Language & Literary Devices

A direct comparison that states one thing IS another, without using 'like' or 'as'.

A metaphor that is developed and sustained over several lines, a stanza, or even a whole text.

A comparison using 'like' or 'as' to show similarity between two different things.

Giving human qualities, emotions, or actions to non-human things such as objects, animals, or abstract ideas.

A specific type of personification where weather, nature, or the environment reflects the mood or emotions of characters or the narrative.

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis, humour, or emotional effect. Not meant to be taken literally.

The opposite of hyperbole -- deliberately presenting something as less significant than it really is, often by negating the opposite.

Language that appeals to the sense of sight, creating pictures in the reader's mind.

Language that appeals to the sense of hearing, making the reader 'hear' sounds.

Language that appeals to the sense of touch, evoking texture, temperature, or physical sensation.

Language that appeals to the sense of smell.

Language that appeals to the sense of taste.

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words.

The repetition of 's', 'sh', 'z', or soft 'c' sounds, creating a hissing or whispering effect.

The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

A word that imitates or suggests the sound it describes.

The use of hard, explosive consonant sounds -- b, d, g, k, p, t -- which create a forceful, abrupt effect.

The use of consonant sounds produced by friction -- f, v, th, sh, s, z -- creating a softer, sometimes threatening effect.

Saying the opposite of what is actually meant, often for humorous or cutting effect.

When the audience or reader knows something that a character does not, creating tension or humour.

When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected.

Two contradictory words placed directly together to create a paradoxical image or idea.

A statement that seems self-contradictory but, on reflection, contains a deeper truth.

Placing two contrasting ideas, images, or concepts close together to highlight their differences.

Using an object, colour, character, or image to represent a broader idea, theme, or concept beyond its literal meaning.

A recurring image, idea, word, or symbol that runs through a text and reinforces its themes.

A narrative where characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral/political concepts -- the entire text works as an extended metaphor.

Hints or clues planted earlier in the text that suggest what will happen later.

Deliberately using a word, phrase, or idea more than once for emphasis or effect.

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines.

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, sentences, or lines.

A list of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses used for emphasis, rhythm, or persuasion.

A question asked for effect, not expecting an answer. It is designed to make the audience think or agree with the speaker.

Word choices deliberately designed to provoke an emotional reaction in the reader -- anger, sympathy, fear, outrage, etc.

Command words that directly instruct the reader to do something.

Verbs that express necessity, possibility, obligation, or certainty -- such as 'must', 'should', 'could', 'might', 'will'.

Writing from 'I' or 'we', placing the narrator inside the story as a character or speaker.

Writing addressed directly to 'you', drawing the reader into the text.

Writing about characters using 'he', 'she', 'they' -- the narrator is outside the story.

The subject of the sentence performs the action: 'The dog bit the man.'

The subject of the sentence receives the action: 'The man was bitten by the dog.'

A group of words in a text that all relate to the same topic or theme (e.g. war, nature, religion, darkness).

The associations, feelings, or ideas that a word carries beyond its literal dictionary definition (denotation).

A mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of one considered too harsh, blunt, or offensive.

The opposite of euphemism -- using a harsh, blunt, or offensive word deliberately where a milder alternative exists.

Informal, everyday language or slang used in writing -- the language of ordinary speech.

Register is the level of formality in language (formal, informal, academic, conversational). Tone is the attitude or feeling conveyed (angry, humorous, sombre, urgent).

Language that can be interpreted in more than one way, creating uncertainty or multiple layers of meaning.

A figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part.

Replacing the name of something with something closely associated with it (but not a part of it -- that would be synecdoche).

A scene set in a time earlier than the main narrative, interrupting the chronological order to reveal background information.