Literary Devices and Techniques

Literary Devices and Techniques

• Imagery: Uses sensory details to create vivid descriptions (visual, kinesthetic, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile).
• Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality.
• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
• Sibilance: Repetition of "s" sounds.
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
• Sarcasm: A mocking or ironic statement.
• Paradox: A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true.
• Oxymoron: A combination of contradictory words (e.g., deafening silence).
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as."
• Metaphor: A comparison without using "like" or "as."
• Allegory: A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration.
• Sensationalism: Using shocking or dramatic language to create excitement.
• Allusions: References to well-known events, places, works of art, or people. This includes biblical allusions.
• Symbolism: A device in literature where an object, person, place, or action can represent an idea or concept.

Other Literary Terms

• Tone: The writer's attitude toward the subject matter.
• Mood: The emotional response of the reader.
• Setting: The time and place of a story.
• Atmosphere: The overall feeling or mood created by the setting.
• Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting elements side-by-side to highlight the differences.
• Short, Crisp Sentences: Using short, impactful sentences for emphasis.
• Complex Sentences: Sentences with multiple clauses that provide more depth and detail.
• Verb Use: The effective employment of verbs to describe actions.
• Adjectives: Words that describe nouns.
• Adverbs: Words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
• Humour: The use of funny language to create a humorous effect.
• Analogy: A comparison to help explain or illustrate something.
• Anthropomorphism: Giving human characteristics to non-human entities or objects.
• Antithesis: A contrasting statement or idea.
• Ambiguity: Uncertainty or lack of clarity.
• Antagonist and Protagonist: The characters who are against each other, or the leading role.
• Asyndeton: Omitting conjunctions between words to create a concise effect.
• Anti-Hero: A protagonist who lacks traditional heroic qualities.
• Anecdotes: Short stories or accounts of incidents.
• Bias: A personal preference or prejudice that can affect the story.
• Bandwagon: A commonly used term to refer to something that is popular simply because others do it.
• Cacophony: A harsh or jarring sound effect.
• Euphony: A pleasing or harmonious sound effect.
• Cliché: An overused expression.
• Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces.
• Colloquialism: Informal language.
• Characterization: Details about a character.
• Contrast: Differences or opposition.
• Euphemism: A mild expression used instead of a harsh one.
• Dysphemism: A harsh expression used instead of a mild one.
• Diction: Word choice.
• Drama: A serious play.
• Enumeration: Listing items.
• Equivocation: Ambiguous or unclear language.
• Fallacy: Errors in reasoning.
• Foreshadowing: Hinting at what may happen later.
• Flashback: An interruption in the present to depict an earlier scene.
• Genre: The category in which the text belongs to.
• Hypophora: A question asked and answered in the text itself.
• Hypothetical Question: A question based in theory not currently provable.
• Imperative Sentences: Commands or instructions.
• Motif: Recurring idea, symbol, or theme.
• Metaphysical Theme: philosophical themes.
• Narrative Style: The way a story is told (e.g., first-person).
• Nostalgia: A sentimental longing for the past.
• Parable: A short story illustrating a moral or spiritual lesson.
• Persona: The character presented or assumed.
• Personification: Giving human-like qualities to non-human things.
• Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence is acted upon.
• Pedantic: Excessively focused on minute details.
• Propaganda: Information used to promote a certain idea or cause.
• Sarcasm: A mocking or ironic statement.
• Satire: A form of irony that uses humour or ridicule to expose societal flaws.
• Suspense: A feeling of excitement or anxiety.
• Symbolism: Representation of ideas through objects, images, or actions.
• Tragedy: A story involving suffering and misfortune.
• Thesis: The main argument of a piece of writing or discourse.
• Tropes: Recurring elements or motifs.
• Dystopia: A society with oppressive political control, often negative.
• Voice: The writer's unique style of expression.
• Rising Action: Part that creates suspense leading up to a climax.