English Stylistic Devices

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds; Example: “Peter Piper picked…”; Analysis: Emphasizes key ideas, creates rhythm, and shapes tone (harsh sounds = aggression, soft sounds = calm).

Onomatopoeia:

Words that imitate sounds; Example: “buzz,” “crash”; Analysis: Creates immediacy and vivid sensory engagement.

Anaphora:

Repetition at the beginning of clauses; Example: “We shall fight…”; Analysis: Builds rhythm, conviction, and persuasive momentum.

Epistrophe:

Repetition at the end of clauses; Example: “for the people”; Analysis: Reinforces key ideas and creates memorable emphasis.

Parallelism:

Similar grammatical structure; Example: “reading, writing, running”; Analysis: Creates balance, clarity, and memorability.

Rule of Three / Tricolon:

Series of three parallel ideas; Example: “Life, liberty, happiness”; Analysis: Suggests completeness and strengthens rhetorical impact.

Asyndeton:

Omission of conjunctions; Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered”; Analysis: Speeds pace and conveys urgency or intensity.

Polysyndeton:

Repeated conjunctions; Example: “and men and money and ships”; Analysis: Slows pace and emphasizes accumulation.

Metaphor:

Direct comparison; Example: “Time is a thief”; Analysis: Transfers qualities to deepen meaning and shape perspective.

Simile:

Comparison using “like” or “as”; Example: “like sunshine”; Analysis: Clarifies ideas through familiar associations.

Extended Metaphor:

Metaphor developed across a text; Example: Life as a journey; Analysis: Creates cohesion and layered meaning.

Personification:

Giving human qualities to non-humans; Example: “The wind whispered”; Analysis: Creates emotional connection and tone.

Hyperbole:

Deliberate exaggeration; Example: “I could eat a horse”; Analysis: Emphasizes emotion, humor, or satire.

Irony Verbal

Saying the opposite of what is meant; Example: “Great weather” in a storm; Analysis: Creates criticism, humor, or satire.

Situational Irony:

Outcome contradicts expectations; Example: Fire station burns down; Analysis: Highlights absurdity or critique.

Symbolism:

Object represents abstract idea; Example: Dove = peace; Analysis: Adds deeper, often cultural meaning.

Motif:

Recurring symbolic element; Example: Repeated water imagery; Analysis: Builds cumulative thematic significance.

Imagery:

Descriptive language appealing to senses; Example: “Crimson sunset”; Analysis: Creates mood, atmosphere, and emotional response.

Semantic Field:

Group of related words; Example: war-related vocabulary; Analysis: Shapes perception and reinforces themes.

Rhetorical Question:

Question not requiring an answer; Example: “Who wouldn’t want this?”; Analysis: Engages audience and implies agreement.

Imperative Mood:

Command form; Example: “Act now”; Analysis: Creates urgency, authority, or direct address.

Short Sentence:

Brief, impactful sentence; Example: “Everything changed.”; Analysis: Emphasizes key moments or ideas.

Sentence Fragment:

Incomplete sentence; Example: “Alone. Afraid.”; Analysis: Heightens emotion and mimics thought.

Juxtaposition:

Contrasting ideas placed together; Example: “best of times, worst of times”; Analysis: Highlights contrast and tension.

Antithesis:

Direct opposites in parallel structure; Example: “small step / giant leap”; Analysis: Sharpens contrast and memorability.

Connotation:

Emotional associations of words; Example: “home” vs “house”; Analysis: ALWAYS link word choice to tone and purpose.

Register:

Level of formality; Example: formal vs informal phrasing; Analysis: Shows relationship with audience and credibility.

Colloquialism:

Informal language; Example: “gonna”; Analysis: Creates relatability and accessibility.

Loaded Language:

Emotionally charged wording; Example: “freedom fighters”; Analysis: Reveals bias and manipulates response.

Euphemism:

Mild term replacing harsh one; Example: “passed away”; Analysis: Softens sensitive topics or avoids discomfort.

Ethos:

Appeal to credibility; Example: expert authority; Analysis: Builds trust.

Pathos:

Appeal to emotion; Example: emotive imagery; Analysis: Targets feelings to persuade.

Logos:

Appeal to logic; Example: statistics; Analysis: Uses reasoning and evidence.

Anecdote:

Short personal story; Example: childhood memory; Analysis: Humanizes argument and builds connection.

Statistics:

Numerical evidence; Example: percentages; Analysis: Adds logical credibility and shock value.

Inclusive Language:

Use of “we”; Example: “We must act”; Analysis: Builds unity and shared responsibility.

Direct Address:

Speaking to the audience; Example: “You know this”; Analysis: Creates engagement or pressure.

Framing:

What is included or excluded; Example: close-up; Analysis: Directs attention and meaning.

Visual Hierarchy:

Arrangement by importance; Example: large headline; Analysis: Shows priorities and guides reading.

Color Symbolism:

Use of color meaning; Example: red = danger; Analysis: Shapes mood and emotional response.

Contrast:

Strong differences in color or size; Example: black on white; Analysis: Creates clarity and emphasis.

Caricature:

Exaggerated visual features; Example: political cartoons; Analysis: Satire and criticism.

Visual Metaphor:

Image representing an idea; Example: broken chain = freedom; Analysis: Communicates abstract ideas visually.