Literary Devices and Rhetorical Strategies: Definitions and Examples

Allusion

A brief reference to something well-known (history, Bible, myth, literature, pop culture).

Example of Allusion

He was a real Romeo with the ladies.

Analogy

A comparison that explains something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar.

Example of Analogy

"Writing an essay is like building a house."

Anaphora

Repeating the same word(s) at the start of lines or sentences.

Example of Anaphora

"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds..."

Antithesis

Two opposite ideas placed side by side.

Example of Antithesis

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Aphorism

A short, wise saying about life.

Example of Aphorism

Actions speak louder than words."

Apostrophe (literary)

Speaking to someone absent, dead, or nonhuman as if they could reply.

Example of Apostrophe

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Archetype

A universal symbol, character, or story pattern seen across cultures.

Example ofarchetypee

The hero's journey, the wise old mentor, the trickster.

Bildungsroman

A "coming-of-age" novel about a character's growth.

Example of Bildungsroman

Cinderella

Epigraph

A short quote at the start of a book or chapter that hints at its theme.

Example of Epigraph

The Great Gatsby opens with a fake poem.

Epiphany

A sudden realization or "aha!" moment.

Example of epiphany

When a character realizes who they truly love.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor that continues through a passage or whole work.

Example of an extended metaphor

hope = a bird throughout the whole poem.

Foreshadowing

A hint or clue about what will happen later.

Example of foreshadowing

storm clouds gathering before a tragic event.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for effect.

Example of hyperbole

"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

Irony, dramatic

When the audience knows something characters don't.

Example of dramatic irony

In a scary movie, the character walks into a house and the audience knows the killer is in the house.

Irony, situational

When the opposite of what's expected happens.

Example of situational irony

A fire station burns down.

Irony, verbal

Saying the opposite of what you mean (often sarcasm).

Example of verbal irony

Looking outside at a storm and saying, "Lovely weather."

Juxtaposition

Putting two unlike things side by side to highlight differences.

Example of juxtaposition

Rich vs. poor neighborhoods described next to each other.

Litotes

An understatement that uses a double negative or soft wording.

Example of Litotes

"Not bad" = really good.

Oxymoron

Two opposite words joined together.

Example of oxymoron

"Deafening silence," "bittersweet."

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but has truth.

Example of pradoz

"Less is more."

Parallel structure

Using the same grammar pattern for balance.

Example of parallel structure

"She likes cooking, jogging, and reading."

Rhetorical question

A question asked for effect, not an answer.

Satire

Writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize society.

Example of satire

political cartoons

Suspension of disbelief

When readers accept something unrealistic in order to enjoy the story.

Example of suspension of disbelief

Believing in superheroes or magic while watching a movie.

Synecdoche

When a part stands for the whole (or vice versa).

Example of synecdoche

All hands on deck" (hands = sailors).

Synesthesia

Mixing senses in description.

Example of Synesthesia

"A loud color," "a sweet sound."

Understatement

Making something seem less important than it is.

Example of a understatement

After winning the lottery: "I guess that's pretty nice."