Literary Devices Assembled by Mrs. Fireman Updated 2017
allegory a story or poem in which characters, settings and events stand for other people, events, or abstract ideas
alliteration at least two repetitions of initial consonants (first letters)
allusion any reference to a historical or literary person, place or event
apostrophe calling out to an imaginary, dead or absent person, or to a place or personified abstract idea (like Death) When the speaker breaks off from addressing one party, and suddenly addresses a third party (which may or may not be present in the scene), you have apostrophe, such as in the following song: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star How I wonder what you are Apostrophe happens in everyday life, so it is not uncommon to find it in literature as well (mostly plays); apostrophes provide information or commentary
The French word cliché is an onomatopoeic word for the sound a printing press (also known as a stereotype) used to make when its metal plates hit paper repeatedly. Common clichés include: Clichés serve no function; they should be avoided like the plague. Beauty is only skin deep Read between the lines Practice makes perfect Love ya! cliché a phrase that has been used so many times, it has lost its meaning
double entendre a figure of speech which can be understood two ways Double entendres usually have one obvious meaning, and one innuendo (which can often be a pun). For example, when the cyclops yells, Nobody has hurt me! Nobody is going to kill me! it has double meaning. Or, as Mae West stated: Marriage is a fine institution, but I m not ready for an institution. Double entendre is used to criticize and/or provide entertainment.
epigraph a short quotation that is set off at the beginning of a novel or text selection to suggest theme
epithet an adjective or description added to a character s name; a nickname Greek mythology is filled with epithets, including swift-footed Achilles, Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, gray-eyed Athena and Odysseus, man of action. Epithets are mnemonic aids that help jog the reader s memory
Euphemisms are common when referring to bodily functions, illegal behavior and as a substitute for curse words: Gosh darn it, I have to use the little girls room. We had to put our dog, Max, to sleep. His wife is in a family way. Oh, I am so sorry! I misspoke (lied)! Writers do not usually tip-toe around delicate subjects, but euphemisms allow them to reflect the setting of their story. euphemism a polite or mild word used to refer to something embarrassing, taboo or unpleasant
foreshadowing a hint as to what will happen next in the story Chris Pratt s character spends a good deal of the first half of Jurassic World foreshadowing the dangers of trying to control dinosaurs: People can t control wild animals. Foreshadowing builds suspense and often conveys important information
hyperbole a figure of speech that involves exaggeration
These phrases are not meant to be taken literally: It s a piece of cake. Hold your horses! It s raining cats and dogs. Idioms are used in literature to show a character s nature and speech patterns. idiom a saying or phrase that has a figurative meaning different from its literal one
imagery figurative language used to represent objects, actions and ideas in a way that appeals to the physical senses Horror novelist Stephen King is considered a master at painting a picture in the reader s mind, through use of imagery such as this, from Salem s Lot: The house itself looked toward town. It was huge and rambling and sagging, its windows haphazardly boarded shut, giving it that sinister look of all old houses that have been empty for a long time. The paint had been weathered away, giving the house a uniform gray look. Windstorms had ripped many of the shingles off, and a heavy snowfall had punched in the west corner of the main roof, giving it a thumped, hunched look. A tattered no trespassing sign was nailed to the right-hand newel post. Stories contain plot, characters, tone, style, etc. but it is the imagery that makes the piece stand out.
dramatic irony when the reader knows more than the characters
situational irony when what is expected to happen is the opposite of what really happens
verbal irony when a person states the opposite of what he/she means Verbal irony is often stated as a simile or metaphor. That dog is as friendly as a rattlesnake. Verbal irony is sometimes confused with sarcasm, but is not meant to be malicious.
metaphor a comparison (that does not use like or as) in which one thing is said to be another
The mood in Mission Impossible is one of high suspense, intrigue, and sometimes violence, whereas the mood in Pitch Perfect 2 gravitates toward fun, and warmth, if not wholesomeness. Mood creates structure, and manipulates the viewer/listener into feeling a certain way about the piece. mood the atmosphere of the piece; evokes certain emotions from the reader
motif a concrete idea that repeats itself throughout a work of literature, strengthening its mood or theme
oxymoron a figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms
onomatopoeia the use of words to imitate the sounds they describe (Bam! Pop! Swoosh!) Perhaps the most recognizable example of onomatopoeia comes from that bright blue box of cereal, Rice Krispies: Snap! Crackle! Pop! People use onomatopoeia because it is difficult to describe sounds. It also makes stories and poems more lively.
personification giving animals or objects human-like qualities
pun a play on words based on multiple meanings of a single word, or words that sound alike but mean different things
simile a comparison in which one thing is said to be like or as another Similes are found all over books and music, including this one from Rainbow Rowell s Eleanor and Park: Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something. Like metaphors, similes help the reader by painting a picture in his/her mind and/or explaining foreign concepts
tone the attitude a writer has toward a subject
Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. For example, if a friend spills sauce all over his shirt at lunch and someone remarks, It doesn t look too bad, understatement is in use. The same can be seen in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger when Holden Caulfield remarks: I have to have this operation. It isn t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain. Understatement is used to create an ironic effect or tone. understatement a figure of speech used to make a situation seem less important than it really is
Many superheroes, including Spiderman and Catwoman, are examples of zoomorphism because their superpowers are that of an animal. However, it is also used to describe features: The feet of the porcelain bathtub were carved to look like lions paws. She was barking up the wrong tree. (Also an idiom.) This device gives the reader a more complete picture of characters or objects. zoomorphism giving animal-like qualities to humans, gods, inanimate objects, or other animals