50 Literary Devices (Definitions)

alliteration

the repetition of the first sound in words

Alice's aunt ate apples and acorns around August.

Better butter makes a batter better.

allusion

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize

"When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn't necessary."

"He was a Good Samaritan yesterday when he helped the lady start her car."

assonance

vowels are repeated in words that are close to each other

"Men sell the wedding bells."

The same vowel sound of the short vowel "-e-" repeats itself in almost all the words

anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

"I want my money right now, right here, all right?"

metaphor

a comparison between two unlike things

Her voice is music to his ears.

The assignment was a breeze.

The skies of his future began to darken.

simile

comparing two unlike things usually formed with 'like' or 'as'

He's as happy as a clam.

Her cheeks are red like a rose.

hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

You always get to go first!

I never get the answer right.

imagery

when the writer or speaker uses their descriptions to access the senses of the reader of listener

consonance

the repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or at the end of words

enjambment

when the writer uses line breaks meaningfully and abruptly to either emphasize a point or to create dual meanings

repetition

when the writer or speaker knowingly repeats a word or group of words for effect

rhyme

when the end or final sound of two or more words are identical

rhythm

when the arrangement of words creates an audible pattern or beat when read out loud

onomatopoeia

when the words sound like what they mean

idiom

an accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal

personification

representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature

meter

a pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables in poetry

end rhyme

rhyme that occurs at the end of two or more lines of poetry

allegory

a story, play, or picture in which characters or settings are used as symbols or abstract ideas

slant rhyme

two words that have some sound in common but do not rhyme exactly

tone

the attitude a writer takes towards a subject, character, or the reader

internal rhyme

rhyme that occurs within a line, rather than at the end

diction

a writer's or speaker's choice of words

oxymoron

an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined

cacophony

loud, harsh, or disagreeable sounds

blank verse

poetic form written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

free verse

poetic form that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme

ballad

a type of poem that is meant to be sung and is both lyric and narrative in nature

colloquial language

informal language; language that is "conversational"

euphemism

an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

elegy

A sad or mournful poem, especially one mourning the dead

irony

a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens

foil

two characters that highlight each other by their differences

foreshadowing

the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot

juxtaposition

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast

lyric

a short poem of songlike quality

monologue

a speech made by one actor or speaker

ode

a poem usually addressed to a particular person, object or event that has stimulated deep and noble feelings in the poet

paradox

an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth

pun

a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings

rhetorical question

a question asked for an effect, not actually requiring an answer

sarcasm

harsh words intended to hurt someone

satire

a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision

symbol

something that stands for or represents something else

understatement

saying less than one means, for effect

wit

intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights

stream of consciousness

a style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind

sonnet

Fourteen-line poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and has one of several rhyme schemes.

epiphany

a moment of sudden realization or insight

epitaph

an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there

atmosphere

The emotional mood created by a literary work