool employed by the writer as a

part of story telling.

• Writers use literary devices to enhance various elements such

as setting, style, plot, and characterization.

• Literary devices involve all literary elements in a literary

work.
Literary Device
Examples
• F l a s h b a c k – d ep i c tin g a n oc c u r r en c e t ha t
h a p pe n ed b e f or e th e c u r r e n t p oin t of t he
s tor y.

• Im a g e r y - us es v iv id de s c rip tion t ha t
a p pe a ls to a r e a d er s ’ s e n s es to c r e a te a n
im a g e or id e a in th e ir h e ad .

 By ut ilizing eff e ct iv e des c ript iv e lang uage

and   f igur es of sp eec h, wr it er s appea l t o a
r eader ’s sen ses of s ight , t as t e , s m ell, t o uc h,
and sound, as w ell as in t er nal em ot ion a nd
f ee lings.
What are figures of
speech?
• A fi gure of speech is just that, a way of
‘speaking’ (in this case, writing) that is
fi gurative rather than literal.

• Words are used out of their literal

meaning or out of their ordinar y use.

• A fi gure of speech is just a specialized

literar y device.

• Figures of speech mai nly i nvolve

language and sty le of a li terary work.
 Common Figures of Speech
Metaphors- They draw vivid comparisons between two things that aren’t otherwise connected but
have something in common. Example- “She’s an early bird” is a metaphor.

Personification- Inanimate objects, intangible ideas and even animals get human attributes.
Example- The sun was playing hide and seek.

Oxymoron- A figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and or contradictory.
Example- Hot ice, cold fire.

Simile- Quite similar to a metaphor but suggests that two things are alike.
Example- “Life is like a box of chocolates”

Symbolism- Represents something beyond the literal meaning. A symbol can be a word, object,
action, character, or concept. Example- A red rose symbolizes love and romance.
 Common Figures of Speech
Hyperbole - It is the act of using extreme exaggeration to emphasize a certain feature or quality.
Example - I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse

Understatement – It is used intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
Example - “It rained a bit more than usual.” – Describing an area being flooded by heavy rainfall.

Analogy – An analogy is something that shows how two things are alike, but with the ultimate goal of
making a point about this comparison.
Example - eyes are to sight as fingers are to touch.

Euphemism - a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or
offensive.
Example – passed away instead of died, pre-loved instead of thrifty or used.
 Examples of Analogy

“People are like stained-glass windows.

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in, their true
beauty is revealed only if there is a light
from within.”

― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

“Just as music is noise that makes sense, a

painting is colour that makes sense, so a
stor y is life that makes sense.”

― Yann Mar tel, Beatrice and Virgil

What’s the Difference Between
Metaphor, Simile, and Analogy?

• A simile is saying something is like something else.

• A metaphor is often poetically saying

something is something else.

• An analogy is saying something is like something else

to make some sort of an explanatory point.
A fi gure of speech is a
literary device, but
not all literary devices
are fi gures of speech.