More Literary Devices Literary Device
Allegory
Explanation
The device of using character and/or and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words as in !she sells sea shells!". The repetition can reinforce reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.
Ambiguity
The multiple meanings, either intentional intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.
Anachronism
Analogy
Anachronism is derived from a #reek word anachronous which means $against time%. Therefore, an anachronism anachronism is an error error of chronology or timeline in a literary piece. In other words, anything that is out of time and out of place is an anachronism.
A similarity or comparison between two di&erent things or the relationship between them. An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. Analogies can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe can also refer to an exclamatory 'gure 'gure of speech. The de'nition of apostrophe as a literary device is when a speaker breaks o& from addressing one party and instead addresses a third party. This third party may be an individual, either present or absent in the scene. It can also be an inanimate ob(ect, like a dagger, or an abstract concept, such as death or the sun. )ecause there is a clear speaker and change of addressee, apostrophe is most commonly found in plays. It does, however, sometimes occur in poetry and prose.. prose
Assonance
Assonance takes place when two or more Assonance takes words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with di&erent consonant sounds.
*aricature
*aricature is a device used in descriptive writing and visual arts where particular aspects of a sub(ect are exaggerated to
create a silly or comic e&ect. In other words, it can be de'ned as a plastic illustration, derisive drawing or a portrayal based on exaggeration of exaggeration of the natural features, which gives a humorous touch to the sub(ect. *haracterizatio n
*haracterization is a literary device that is used step by step in literature to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story.
*lich+
*lich+ refers to an expression that has been overused to the extent that it loses its original meaning or novelty novelty.. A clich+ may also refer to actions and events which are predictable because of some previous events.
*li&hanger
A cli&hanger is a type of narrative narrative or or a plot device in which the end is curiously abrupt so that the main characters are left in a dicult situation without o&ering any resolution of con-icts.
*limax
*limax, a #reek term meaning $ladder%, is that particular point in a narrative narrative at at which the con-ict con-ict or or tension hits the highest point.
*ollouial/ *ollouialism
The use of slang or informalities informalities in speech or writing. ot generally acceptable for formal writing, collouialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone. *ollouial expressions expressio ns in writing include local or regional dialect
*omparison
*omparison is a rhetorical or literary device in which a writer compares or contrasts two people, places, things, or ideas. In our everyday life, we compare people and things to express ourselves vividly. 0o when we say, $as lazy as a snail,% you compare two di&erent di &erent entities to show similarity i.e. someone1s laziness to the slow pace of a snail.
*on-ict
In literature, a con-ict con-ict is is a literary element
that involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist protagonist and and an antagonist antagonist..
*onnotation
The non2literal, associative meaning meaning of a word3 the implied, suggested meaning. *onnotations may involve ideas, emotions or attitudes
*onsonance
*onsonance refers to repetitive sounds *onsonance refers produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase. This repetition repetition often often takes place in uick succession such as in pitter, patter.
*ontrast
*ontrast is a rhetorical device through which writers identify di&erences between two sub(ects, places, persons, things or ideas. 0imply, it is a type of opposition between two ob(ects highlighted to emphasize their di&erences.
4enotation
4enouement
4ialect
The strict, literal, dictionary de'nition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.. 5xample6 the denotation of knife2 a color utensil for cutting 2 *onnotation 2 knife 2 such as knife in the back 2 anger fear violence betrayal
4enouement is derived from a 7rench word called $denoue% that means $to untie%. The denouement is a literary device which can be de'ned as the resolution of the issue of a complicated plot in 'ction 'ction.. 8a(ority of the examples of denouement show the resolution in the 'nal part or chapter that is often an epilogue.. epilogue
The language used by the people of a speci'c area, class, district or any other
group of people. The term dialect involves the spelling, sounds, grammar and pronunciation used by a particular group of people and it distinguishes them from other people around them. 4ialogue
A dialogue is a literary techniue in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in conversation with each other.. In literature, other l iterature, it is a conversational passage or a spok spoken en or written exchange of conversation in a group or between two persons directed towards a particular sub(ect. The use of dialogues can be seen back in classical literature, especially in 9lato1s Republic. 0everal other philosophers also used this techniue for rhetorical and argumentative purposes. #enerally, it makes a literary work en(oyable and lively.
4iction
4iction can be de'ned as style style of of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer.
5n(ambment
It can be de'ned as a thought or sense, phrase or clause in a line of poetry that does not come to an end at the line break but moves over to the next line.
5uphemism
7rom the #reek for !good speech,! euphemisms are a more agreeable or less o&ensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept 2 9:;ITI*A;;< *:==5*T
5xtended 8etaphor
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring freuently in or throughou throughoutt a work.
7igurative
>riting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant
;anguage
to be imaginative and vivid
7igure of speech
A device used to produce 'gurative language. 7igures of speech include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personi'cation, simile, synecdoche, understatement.
7oreshadowing
7oreshadowing is a literary device in 7oreshadowing is which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.
?yperbole
A 'gure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. The literal #reek meaning is !overshoot.!" ?yperboles often have a comic e&ect3 however, a serious e&ect is also possible. :ften, hyperbole produces irony. The opposite of hyperbole is understatement.
Idiom
The term refers to a set expression expression or a phrase comprising two or more words. An interesting fact regarding the device is that the expression is not interpreted literally.. The phrase is understood as to literally mean something uite di&erent from what individual words of the phrase would imply. Alternatively, it can be said that the phrase is interpreted in a 'gurative sense. 7urther, 7urth er, idioms vary in di&erent cultures and countries.
Imagery
The sensory details or 'gurative 'gurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. :n a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the 've senses6 visual, auditory,
tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. :n a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represen representt more than one thing. 7or example, a rose may present visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman@s cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection. An author may use complex imagery while simultaneously employing other 'gures of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work.
Inference
Invective
Irony
To draw a reasonable To reasonable conclusion from the information presented.
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.
The contrast between what what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the di&erence between what appears to be and what is actually true. Irony is often used to create poignancy or humor. In general, there are three ma(or types of irony used in language6 " verbal irony 2 when the words literally state the opposite of the writer@s or speaker@s"" meaning speaker@s B" situational irony 2 when events turn out the opposite of what was expected3 when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen C" dramatic irony 2 when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of 'ction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.
Dargon
8etaphor
Dargon is a literary term that is de'ned as Dargon is a use of speci'c phrases and words by writers in a particular situation, profession or trade. These specialized terms are used to convey hidden meanings accepted and understood in that 'eld. Dargon examples are found in literary and non2literary pieces of writing.
A 'gure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. 8etaphorical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful.
8ood
:nomatopoeia
The prevailing atmosphere atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. 0etting, tone, and events can a&ect the mood. 8ood is similar to tone and atmosphere.
A 'gure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. 0imple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.
:xymoron
7rom the #reek for !pointedly foolish,! an oxymoron oxymor on is a 'gure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. 0imple examples include !(umbo shrimp! and !cruel kindness.!
9aradox
A statement that appears to be self2 contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains
some degree of truth or validity.
9arallelism
Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from #reek roots meaning !beside one another.! It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity similarity.. This can involve, but is not limited limited to, repetition of a grammatical element. The e&ects of parallelism are are numerous, but freuently they act as an organizing force to attract the reader@s attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm.
9arody
A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the speci'c aim of comic e&ect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author@s expression propensity to use too many parentheses, certain favorite words, etc." >ell2written parody o&ers enlightenment >ell2written about the original, but poorly written parody o&ers only ine&ectual imitation. nuances of the newer work. :ccasionally, however, parodies take take on a life of their own and don@t reuire knowledge of the original.
9athetic 7allacy
9athetic fallacy fallacy is is a literary device that attributes human ualities and emotions to inanimate ob(ects of nature. The word $ pathetic% in the term is not used in the derogatory sense of being miserable3 rather, here, it stands for $imparting emotions to something else%.
9edantic
An ad(ective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly
scholarly, academic, or bookish language that might be described as !show2o&y!3 using big words for the sake of using big words".
9ersoni'cation
A 'gure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate ob(ects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions. 9ersoni'cation is used to make these 9ersoni'cation abstractions, animals, or ob(ects appear more vivid to the reader.
9oint of view
In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of point of view, and many subdivisions within those. " 7irst person narrator tells the story with the 'rst person pronoun, !I,! and is a character in the story. This narrator can be the protagonist, a secondary character, or an observing character. B" Third person narrator relates the events with the third person pronouns, !he,! !she,! and !it.! There are two two main subdivisions to be aware of6 " Third person omniscient, in which the narrator, with godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters B" Third person limited omniscient, in which the narrator presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, presenting only the actions of all the remaining characters. In addition, be aware that the term point of view carries an additional meaning. >hen you are asked to analyze the author@s point of view, the appropriate point for you to address is the author@s a uthor@s attitude.
=epetition
The duplication, either exact or approximate, appro ximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.
=hetoric
7rom the #reek for !orator,! this term describes the principles governing the art of writing e&ectively, elouently, and persuasively.
0arcasm
7rom the #reek meaning !to tear -esh,! sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic that is, intended to ridicule". >hen well done, sarcasm can be witty and insightful3 when poorly done, it is simply cruel.
0atire
0tyle
A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. =egardless =egar dless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, satire is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used e&ectively by the satirist6 irony, wit, parody, caricature, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition.
The consideration of style has has two purposes6 " An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, 'gurative language, and other >e can analyze and describe an author@s personal style and make
(udgments on how appropriate appropriate it is to the author@s purpose. 0tyles can be called -owery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc. B" *lassi'cation of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. )y means of such classi'cation and comparison, we can see how an author@s style re-ects and helps to de'ne a historical period, such as the =enaissance =enaiss ance or the Eictorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement.
0yllogism
7rom the #reek for !reckoning together,! a syllogism or syllogistic reasoning or syllogistic logic" is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises the 'rst one called !ma(or! and the second called !minor!" that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A syllogism@s conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid.
0ymbolism
#enerally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Fsually a symbol is something concrete 22 such as an ob(ect, action, character, or scene 2 that represen represents ts something more abstract. " atural symbols are ob(ects and occurrences from nature to symbolize ideas commonly associated with them dawn symbolizing hope or a new beginning, a rose symbolizing love, a tree symbolizing knowledge". B" *onventional symbols are those that have been invested with meaning by a group religious symbols such as a cross or 0tar of 4avid3 national symbols, such as a -ag or an eagle3 or group symbols, such
as a skull and crossbones for pirates or the scale of (ustice for lawyers". C" ;iterary symbols are sometimes also conventional in the sense that they are found in a variety of works and are more generally recognized. ?owever, a work@s symbols may be more complicated, as is the (ungle in ?eart of 4arkness.
0ynecdoche
0ynecdoche is a 'gure of speech in which a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole, or vice versa. 7or example, the phrase $all hands on deck% is a demand for all of the crew to help, yet the word $hands%G(ust a part of the crewGstands.
0yntax
The way an author chooses chooses to (oin words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. 0yntax is similar to diction, but you can di&erentiate them by thinking of syntax as groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words.
Theme
The central idea or message of a work, the insight it o&ers into life. Fsually theme is unstated in 'ctional works, but in non'ction, the theme may be directly state, especially in expository or argumentative writing.
Tone T one
0imilar to mood, tone describes the author@s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. *onsidering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying an author@s tone. 0ome words describing tone are playful, serious, business2like, business2lik e, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, somber, etc.
Fnderstatemen t
>it
The ironic minimalizing of fact, fact, understatement presents something as less signi'cant than it is. The e&ect can freuently be humorous and emphatic. Fnderstatement is the opposite of hyperbole.
In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A witty statement is humorous, while suggesting the speaker@s verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. >it usually uses concise language that makes a pointed statement. ?istorically, wit originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and 'nally, it grew to mean uick perception including creative fancy and a uick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same uick perception.
Duxtaposition
8aking an idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite.
=hetorical Huestion
A uestion whose answer is assumed, a rhetorical uestion is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and is a signi'cant tool in the study of rhetoric.
0imile
A critical 'gure of speech in an argument when what is unknown is compared to something that is known using the word !like,! !as,! or !than! in order to better perceive its importance.
0entence structure
>hen an essay uestion asks you to analyze sentence structure, look at the type of sentences the author uses.
=emember that the basic sentence structures are simple, compound, and complex and variations created with sentence combining. Also consider variation or lack of it in sentence length, any unusual devices in sentence construction, such as repetition or inverted word order, and any unusual word or phrase placement with all devices, be prepared to discuss the e&ect of the sentence structure. 7or example, a series of short, simple sentences or phrases can produce a feeling of speed and choppiness. which may suit the author@s purpose.
0tylistic devices
An essay prompt that mentions stylistic devices is asking you to note and analyze all of the elements in language that contribute to style2such as diction, syntax, tone, attitude, 'gures of speech, connotations, and repetition.
