Literary Devices and Rhetorical Terms: Definitions and Examples

Alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds

Allusion

an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text

Anaphora

a rhetorical device that features repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses

Antimetabole

a literary term or device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order

Assonance

the repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds within words, phrases, or sentences

Asyndeton

a stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases, and in the sentence, yet maintain grammatical accuracy

Consonance

repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase

Diction

style of speaking or writing, determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer; word choice

Epistrophe

the repetition of phrases or words at the ends of the clauses or sentences

Epithet

adjective or phrase that is used to express a characteristic of a person or thing

Imagery (Sensory Details)

language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images in the mind of the reader (using the five senses)

Metaphor

a common figure of speech that makes a comparison by directly relating one thing to another unrelated thing

Mood

the general atmosphere or emotional complexion of a piece of writing

Paradox

a statement that appears at first to be contradictory, but upon reflection then makes sense

Parallelism

when phrases in a sentence have similar or the same grammatical structure

Polysyndeton

the repeated use of coordinating conjunctions to connect different items in a sentence

Rhetorical Question

a question that is not asked in order to receive an answer from the audience or reader

Simile

a figure of speech that directly compares two things using 'like', 'as', or 'than'

Symbolism

a literary device that refers to the use of symbols in a literary work

Tone

the attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work's central theme or subject

Ambiguity

a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause.

Anthimeria

Substitution of one part of speech for another.

Aphorism

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.

Cliche

A word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse.

Conceit

A figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors.

Connotation

Refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly.

Denotation

Generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.

Euphemism

A polite or mild word or expression used to refer to something embarrassing, taboo, or unpleasant.

Hyperbole

The use of obvious and deliberate exaggeration, often extravagant and not meant to be taken literally.

Invective

Insulting or abusive language used to express blame or severe disapproval.

Juxtaposition

To place two concepts, characters, ideas, or places near or next to each other so that the reader will compare and contrast them.

Litotes

A figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive sentiment.

Malapropism

An incorrect word used accidentally in place of another word with a similar sound.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is called by a new name that is related in meaning to the original thing or concept.

Periphrasis

A stylistic device that can be defined as the use of excessive and longer words to convey a meaning which could have been conveyed with a shorter expression.

Polyptoton

A stylistic device that is a rhetorical repetition of the same root word, however, each time the word is repeated in a different way.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole.

Synesthesia

A rhetorical device or figure of speech where one sense is described in terms of another.

Understatement

A figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.