Literary devices grade 9

Visual Imagery

The writer wants you to see the setting of his scene in your mind. For this s/he describes the scene in a way that you can almost see the place and the action happening there in your mind.

Juxtaposition

This device is said to have been used when an author places two things side by side as a way of highlighting their differences. Ideas, images, characters, and actions are all things that can be juxtaposed with one another. For example, it's a common plot device in fairy tales such as Cinderella to juxtapose the good-natured main character with a cruel step-sibling. The differences between the characters, as well as their close relation to one another, serve to highlight the main character's good qualities. The use of this device encourages the reader to make comparisons otherwise ignored or unapparent. It can serve to highlight certain characteristics of subjects, to make different subjects more alike, or to challenge the typical perspective on a subject.

Metaphor

This is a device through which a writer uses the presence of a shared quality to make a comparison between 2 unrelated things. Writers use metaphor to add color and emphasis to what they are trying to express. For instance, if you say someone has "a sea of knowledge," you are using a metaphor to express how smart or educated they are. "Knowledge" and "the sea" are not literally related, but they are figuratively related because they are both immense things that are difficult to measure. By putting them together, you can accentuate how vast a person's knowledge is.

Tone

In written composition, the attitude of the writer towards a subject or an audience is conveyed through this device. The ______ of the writer is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of the writer on a particular subject. Every written piece comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and subject is the _______. The ______ can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, or cheerful, or it may be any other existing attitude.

Allusion

It is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to identify the 'allusion' and understand its importance in a text.

Hyperbole

This device involves unreal exaggeration of ideas to emphasize a point. This device has a has a humorous effect created by an overstatement.

Symbolism

This device calls for the use of symbols to show ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

Through this device the writer introduces objects or events to indicate towards a feeling, an attitude or opinion.

Oxymoron

This is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The common form of this device is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, such as "cruel kindness," or "living death".

However, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together. The contrasting ideas may be spaced out in a sentence, such as, "In order to lead, you must walk behind." It is a combination of two contradictory or opposite words.

Irony

This is a type of literary technique, or event in which what really happens is completely different, often exactly opposite of what is expected.

Diction

This refers to the choice of words.

Mood

In literature, this is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional setting that surrounds the readers. Mood is developed in a literary piece through various methods, including setting, theme, tone, and diction.

Foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader. It often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and helps the reader develop expectations about the coming events in a story.

Allegory

is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures, and events. It can be employed in prose and poetry to tell a story, with a purpose of teaching or explaining an idea or a principle. The objective of its use is to teach some kind of a moral lesson.

It is different from symbolism. While this device is a complete narrative that involves characters and events that stand for an abstract idea or event. A symbol, on the other hand, is an object that stands for another object, giving it a particular meaning.