Literary Devices

Allegory

Allegory

A story representing a more general message about real-life issues or events, often found in books, novels, or plays.

Alliteration

Series of words/phrases starting with the same sound, commonly used in poetry, book titles, and tongue twisters for emphasis.

Allusion

Indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea outside the text, often referring to previous works of literature or art.

Colloquialism

Informal language and slang used by authors to add realism to characters and dialogue.

Epigraph

Famous quotation or text at the beginning of a larger work to introduce themes or messages, typically by a different writer.

Euphemism

Mild or indirect expression used instead of a harsh or unpleasant word or phrase.

Flashback

Interruption in a narrative showing events that occurred before the present time, providing background information.

Foreshadowing

Indirect hints about future events in a story to create tension.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statement for comedic effect or emphasis, not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Description appealing to the senses to create a vivid mental picture for the reader.

Irony

Statement expressing an opposite meaning, including verbal, situational, and dramatic irony.

Juxtaposition

Comparing and contrasting different ideas, characters, or objects to highlight their characteristics.

Metaphor/Simile

Describing ideas, actions, or objects in non-literal terms, with metaphors comparing two unlike things and similes using "as" or "like."

Mood

General feeling the writer wants to evoke in the audience through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.

Oxymoron

Combination of two contradictory words for emphasis, humor, or tension.

Paradox

Statement that seems illogical but may reveal a deeper truth upon examination.

Pathetic fallacy

Attributing human emotions to non-human elements, often seen in nature descriptions.

Personification

Giving human-like qualities to nonhuman figures or abstract concepts for clearer visualization.

Repetition

Repeating words or phrases for emphasis, commonly used in poetry for rhythm.

Satire

Writing genre criticizing individuals, behaviors, beliefs, governments, or societies using irony, humor, and hyperbole.

Symbolism

Use of objects, figures, events, or situations to represent deeper meanings in a text, known as symbols.