All literary devices. 17 of the Most Common Literary Devices Every Reader and Writer Should Know 2022-10-21

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Literary devices are techniques used in literature to add depth and complexity to a text, to evoke emotion or to create a particular effect on the reader. These devices can be found in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, and can be used to create vivid imagery, to convey meaning, or to enhance the overall structure of a work. Some common literary devices include metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, imagery, and symbolism.

Metaphors are comparisons between two unlike things that do not use the words "like" or "as." For example, "The road ahead is a long and winding journey" is a metaphor because it compares the road to a journey without using "like" or "as." Metaphors can be used to create vivid imagery and to convey complex ideas in a more relatable way.

Similes are comparisons between two unlike things that use the words "like" or "as." For example, "Her eyes were like stars, bright and shining" is a simile because it compares her eyes to stars using the word "like." Similes can also be used to create vivid imagery and to convey meaning in a more relatable way.

Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human things or abstract concepts. For example, "The wind whispered secrets through the trees" is personification because it attributes human characteristics (whispering and having secrets) to the wind. Personification can be used to create vivid imagery and to add depth and emotion to a work.

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of several words in a row. For example, "She sells seashells by the seashore" is alliteration because it repeats the sound "s" at the beginning of several words. Alliteration can be used to add rhythm and emphasis to a work.

Imagery is the use of descriptive language to create a vivid mental image in the reader's mind. For example, "The sun was a giant orange ball, slowly sinking into the horizon" is imagery because it uses descriptive language to create a mental image of the sun setting. Imagery can be used to create vivid imagery and to evoke emotion in the reader.

Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts. For example, a white dove may symbolize peace, or a red rose may symbolize love. Symbolism can be used to add depth and complexity to a work and to convey meaning in a more subtle way.

In conclusion, literary devices are an important tool for writers to add depth, complexity, and emotion to their works. These devices can be used in a variety of literature, from poetry to fiction to non-fiction, and can help writers create vivid imagery, convey meaning, and enhance the overall structure of a work.

30 Literary Devices Every High Schooler Needs to Know (With Examples)

all literary devices

For a great example of ekphrasis—as well as a submission opportunity for writers! Malapropism What is it: An incorrect word intentionally or unintentionally used in place of a similar-sounding one, sometimes used for humorous effect. This is an example of polyptoton, a repetition device in which words from the same root are employed simultaneously. Tautology A tautology is when a sentence or short paragraph repeats a word or phrase, expressing the same idea twice. Euphemism A euphemism is a polite way of describing something indirectly. Examples of an Oxymoron Oxymorons often occur for humor, but they are not solely comedic literary devices. The streets of Ireland were overrun with children— some poor and some homeless. But first, some of you may be wondering: what is a literary device, anyway? This science test is gonna suck.

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Literary Devices List: 33 Main Literary Devices with Examples

all literary devices

It can also add an element of fun and playfulness, making the poem more enjoyable to read. Writers use colloquialisms to provide context to settings and characters, and to make their writing sound more authentic. This literary device can be used to create a sense of rhythm in a poem, as well as to emphasize certain ideas. In poetry, metaphor is often used to create an extended comparison between two seemingly unrelated objects or ideas. We use facts and data to present these logical points. Example : In the movie Clueless , Cher has an epiphany that she is in love with her stepbrother, Josh. Imagery is one of the most essential common literary devices.

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45+ Literary Devices and Terms Every Writer Should Know

all literary devices

Logos Part of the so-called rhetorical triangle, logos, along with ethos and pathos is a writing style that appeals to logic. A metaphor is a statement in which two objects, often unrelated, are compared to each other. Again, while the aforementioned anthropomorphism actually applies these traits to non-human things, personification means the behavior of the thing does not actually change. After all, a metaphor can convince you of something just as well as a syllogism. As a screenwriter, identifying tropes inside of a genre can help you better subvert audience expectations.

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Literary Devices In Poetry: 41 Definitions And Examples

all literary devices

Metaphor Metaphor is a poetic device most people will recognize, both from literature and from day to day speech. Consider this your crash course in common literary devices. Point of View Point of view is the perspective you use to tell your story. Why Is Tragic Flaw Used? These two art forms have soundtracks— music and sound effects that can help flesh out a world or elicit specific emotions. Try your hand at symbolism by writing a poem or story centered around a symbol.

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What are Literary Devices? Definitions and Examples for Screenwriters

all literary devices

Cara Black, in her Parisian mystery series, writes in English, but peppers in French here and there to more fully immerse the reader in her Francophone world. But in anecdotes, a touch of flashback can be effective. Why Is Point of View Used? Along the way, she suffers trials and tribulations, usually at the hands of the antagonist. If hyperbole lends more force to your claims, litotes diminishes your statement. Repetition Strategic repetition of certain phrases can reinforce the core of your poem.

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110 Common Literary Devices: Definitions & Examples

all literary devices

You can describe a nonhuman object through the five senses, and do so by giving it human descriptions. An allusion is a literary device that references a person, place, thing, or event in the real world. Before the days of audiotapes, microphones, and voiceovers, when a character needed to convey complex thoughts to an audience while simultaneously alone onstage, playwrights wrote soliloquies for them. Example of Pathos Pathos is the strongest driving force in advertising. Why Is a Metaphor Used? A literary device is a writing technique that writers use to express ideas, convey meaning, and highlight important themes in a piece of text. Common Literary Devices in Poetry The following 12 devices apply to both poetry and prose writers, but they appear most often in verse.

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Literary Devices and Literary Terms

all literary devices

Why does contemporary poetry frown at rhyme schemes? By experimenting with different meters, writers can create a wide variety of effects in their poetry. Because the more you know, the better your writing will be. Juxtapose your two selected items by starting your writing with both of them—for example: Across the town from her wedding, the bank robbers were tying up the hostages. Writers and authors use verbal irony to introduce humor in any situation or even to build tension or suspense between characters. Writers generally use free verse because it gives them more flexibility in word choice and meaning. Try to include these poetic devices in your next finished poems! And now a gusty shower wraps the grimy scraps of withered leaves about your feet.

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Literary Devices

all literary devices

This pause can be created by using a comma, semicolon, or period. He proposed that parents sell these children to the rich as food. As the final seconds ticked away and the Americans won the game, broadcaster Al Michaels jubilantly shouted, 57. Metonymy is a figure of speech that involves using a word or phrase to refer to something else, usually something closely associated with it. We do this to bring specific imagery or contextual clues to literature or speech, making the words more impactful. Consonance is the repetition of a consonant sound in a series, no matter where that consonant appears in a word. Paradox A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but may in fact be true.


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Poetic Devices List: 27 Main Poetic Devices with Examples

all literary devices

As you'd likely expect, when it comes to literary devices, this one is a heavy hitter. Juxtaposition accomplishes something similar in prose. There are many different types of alliteration, but some of the most common include initial consonant sound alliteration, medial consonant sound alliteration, and final consonant sound alliteration. Chiasmus Chiasmus is when two or more parallel clauses are inverted. Personal Narrative The personal narrative is a story about a personal story the author tells from his own life experience.

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12 Literary Devices in Poetry: Identifying Poetic Devices

all literary devices

Antihero A crowd favorite, the antihero is a protagonist who lacks the virtues of a traditional hero. Zeugmas are a largely classical device, because the constraints of ancient poetic meter were quite strict, and the economic nature of Latin encouraged the use of zeugma. Some poets are great at crafting dark, haunting poetry; others write poems full of soft sunshine that make you think of a languid summer morning in the grass. Onomatopoeia words are most often used in poetry and in comic books, though they certainly show up in works of prose as well. Scribophile is a community of hundreds of thousands of writers from all over the world. That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.


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