Literary Devices: Figurative Language and More

Literary Devices

Definition

Literary devices are techniques used by authors to convey meaning, create tone, and evoke emotions in readers.

Types of Literary Devices

1. Figurative Language

• Metaphor: comparison between two unlike things without "like" or "as"
• Simile: comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as"
• Personification: attributing human-like qualities to non-human entities
• Hyperbole: exaggeration for emphasis
• Alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds
• Onomatopoeia: words that imitate sounds

2. Imagery

• Sensory details: descriptions that appeal to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
• Visual imagery: descriptions that create vivid mental images
• Auditory imagery: descriptions that appeal to the sense of hearing

3. Symbolism

• Symbol: an object, color, or image that represents an abstract idea or concept
• Motif: a recurring symbol or theme throughout a work

4. Irony

• Verbal irony: words convey a meaning opposite of their literal meaning
• Situational irony: a contradiction between expected and actual outcomes
• Dramatic irony: the reader knows something the characters do not

5. Point of View

• First person: narrator is a character within the story
• Third person limited: narrator is outside the story, but only has access to one character's thoughts
• Third person omniscient: narrator is outside the story and has access to all characters' thoughts

6. Tone and Mood

• Tone: the author's attitude towards the subject matter
• Mood: the atmosphere or feeling evoked in the reader

7. Other Literary Devices

• Allusion: a reference to a person, place, event, or work outside the text
• Foreshadowing: hints or clues about future events
• Imagery: language that creates vivid mental images
• Stream-of-consciousness: a narrative style that mimics the natural flow of thoughts

Literary Devices

Definition

• Literary devices are techniques authors use to convey meaning, create tone, and evoke emotions in readers.

Figurative Language

• Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as".
• Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as".
• Personification: giving human-like qualities to non-human entities.
• Hyperbole: an exaggeration used for emphasis.
• Alliteration: the repetition of initial consonant sounds.
• Onomatopoeia: words that imitate sounds.

Imagery

• Sensory details: descriptions that appeal to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell).
• Visual imagery: descriptions that create vivid mental images.
• Auditory imagery: descriptions that appeal to the sense of hearing.

Symbolism

• Symbol: an object, color, or image that represents an abstract idea or concept.
• Motif: a recurring symbol or theme throughout a work.

Irony

• Verbal irony: words that convey a meaning opposite of their literal meaning.
• Situational irony: a contradiction between expected and actual outcomes.
• Dramatic irony: when the reader knows something the characters do not.

Point of View

• First person: the narrator is a character within the story.
• Third person limited: the narrator is outside the story, but only has access to one character's thoughts.
• Third person omniscient: the narrator is outside the story and has access to all characters' thoughts.

Tone and Mood

• Tone: the author's attitude towards the subject matter.
• Mood: the atmosphere or feeling evoked in the reader.

Other Literary Devices

• Allusion: a reference to a person, place, event, or work outside the text.
• Foreshadowing: hints or clues about future events.
• Stream-of-consciousness: a narrative style that mimics the natural flow of thoughts.

Test your knowledge of literary devices used to convey meaning and evoke emotions in readers. Learn about figurative language, including metaphors, similes, and more.