What are the definitions and examples of different literary devices like metaphor, simile, imagery, alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, pun, allusion, foreshadow... What are the definitions and examples of different literary devices like metaphor, simile, imagery, alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, pun, allusion, foreshadowing, suspense, mood/tone, theme, symbolism, allegory, hyperbole, and irony? Read more

Metaphor, simile, imagery, alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, pun, allusion, foreshadowing, suspense, mood/tone, theme, symbolism, allegory, hyperbole, irony - examples include 'Time is a thief' and 'Her smile was as bright as the sun.'

Here are definitions and examples of common literary devices:

1. Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Time is a thief.'

2. Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Her smile was as bright as the sun.'

3. Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Example: 'The sweet scent of blooming lilies filled the air.'

4. Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: 'She sells seashells by the seashore.'

5. Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

6. Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds. Example: 'The bees buzzed in the garden.'

7. Oxymoron: Two contradictory terms used together. Example: 'Bittersweet.'

8. Pun: A play on words for humorous or rhetorical effect. Example: 'I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough.'

9. Allusion: An indirect reference to a well-known character, event, or concept. Example: 'He has the Midas touch.'

10. Foreshadowing: Hinting at future events in the story. Example: 'Dark clouds on the horizon foretold the coming storm.'

11. Suspense: The tension and interest felt by the reader, often through uncertainty. Example: Leaving a character in a dangerous situation can build suspense.

12. Mood/Tone: The feeling or atmosphere a writer creates for the reader. Example: A gloomy tone can be set by using desolate settings and melancholic language.

13. Theme: The central idea or message in a text. Example: The theme of love conquers all is common in romance novels.

14. Symbolism: Using symbols to signify ideas and qualities. Example: A dove often symbolizes peace.

15. Allegory: A story with two levels of meaning, one literal and one deeper. Example: 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell is an allegory of the Russian Revolution.

16. Hyperbole: An exaggerated statement used for effect, not meant to be taken literally. Example: 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'

17. Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality. Example: A fire station burning down is ironic.