Literary Devices

Literary Devices are important components of writing, and include both Literary Techniques and Literary Elements. You’ll find definitions, and helpful examples for many of the common elements of literary tools including figurative language like metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, oxymoron, onomatopoeia, personification and more.

We’ll see all the literary devices here:

Ad Hominem-It means the respondent uses personal criticism of her opponent to divert the subject rather than replying to the argument itself with a logical rebuttal.
Allegory- Allegory is a narrative that uses characters and plot to illustrate an abstract principle, often a moral or political one.
Alliteration- It is when the same sound occurs at the beginning of more than one words that are close together. For example:“We send well wishes to the Winchester crew.”
Allusion-An allusion is an indirect reference to something everyone is presumed to know.
Anachronism- An anachronism is the placement of something that is out of proper chronological sequence in a painting, film, or literary work.
Anagram-Anagrams are jumbled up letters of a word or phrase that spell out another word or phrase. For instance, “the earthquakes” becomes “the queer shakes” or “dormitory” becomes “dirty room.”
Analogy-An analogy is a comparison between two things, usually with the goal of making the less known or more obscure thing clear. Take, for instance, the statement, “A cobra is to a mongoose as a mouse is to a cat.”
Anapest-An anapest is a unit of poetic meter formed when two unstressed syllable precede a stressed one. Common anapestic phrases are as follows:
- Get a life.
- At the drop of a hat

Anectode-An anecdote is a brief story or life event told to get a specific reaction.
Antagonist-Antagonist is a character who stands in opposition to the central character, also known as the protagonist
Aphorism-An aphorism is a short and pithy saying that expresses a profound concept or idea.
Apostrophe-It is a literary device in which the speaker turns, right in the middle of their narrative, to address either a person or an object that is absent.
Appositive-An appositive is a noun phrase that renames another noun phrase in order to provide more clarity or specificity. Appositives can occur anywhere; they do not have to be the subject of the sentence. Here are two examples:
- My son’s pediatrician, Dr. Waters, has an office close to the elementary school.
- I fell in love with a Vermeer painting, Girl Interrupted at Her Music, when I first saw it at New York City’s Frick Museum.

Archetype-Archetypes are characters who acts more like symbols than well-rounded characters. Fairy tales, classical myths, and allegories, for instance, contain archetypal figures such as the wicked stepmother and the handsome prince, the earth goddess and the goddess of love, the good Christian and the evil temptress.
Aside-An aside is a device that playwrights and filmmakers use in order to reveal inner thoughts and judgments of characters directly to the audience.
Ballads-Ballads are narrative poems that were originally set to music. They are part of a developing oral storytelling tradition, much like epic poems.
Bildungsroman-Bildungsroman is a coming-of- age novel in which the central character develops from a state of childhood innocence into young adulthood.
Blank Verse-Blank verse is verse that contains consistent rhyme scheme it may, however, rhyme sometimes yet maintains a steady meter throughout.
Cacophony-Cacophony is a hodgepodge of different sounds, all occurring simultaneously. Two toddlers playing in the drawer of pots and pans would produce a cacophony.
Caricature-Caricature is an exaggerated portrait of a person or literary character. Cartoons that deliberately exaggerate a prominent feature in someone’s face are a good example of caricature.
Catharsis-A Greek word that means cleansing, catharsis is a purging of emotions that brings relief or new understanding. For instance, when a person sobs for hours after a sad event, the physical process allows them to work through and process some of their grief.
Characterization-Characterization is the process by which a character becomes fully realized in a narrative. Both fiction and films employ characterization.
Climax-The climax is the peak in the pyramid shape of a narrative, the moment when the conflict reaches its highest point. This is sometime also called “the crisis.” Beginning with exposition, a narrative builds through conflicts, known as rising actions, to the climax.
Colloquialism-Colloquialism is a slang or vernacular term that stands out in piece of writing that has consistently higher diction. Students may recognize the term, which some teachers abbreviate as “coll.” when grading essays.
Conflict-In literature, conflict is an event, circumstance, person, or personal characteristic that stands in the way of a character’s pursuing a goal, even if that goal is simply survival.
Connotation-Much like symbols, words have meanings on more than one level. There is the literal meaning, also known as denotation. And then there is a cultural or associative meaning. This is connotation. For instance, a heart is a muscle that pumps blood. That is its denotative meaning. Its connotative meaning is warmth, love, and generosity.
Couplet-It is two successive lines of poetry that typically rhyme and have the same meter. The second line in the couplet functions to “answer” or complete the thought expressed by the couplet as a whole.
Denouement-The denouement is the point of resolution that typically follows a climax and the falling action in literature or film.
Dialect-Dialect is a variation of language spoken by people from a particular culture, geographic region, or socioeconomic class.
Dialogue-Dialogue is a narrative technique in which the author has two or more characters convey important information to the reader by speaking directly to one another. Drama is composed almost entirely of dialogue; narrative prose works, like novels and short stories, contain dialogue interspersed with narrative descriptions and commentary.
Diction-Diction can best be described as the writer and speaker’s own personal style, as evidenced by the words they choose. Along with literary devices like tone, diction helps to establish a writer’s voice.
Double entendre-A double entendre is a phrase that has a double meaning. The first meaning is straightforward and literal, but it suggests another meaning by association. Often, this second meaning is sexual, ironic, or inappropriate.
Elegy-An elegy is a sad poem, usually written to commemorate an individual’s death. The term comes from the Greek elegeia, which means “to lament.” Typically, one hears elegies at funerals; an obituary is the prose equivalent.
Ellipsis-There are two different literary definitions of ellipsis. One refers to the punctuation mark that writers use to indicate that some of the original text is missing (for a quoted source) or that their thought is incomplete.
Enjambment-Enjambment comes from a French term that means, literally, to step over or straddle something. It refers to a line of poetry that does not have a terminal punctuation mark, especially where the concept in the first line is enhanced, or even contradicted, by the continuation of the same thought in the second line.
Epigraph-An epigraph is a short exerpt that prefaces any work of literature. Coming from the Greek epigraphein, meaning “to write on,” epigraphs became a literary convention in the eighteenth century. Like dedications, they are still common in novels, books of poetry, and even nonfiction works.
Epilogue-An epilogue is the final chapter of a book, where the author finally gets to discuss the fate of the characters. In some works, the epilogue is the same as the denouement. It can also be a place where the narrator provides commentary about his or her central theme.
Euphemism-Euphemism is an indirect way of stating something that, in its original form, would be harsh, vulgar, or socially unacceptable. Generally, the euphemism has a more positive connotation than the original, to the point where the euphemism may even seem dishonest.
Exposition-Exposition comes from the Latin, meaning “a showing forth.” One of four rhetorical modes of communication — the others are description, narration, and argumentation — it is the part of a story where the narrator provides necessary background information to readers so that they can understand narrative events as they unfold as well as character motivations and conflict.
Fable-A fable is a tale, mostly short, that teaches a lesson. Often, fables conclude with a moral that summarizes the lesson in plain language. Fables have been around for thousands of years; Aesop, the ancient Greek, is the most famous example.
Farce-A farce is a comedy that revolves around improbable and exaggerated events. It relies on physical comedy, sexual innuendo, and absurd situations to advance its plot rather than character development. Derived from the French word for “stuffing,” farce is chock-full of buffoonery and one-liners.
Flashback and FlashForward-Flashbacks occur when the writer decides to insert details from the past into a present narrative in order to provide necessary plot information or insight into a character’s motivation. Flashbacks may show pivotal scenes from childhood or other memories that reveal unknown character traits or dilemmas
Foil-A foil is a character who demonstrates qualities that are in opposition to those of another character. The purpose of a foil is to highlight or accentuate the main character’s traits either by providing elements of contrast. Thus, it may not be surprising to learn that the term comes from the practice of backing gems with a piece of foil in order to make them appear even more brilliant.
Foreshadowing-Foreshadowing is a common device used in literature, film, and television. It occurs when the author place deliberate clues in the narrative that tell the reader what is about to happen.
Free verse-Free verse is poetry that has neither a rhyme scheme nor a consistent meter. While it can rhyme in some places, and it may have metrical feet in others, the only characteristics of formal poetry that it retains are lines and stanzas.
Haiku-Traditional haiku have a set number of syllabi and juxtapose two images or ideas with a “cutting word” between them.The intention is to produce an epiphany, or sudden enlightenment, through the creative use of imagery and the careful choice of juxtaposition.
Hyperbole-Hyperbole is a use of exaggeration for effect. It comes from the Greek, where its original meaning was “a throwing (or casting) beyond.”
Iamb-An iamb is a metrical foot that consists of two syllables, the first one unstressed, the second one stressed. Iambs are the most common unit of meter in the English language, mirroring natural speech patterns of early English speakers. There are several fixed meters composed entirely of iambs:
- Iambic Trimeter, a line of verse with three iambic feet, was used in ancient Greek drama.
- Iambic Tetrameter is a line with four iambic feet.
- Iambic Pentameter, a line of verse with five iambic feet, was particular prevalent during the Renaissance. Shakespeare wrote his famous sonnets using iambic pentameter. The British Romantic poets, Keats and Wordsworth in particular, wrote in iambic pentameter as well.
- Iambic Hexameter is a line composed of six iambic feet, or 12 syllables. This verse form is also known the Alexandrine.
- Common meter, or ballad verse, is composed of alternating lines of iambic trimeter and iambic tetrameter.

Idiom-An idiom is a phrase or an expression may be particular to a language or even a smaller culture who otherwise speak the same language. In the ancient Greek from which it originates, the word means a “special feature” or a “peculiarity.” ” To say that something is “idiomatic” means to acknowledge that has a uniqueness that does not readily translate from one culture to the next.
Imagery-An image is a descriptive passage from a poem, play, or fictional work in which the author uses language that appeals to the five senses. Images help the reader connect to the imaginary world within the literary work; especially powerful imagery are a way for the reader to be drawn in through their own experiences. Images also help the writer to establish mood and tone.
Irony-
Irony occurs when there is gap between what you expect to happen and what actually does happen. That gap often, but not always, seems like a cosmic joke:
- The day you clean out your car and put the umbrella in the house is the day it rains cats and dogs.
- Walking to lunch in between showers, you laugh at a guy who gets splashed by a passing car. The next moment, a gutter tilts, and you get soaked from head to foot.

Logos, Ethos, and Pathos-Logos, ethos, and pathos are the three main persuasive modes speakers and writers use to convince their audience that the point they are making has validity. Although these terms are associated most often with expository writing and public speaking, most prose writing, including fiction, contains elements of some or all of these modes.
Metaphor-A metaphor is a kind of figurative language that compares two different things or ideas. Unlike a simile, a metaphor makes this comparison without using the words “like” or “as.” Sometimes, the two things or ideas in a metaphor will be very much like one another; other times, they will be different. Using metaphors can allow for beautiful and sometimes fantastical descriptions that can be quite memorable.
Meter-Meter is any pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem. The pattern can be fixed and regular, like iambic pentameter, or it can be irregular. When a poem neither rhymes nor follows any regular metrical patterns, it is called free verse.
Metonymy-A metonymy is a literary device in which one representative term stands in for something else. For instance, “the Crown” is a metonymy for monarchy rule. A king wears a crown — which is where this metonymy originated — but “the Crown” does not just refer to the king. It refers to the whole system of government. Similarly, “the White House” is a metonymy for the Executive Branch of the United States government.
Monologue-If you have a friend or relative who likes to hear himself talk, you already know what a monologue is. It is an uninterrupted, one-sided conversation in which a person — a college professor, your drunk uncle at the Thanksgiving table — addresses a specific audience.
Narrative point of view-Authors don’t speak to us directly in literary works. They use an intermediary device called a narrator. Narrative point of view is the perspective of that narrator.
Onomatopoeia-Onomatopoeia occurs when the sound of a word mirrors the actual sound a thing makes. Animal sounds are the best and clearest example of this device. “Meow” may not be the sound your cat makes, but it is so distinctly a cat sound that many different languages have some close variant on this word. And in fact, onomatopoeia is found in languages around the world.
Oxymoron-An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposing terms are put together. A good example is the term “pretty ugly.” You have to think for a minute before realizing that the phrase contains two words that are the exact opposite because chances are that oxymora are such an accepted part of your speech that you’re not even aware of them.
Paradox-Derived from the Greek word paradoxon, meaning “contrary to expectations,” a paradox is the juxtaposition of two contradictory ideas that cancel each other out because they cannot both be true at the same time. Mathematician P.E.B. Jourdain developed a classic paradox in 1913 when he wrote these two sentences on the opposite sides of a card:
- The sentence on the other side of this card is true.
- The sentence on the other side of this card is false.

Parallelism-Parallelism is a device in which the same words and similar phrases are repeated in close proximity to each other, often with an identical meter. The construction may contain contrasting ideas in a parallel structure (this is also known as antithesis), or the parallelism may strengthen two similar ideas by combining them in the same structure.
Parody-Parody is a deliberate exaggeration of a particular situation or person, done for comic effect. Television shows like Saturday Night Live use parody most famously in skits that lead up to someone’s announcing, “Live from New York — It’s Saturday Night.”
Pastiche-Pastiche is any form of art that deliberately copies the work of a different artist, a different style, or a different period. Pastiche is not parody or satire. Rather, it is a sincere homage to the style of the other artist or writer. Coming from the Italian, pasticchio, a kind of pie, a pastiche takes the “ingredients” of existing masterworks and recombines them in a new work.
Pentameter-Pentameter is the most common form of poetic meter, composed of five metrical feet in one line. (A “metrical foot” is a word or phrase composed of one stressed syllable and one or two unstressed syllables.) A line of verse in pentameter typically contains ten syllables, although in some cases it may contain up to 15. Only the stressed beats count in determining the number of metrical feet.
Persona-A persona is an imagined person whom the writer pretends is actually doing the writing. This identity is distinct from that of the writer himself, but it is not a pseudonym. Personas are also distinct from first person narrators, though there is some overlap.
Personification-Personification is a form of figurative language that is used as a literary technique. Personification means attributing human characteristics to something that is not human. Personification is useful because it can make written descriptions more vivid. By using human characteristics to describe an object, animal, or even a place, personification can make your descriptions more unique, and it can also help your reader better relate to your writing.
Plot-Plot is the logical structure behind anything that has a beginning, middle, and end. Commercials, political campaigns, and five year business plans all contain elements of plotting, as does a journey. One can plot a course at sea or plot to overthrow a government.
Prologue-A prologue is an introductory section to a literary work. Its purpose is to introduce themes and characters that will appear later in the main body of the text and to provide necessary background material for understanding the story. The opposite of an epilogue, where the author “wraps up” loose ends of the plot and tells the reader what eventually happens to the characters, the prologue helps the reader understand the plot events in a larger context.
Prose-Prose is ordinary language that follows regular grammatical conventions and does not contain a formal metrical structure. This definition of prose is an example of prose writing, as is most human conversation, textbooks, lectures, novels, short stories, fairy tales, newspaper articles, and essays.
Protagonist-The protagonist is the main, or central, character of a narrative work, the figure around whom all the action revolves. In film or drama, sometimes the protagonist may be called the “hero” of the work. “Hero” is a misleading term, though, because the protagonist does not have to be a good person.
Pun-A pun is a play on words that takes advantage of two things: (1) the fact that some words with different meanings sound the same, such as “air” and “heir”; and (2) the fact that other words have more than one meaning, such as “case,” which can mean either a piece of baggage or a instance of a disease.
Quatrain-A quatrain is a stanza, or a complete poem, in just four lines. The term also refers to a unit with a set rhyme scheme that occurs in certain formal poems, such as sonnets and villanelles.
Red Herring-A red herring is a logical fallacy in which someone deliberately introduces an irrelevant subject or topic to throw an argument off course or divert people’s attention. For instance, if your mother tells you to clean your room, and you respond by showing her a website full of drawings that you like, you are hoping to avoid the chore. Red herrings are also a popular strategy in political arguments.
Refrain-Refrain is the repetition of a key line or phrase within a song or poem. The term comes from the Old French, refraindre, which means “to repeat.” In music, another word for refrain is the chorus. The repeating lines of a song give it structure and continuity, in addition to making it easier to memorize.
Rhetorical question-A rhetorical question is a statement that is expressed as a question in order to make the speaker’s point more persuasive. Because it is not a real question, but is only phrased as a question for effect, no answer is required, and in many cases none can be given.
Rhyme-If rhythm is the cadence, or beat, rhyme is the melody. Most songs and many poems employ regular rhyme schemes, the purpose of which is to create a musical sound that is both melodious and unified in tone and theme.
Rhythm-The word rhythm comes from the Greek word “rhythmos,” meaning measured motion. Both spoken and written language contain rhythmic patterns that add depth and variation while accentuating the work’s meaning.
Sarcasm-Sarcasm is the act of saying one thing while meaning the opposite. It is mostly a verbal device, with intention of putting someone down. For instance, if you say, “Yeah, he’s a real mental giant” while rolling your eyes, you’ve just engaged in sarcasm. Though always mocking, sarcasm ranges from affectionate ribbing to deliberate humiliation.
Satire-Satire is the use of irony, humor, and sarcasm — and exaggerated circumstances — to expose the stupidity, ignorance, or recklessness of a particular policy or course of action. Underlying the humor, there is usually a serious political or social message; the humor makes the message easier for an audience to hear and contemplate.
Simile-Figurative language can be a great tool for unlocking the meaning, playfulness and power of language, and similes are one of the most common and user-friendly forms of figurative language.
Soliloquy-A soliloquy is a speech an actor gives that reveals to the audience or viewer how they feel at that moment in the narrative. The soliloquy can serve either one or both of two primary purposes: it can reflect on the character’s inner state of mind, or it can let the viewer know about events and actions that help them to understand what is about to happen.
Sonnet-A sonnet is a short lyric poem composed in iambic pentameter, with a twist in meaning, known as a “turn,” toward the end. The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian sonetto, meaning a little sound or song.
Stanza-A stanza is to poetry what a paragraph is to prose: that is, it is a single unit of thought expressed as a group of lines placed together. Songs, poetry, and some drama are written in stanza form.
Stream-of-Consciousness-Stream-of-consciousness is a style of speaking or writing in which one says everything unfiltered, flowing out of a person exactly as it comes to the mind. Since our brains are capable of producing thousands of thoughts and impressions at once, however, it’s not possible to speak or write exactly as we think.
Syllogism-A syllogism is a rhetorical device that begins with a major statement, known as a premise, narrows down to a minor statement, or premise, and then arrives at a conclusion using deductive reasoning. The simplest way to explain how this works is by giving examples:
- Major premise: All men are mortal. Minor premise: Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Socrates is mortal. (This is an example of Aristotle’s famous “Barbara” syllogism.)
- Major premise: Plants need to carbon dioxide to live. Minor premise: The oak tree is a plant. Conclusion: The oak tree needs carbon dioxide to live.

Symbolism-A symbol is the use of something concrete to represent an abstract concept. The easiest example is the American flag. Literally, the flag is a piece of cloth. However, the flag’s true importance is symbolic. In this country, it is a symbol of freedom and independence. To other cultures around the world, it may symbolize other things, such as opportunity or even moral depravity.
Theme-Also referred to as a main idea, a theme is the subject explored a piece of writing. All literary works have a theme; some longer works, such as novels, may have several of them.
Tone-Tone is the attitude an author has toward his or her narrative, its characters, and the situation. It plays an important role in helping the reader understand how to feel about a work of literature. The way tone works in literature, in fact, is akin to the way a musical score works in a film. Music helps you to decide whether a scene is frightening, humorous, or somber. That is exactly what tone does for a literary work.
Tragic flow-Tragic flaw, also known as hamartia, from the Greek term “to miss the mark,” is a weakness that contributes to the downfall of a protagonist in a tragic play.
Transition-A transition is the movement from one subject to another. Most students are familiar with transitions because they have difficulty writing them in formal essays and come to associate transitions with past and present English assignments.
Understatement-Understatement is when a speaker minimizes either what he feels or what is happening around him. For example, if a car passes your house, and the speakers are so loud that dishes in the pantry trembles, and the dog starts howling, your brother might say, “Well, that’s barely audible.”
Villanelle-A villanelle is a lyric poem with a tight rhyme scheme and repeating lines. Stemming from the Italian word villano, meaning “peasant,” villanelles evolved from Renaissance dancing songs into their current 19-line form. Although the theme of villanelles was originally pastoral, the poem has branched out to become a formal exercise that few poets have been able to master.

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