Literary Techniques

Ms Bovard Term 1

Simile

Simile

A comparison made between two unlike things to describe similarities or shared traits using "like", "as" or "than". e.g. "He fought like a lion on the battlefield."

Metaphor

The describing of one thing as another to create a comparison between the two things to highlight similarities or shared traits. e.g. "Henry was a lion on the battlefield"

Repetition

A word or phrase that is repeated, usually for emphasis.

Alliteration

The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words that are in close proximity to one another. e.g. "Peter Piper picked a peck of peppers."

Assonance

The repetition of a vowel sound in words that are in close proximity to one another. e.g. "How now brown cow."

Sibilance

The repetition of an "s"-sound at the beginning of words that are in close proximity to one another (may be words that start with the letter "s" or soft "c" like "celery").

Juxtaposition

The placement of two (sometimes opposite, usually very different) words, people, concepts or ideas close together in order to create a contrast or comparison effect.

Oxymoron

The placement of two or more seemingly contradictory or nonsensical words together in a way that ultimately makes sense e.g. "his eyes possessed a cold fire".

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines of poetry.

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration, usually for emphasis or comical effect.

Personification

Attaching the appearance of human traits or characteristics with inanimate objects, phenomena and animals.

Imagery

The author's use of description to create evocative images to help the reader create a "mental picture" or a particular scene or idea. It is not always visual, but may also imaginatively use other senses as well.

Allusion

A figure of speech where an author refers to subject matter such as a place, event, or a literary work by passing reference in order for the reader to make a connection.

Euphemism

The use of a milder or less abrasive/crude reference to a subject in place of the original form, which may be otherwise seen as tactless or inappropriate. For example, "passing away" instead of "dying".

Foreshadowing

The use of indicative words or phrases that provides hints or suggestions for something that will unfold in the story later without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense.

Anthropomorphism

Human traits, emotions and actions that are literally performed by animals, inanimate objects or other phenomena.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence in poetry without a pause for punctuation between the end of a line, couplet or stanza.

Metonymy

A type of figurative language in which an object or concept is not referred to by name but rather the name of something that is closely related. (For example, if we describe something as coming "from the heart", "heart" is used in place of "love").

Synecdoche

A literary device that uses a part of something to refer to the whole or vice versa. For example, "The captain controls a hundred sails" whereby "sails" refers to "ships".

Motif

This literary device is any element, subject, idea or concept that is consistently present throughout the text. It refers to the repetition of a specific theme throughout a body of work.

Tone

This is the perspective or attitude that an author adopts with regards to the specific character, place or development. It is essentially the emotions or atmosphere that helps highlight the author's attitude towards a specific topic.

Onomatopoeia

Words that sound much like the action or noise they are intended to depict.