Literary Devices

1. Literary Devices ENG2PO

2. List of Literary Devices Alliteration Allusion Foil Foreshadowing Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphor Onomatopoeia Oxymoron Paradox Personification Pun Repetition Rhetorical Question Simile Symbolism

3. Alliteration The repetition of the initial consonant sound in a series of words. It adds rhythm or emphasizes emotion. Example: The ravenous reptile ate the weary rat hungrily on the rock.

4. Allusion A reference to a famous person, place, thing, pop-culture icon, or another work of literature. Ex: Ms. Hashimoto is as smart as Einstein.

5. Foil Any person/character that through strong contrast enhances the characteristics of another person or character. Ex. In Romeo & JulietMercutio is a foil to Romeo because his witty, light-hearted language contrasts against Romeo’s gloomy lovesickness.

6. Foreshadowing Subsequent actions or events that are suggested; a hint of what is to come. The hint, however, should not be too obvious to the reader because it will give the plot away and affect the suspense of the narrative. Ex: Romeo’s bad feeling before going to the Capulet’s party

7. Hyperbole The obvious exaggeration of facts to show the intensity of feeling. Example: My heart is broken

8. Imagery Language that creates pictures in a reader’s mind to bring life to the experiences and feelings described in a poem or a story.

9. Irony The use of an idea, word, or phrase to elicit the opposite of its usual meaning. ｷDramatic Irony – occurs when the audience knows something that the character does not. ｷSituational Irony – takes place when the circumstances turn out differently from what the reader expects or anticipates. Ex. Romeo & Juliet: The audience know that Juliet is not dead, she has taken a potion. However, Romeo thinks that she is dead.

10. Metaphor A direct comparison between two unlike things. In addition to painting vivid pictures for the reader, metaphors help to make abstract ideas more concrete, add emotion, and show the writer’s feelings. Ex. The basketball player was an overpowering mountain. Nobody was able to score a basket over him.

11. Onomatopoeia The sound of a word resembles its meaning. Hiss, thud, crash, hush, and twitter are examples of onomatopoeic words.

12. Oxymoron A figure of speech in which contradictory words or connotations are placed together for effect. Example: jumbo shrimp is an oxymoronic phrase.

13. Paradox An apparent contradiction or illogical statement but on closer examination, contains some truth. Example: “War is peace” (George Orwell)

14. Personification Human qualities are attributed to inanimate objects. Example: The wind whispered through the pine trees.

15. Pun A play on words based on the similarity of sound between two words with different meanings. Example: Opening a new funeral parlor can be quite an undertaking.

16. Repetition The repeating of words or phrases for emphasis. Example: My English class is very, very, very fun!

17. Rhetorical Question A question posed for effect only and for which an answer is not expected. Example: Do you think I was born yesterday?

18. Simile A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”. Example: The fall leaves looked like monarch butterflies dancing on the ground.

19. Symbolism The use of definite objects to stand for complex ideas. Ex. Water may symbolize tranquility