Literary Devices

Anagram

** are an extremely popular form of literary device wherein the writer jumbles up parts of the word to create a new word. From the syllables of a phrase to the individual letters of a word, any fraction can be jumbled to create a new form. ** is a form of wordplay that allows the writer to infuse mystery and a little interactive fun in the writing so that the reader can decipher the actual word on their own and discover a depth of meaning to the writing. Example: An ** for "debit card" is "bad credit". As you can see, both phrases use the same letters. By mixing the letters a bit of humor is created.

Metaphor

** are one of the most extensively used literary devices. A ** refers to a meaning or identity ascribed to one subject by way of another. In a**, one subject is implied to be another so as to draw a comparison between their similarities and shared traits. Example: "Henry was a lion on the battlefield".

Anthropomorphism

** can be understood to be the act of lending a human quality, emotion or ambition to a non-human object or being. This act of lending a human element to a non-human subject is often employed in order to endear the latter to the readers or audience and increase the level of relativity between the two while also lending character to the subject. Example: The raging storm brought with it howling winds and fierce lightning as the residents of the village looked up at the angry skies in alarm.

Metonymy

** in literature refers to the practice of not using the formal word for an object or subject and instead referring to it by using another word that is intricately linked to the formal name or word. It is the practice of substituting the main word with a word that is closely linked to it. Example: When we use the name "Washington D.C" we are talking about the U.S' political hot seat by referring to the political capital of the United States because all the significant political institutions such as the White House, Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol and many more are located her.

Anastrophe

** is a form of literary device wherein the order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged. In standard parlance and writing the adjective comes before the noun but when one is employing an ** the noun is followed by the adjective. This reversed order creates a dramatic impact and lends weight to the description offered by the adjective. Example: He spoke of times past and future, and dreamt of things to be.

Alliteration

** is a literary device where words are used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group. Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel group, the ** involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence. ** are also created when the words all begin with the same letter. ** are used to add character to the writing and often add an element of 'fun' to the piece.. Example: The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way. (The 'W' sound is highlighted and repeated throughout the sentence.)

Pathetic Fallacy

** is a literary device wherein the author attributes human emotions and traits to nature or inanimate objects. For example, the following descriptions refer to weather and how it affects the mood, which can add atmosphere to a story: smiling skies, somber clouds, angry storm, or bitter winter.

Amplification

** refers to a literary practice wherein the writer embellishes the sentence by adding more information to it in order to increase its worth and understandability. When a plain sentence is too abrupt and fails to convey the full implications desired, ** comes into play when the writer adds more to the structure to give it more meaning. Example: Original sentence- The thesis paper was difficult. After **- The thesis paper was difficult: it required extensive research, data collection, sample surveys, interviews and a lot of fieldwork.

Periodic Structure

**: When ideas are unequal because one is logically or emotionally more important than others, and when the writer wants to create a climactic feeling of tension followed by resolution, the periodic sentence can be a good choice. Its structure is the opposite of cumulative structure -- phr or SC + MC.

Litotes

...** are figures of rhetoric speech that use an understated statement of an affirmative by using a negative description. Rarely talked about, but commonly used in modern day conversations, litotes are a discreet way of saying something unpleasant without directly using negativity. Sometimes called an ironical understatement and/or an avoidance of a truth which can be either positive or negative. Common examples: "I'm not feeling bad," or "he's definitely not a rocket scientist." The actual meanings are: "I am feeling well," and "he is not smart." ** were used frequently in Old English Poetry and Literature, and can be found in the English, Russian, German, Dutch and French languages. Example: In everyday conversations in the 21st century, one may hear expressions like: "not the brightest bulb" "not a beauty" "not bad" "not unfamiliar"

Connotation

...** are the associations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition. Many words have connotations that create emotions or feelings in the reader. Example: And once again, the autumn leaves were falling. This phrase uses 'autumn' to signify something coming to an end.

Malapropism

...** in literature refers to the practice of misusing words by substituting words with similar sounding words that have different, often unconnected meanings, and thus creating a situation of confusion, misunderstanding and amusement. ** is used to convey that the speaker or character is flustered, bothered, unaware or confused and as a result cannot employ proper diction. A trick to using ** is to ensure that the two words (the original and the substitute) sound similar enough for the reader to catch onto the intended switch and find humor in the result. Example: In the play Much Ado About Nothing, noted playwright William Shakespeare's character Dogberry says, "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons." Instead, what the character means to say is ""Our watch, sir, have indeed apprehended two suspicious persons."

Juxtaposition

...** is a literary device wherein the author places a person, concept, place, idea or theme parallel to another. The purpose of ** two directly or indirectly related entities close together in literature is to highlight the contrast between the two and compare them. This literary device is usually used for etching out a character in detail, creating suspense or lending a rhetorical effect. Example: In Paradise Lost, Milton has used ** to draw a parallel between the two protagonists, Satan and God, who he discusses by placing their traits in comparison with one another to highlight their differences.

Epilogue

...Definition: ** are an inherent part of any story or poem and are essential to the structure of any written form. The epilogue is an important literary tool that acts as the afterword once the last chapter is over. The purpose of an epilogue is to add a little insight to some interesting developments that happen once the major plot is over. Epilogues often act as a teaser trailer to any possible sequels that might be created later. Sometimes the epilogue is used to add a little bit about the life or future of the main characters after the story itself has unfolded and wrapped up. Epilogues can be written in a number of ways: sometimes the same narrative style as adopted in the story is continued while at other times one of the characters might take up the narrative or speak one to one with the audience. Example: In a remarkably contemporary moment at the end of The Tempest, Shakespeare's wizard Prospero addresses the audience directly, breaking down the boundaries of the play. He informs them that the play is over, his powers are gone, and thus his escape from the play's island setting depends on their applause that they, in effect, get to decide his fate. This serves as a Epilogue for Shakespeare's tragi-comedy The Tempest.

Ekphrastic

...Definition: ** refers to a form of writing, mostly poetry, wherein the author describes another work of art, usually visual. It is used to convey the deeper symbolism of the corporeal art form by means of a separate medium. It has often been found that ekphrastic writing is rhetorical in nature and symbolic of a greater meaning. Example: A photograph of an empty landscape can convey desolation, abandon and loss. Similarly, one can convey the same sentiments and concepts by using phrases such as 'an empty doorway' or 'a childless nursery'.

Epithet

...Definition: An ** is a literary device that is used as a descriptive device. It is usually used to add to a person or place's regular name and attribute some special quality to the same. Epithets are remarkable in that they become a part of common parlance over time. These descriptive words and phrases can be used to enhance the persona of real and fictitious places, objects, persons and divinities. Example: "Alexander the Great" is the epithet commonly used to refer to Alexander III of Macedon. The young king has come to be recognized by this epithet in all of history and popular culture owing to his spectacular achievements in creating one of the largest ever historical empires.

Conflict

...It is a literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story finds in achieving his aims or dreams. The conflict is a discord that can have external aggressors or can even arise from within the self. It can occur when the subject is battling his inner discord, at odds with his surroundings or it may be pitted against others in the story. Example: John tried hard to convince himself that his Hollywood dreams were worth the struggle but his parents, and his inner voice of reason, failed to agree.

Inversion

...The term ** refers to the practice of changing the conventional placement of words. It is a literary practice typical of the older classical poetry genre. In present day literature it is usually used for the purpose of laying emphasis this literary device is more prevalent in poetry than prose because it helps to arrange the poem in a manner that catches the attention of the reader not only with its content but also with its physical appearance; a result of the peculiar structuring. Example: In the much known and read Paradise Lost, Milton wrote: "Of Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Heav'nly Muse. . ."

Irony

...The use of ** in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence or word is actually different from the literal meaning. Often ** is used to suggest the stark contrast of the literal meaning being put forth. The deeper, real layer of significance is revealed not by the words themselves but the situation and the context in which they are placed. Example: Writing a sentence such as, "Oh! What fine luck I have!". The sentence on the surface conveys that the speaker is happy with their luck but actually what they mean is that they are extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with their (bad) luck.

Kennings

...The use of *** in literature is characteristically related to works in Old English poetry where the author would use a twist of words, figure of speech or magic poetic phrase or a newly created compound sentence or phrase to refer to a person, object, place, action or idea. The use of imagery and indicative, direct and indirect references to substitute the proper, formal name of the subject is known as ***.The use of ***was also prevalent in Old Norse and Germanic poetry. Example: *** are rare in modern day language. Here are a few examples from Beowulf: Battle-sweat = blood Sky-candle = sun Whale-road = ocean Light-of-battle = sword

Doppelganger

...an apparition or double of a living person

Deus ex Machina

...an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel.

Circumlocution

...is a form of writing where the writer uses exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence. ** involves stating an idea or a view in an indirect manner that leaves the reader guessing and grasping at the actual meaning. Example: Instead of writing "At 8 pm he arrived by car for the dinner party." the author writes, "Around 3 hours after sunset, it was winter at the time, the man arrived in a combustion engine driven piece of technology with for wheels to join other bipedal creatures in the ingestion of somewhat large quantities of food and drink while having discourse around a large wooden mesa designed for such a purpose".

Diction

...the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

Internal Rhyme

..Poetry can have end rhymes or **. There are three types of **: Two or more rhyming words occur within the same line Two or more rhyming words will appear in the middle of two separate lines or sometimes in more A word at the end of a line rhymes with one or more in the middle of the following line Here are a few examples of these three types of internal rhymes: Rhyme in the Same Line I went to town to buy a gown. / I took the car and it wasn't far. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary - Edgar Allen Poe (The Raven). I had a cat who wore a hat. / He looked cool but felt the fool. I lost my dog in the midst of fog. / He found his way home, he doesn't like to roam. Rhyme in Separate Lines I see a red boat that has a red flag. / Just like my red coat and my little red pail. I wore a shiny new bow upon my head. / I began to grow and it fit me no more. I'd like to jump into the ocean. / But don't dump me in instead. Word at the End and Word in the Middle The snowflakes are dancing, floating, and falling. / The church bells are calling, but I will not go. The sky was a clear, rich shiny blue. / I knew it was true but I stayed inside. It is fallible men who make the law. / This may be a flaw, but there's no other way.

Paradox

A ** is a statement that contradicts itself and yet might be true (or wrong at the same time). Some logical paradoxes are known to be invalid arguments but are still valuable in promoting critical thinking.

Asyndeton

An * is a writing style where conjunctions are omitted in a series of words. phrases or clauses. It is used to shorten a sentence and focus on its meaning. Example: Julius Caesar leaving out the word "and" between the sentences "I came. I saw. I conquered."

Allusion

An ** is a figure of speech whereby the author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work by way of a passing reference. It is up to the reader to make a connection to the subject being mentioned. Example: It's no wonder everyone refers to Mary as another Mother Teresa in the making; she loves to help and care after people everywhere- from the streets to her own friends. In the example the author uses the mention of Mother Teresa to indicate the sort of qualities that Mary has.

Analogy

An ** is a literary device that helps to establish a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas. By using an ** we can convey a new idea by using the blueprint of an old one as a basis for understanding. With a mental linkage between the two, one can create understanding regarding the new concept in a simple and succinct manner. Example: In the same way as one cannot have the rainbow without the rain, one cannot achieve success and riches without hard work.

Allegory

An ** is a symbolism device where the meaning of a greater, often abstract, concept is conveyed with the aid of a more corporeal object or idea being used as an example. Usually a rhetoric device, an ** suggests a meaning via metaphoric examples. Example: Faith is like a stony uphill climb: a single stumble might send you sprawling but belief and steadfastness will see you to the very top.

Antithesis

An ** is used when the writer employs two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity to one another. Whether they are words or phrases of the same sentence, an ** is used to create a stark contrast using two divergent elements that come together to create one uniform whole. An ** plays on the complementary property of opposites to create one vivid picture. The purpose of using an ** in literature is to create a balance between opposite qualities and lend a greater insight into the subject. Example: When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon it might have been one small step for a man but it was one giant leap for mankind.

point of view

Definition: ** is the manner in which a story is narrated or depicted and who it is that tells the story. Simply put, the ** determines the angle and perception of the story unfolding, and thus influences the tone in which the story takes place. The ** is instrumental in manipulating the reader's understanding of the narrative. In a way, the **can allow or withhold the reader access into the greater reaches of the story. Two of the most common ** techniques are the first person, wherein the story is told by the narrator from his or her standpoint and the third person wherein the narrator does not figure in the events of the story and tells the story by referring to all characters and places in the third person with third person pronouns and proper nouns. Example: In the popular Lord of the Rings book series, the stories are narrated in the third person and all happenings are described from an "outside the story" point of view. Contrastingly, in the popular teen book series, Princess Diaries, the story is told in the first person, by the protagonist herself.

Aphorism

Definition: An aphorism is a concise statement that is made in a matter of fact tone to state a principle or an opinion that is generally understood to be a universal truth. Aphorisms are often adages, wise sayings and maxims aimed at imparting sense and wisdom. It is to be noted that aphorisms are usually witty and curt and often have an underlying tone of authority to them. Example: Upon seeing the shoddy work done by the employee the boss told him to "either shape up or ship out".

Archetype

Definition: An archetype is a reference to a concept, a person or an object that has served as a prototype of its kind and is the original idea that has come to be used over and over again. Archetypes are literary devices that employ the use of a famous concept, person or object to convey a wealth of meaning. Archetypes are immediately identifiable and even though they run the risk of being overused, they are still the best examples of their kind. Example: Romeo and Juliet are an archetype of eternal love and a star-crossed love story.

Assonance

Definition: Assonance refers to repetition of sounds produced by vowels within a sentence or phrase. In this regard assonance can be understood to be a kind of alliteration. What sets it apart from alliterations is that it is the repetition of only vowel sounds. Assonance is the opposite of consonance, which implies repetitive usage of consonant sounds. Example: "A long song". (Where the 'o' sound is repeated in the last two words of the sentence)

Characterisation

Definition: Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character. The character can be described directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts, and speech of the character. Example: Michael Corleone was not jus' a mafiaso, but a family man. A man who walked the knife's edge to preserve his sanity.

Chiasmus

Definition: Chiasmus is a figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other. Example: You can take the patriot out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the patriot.

Caesura

Definition: This literary device involves creating a fracture of sorts within a sentence where the two separate parts are distinguishable from one another yet intrinsically linked to one another. The purpose of using a caesura is to create a dramatic pause, which has a strong impact. The pause helps to add an emotional, often theatrical touch to the sentence and conveys a depth of sentiment in a short phrase. Example: Mozart- oh how your music makes me soar!

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton refers to the process of using conjunctions or connecting words frequently in a sentence, placed very close to one another. Opposed to the usual norm of using them sparsely, only where they are technically needed. The use of polysyndetons is primarily for adding dramatic effect as they have a strong rhetorical presence. Example: For example: a) Saying "here and there and everywhere", instead of simply saying "here, there and everywhere". b) "Marge and Susan and Anne and Daisy and Barry all planned to go for a picnic", instead of "Marge, Susan, Anne, Daisy and Barry..." emphasizes each of the individuals and calls attention to every person one by one instead of assembling them as a group.

plot

The **usually refers to the sequence of events and happenings that make up a story. There is usually a pattern, unintended or intentional, that threads the ** together. The **basically refers to the main outcome and order of the story. There is another kind of plot in literature as well; it refers to the conflict or clash occurring as a part of the story. The conflict usually follows 3 regular formats: a) characters in conflict with one another b) characters in conflict with their surroundings and c) characters in conflict with themselves. Example: Many date movies follow a similar simple plot. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back in the end.

Authorial Intrusion

The definition of * is the relation to the author of a book, play etc.............................. (cannot find the definition of Intrusion)

Mood

The literary device '**' refers to a definitive stance the author adopts in shaping a specific emotional perspective towards the subject of the literary work. It refers to the mental and emotional disposition of the author towards the subject, which in turn lends a particular character or atmosphere to the work. Example: In Erich Segal's Love Story, the relationship of the two protagonists is handled with such beauty, delicateness and sensitivity that the reader is compelled to feel the trials and tribulations of the characters.

Anecdote

The word ** means a short verbal accounting of a funny, amusing, interesting event or incident. The story is usually a reminiscence from the teller's life but at best is a related story of fact, as opposed to a contrived work of fiction. Example: Amusing ** many times find their way into wedding receptions, family reunions and any other gathering of people who know each other well. They are not always flattering, but are usually revealing of character and invariably amusing. Here is an example of an ** about Winston Churchill: Winston Churchill was very fond of his pet dog Rufus. He ate in the dining room with the family on a special cloth and was treated with utmost respect. When enjoying movies, Rufus had the best seat in the house; on Winston Churchill's lap. While watching "Oliver Twist," Churchill put his hands over Rufus' eyes during the scene where Bill Sike's intends to drown his dog. Churchill is believed to have said to Rufus: "don't look now, dear. I'll tell you about it later."

Imagery

Usually it is thought that ** makes use of particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds. The word ** is associated with mental pictures. However, this idea is but partially correct. ** , to be realistic, turns out to be more complex than just a picture. Read the following examples of ** carefully: It was dark and dim in the forest. - The words "dark" and "dim" are visual images. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields. - "Screaming" and "shouting" appeal to our sense of hearing or auditory sense. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee. - "whiff" and "aroma" evoke our sense of smell or olfactory sense. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric. - The idea of "soft" in this example appeals to our sense of touch or tactile sense. The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and sweet. - " juicy" and "sweet" when associated with oranges have an effect on our sense of taste or gustatory sense.