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Literacy Devices
Allegory
Definition:
An allegory 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
...

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
...
Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel group, the
alliteration involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence
...
Alliterations are used to add character to the
writing and often add an element of ‘fun’ to the piece
...
(The ‘W’ sound is highlighted and repeated
throughout the sentence
...
It is up to the reader to make a connection to the
subject being mentioned
...

In the example the author uses the mention of Mother Teresa to indicate the sort of qualities that Mary
has
...
When a plain sentence is too
abrupt and fails to convey the full implications desired, amplification comes into play when the writer
adds more to the structure to give it more meaning
...
After amplification- The thesis paper was difficult: it
required extensive research, data collection, sample surveys, interviews and a lot of fieldwork
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From the syllables of a phrase to the individual letters of a word, any
fraction can be jumbled to create a new form
...

Example:
An anagram for "debit card" is "bad credit"
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By
mixing the letters a bit of humor is created
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By using an analogy we can convey a new idea by using the blueprint of an old one
as a basis for understanding
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Example:
In the same way as one cannot have the rainbow without the rain, one cannot achieve success and
riches without hard work
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In standard parlance and writing the adjective comes before the noun but when one is
employing an anastrophe the noun is followed by the adjective
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Example:
He spoke of times past and future, and dreamt of things to be
...
ik
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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
...
D
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In his court, Justinian had a historian named Procopius who was a gifted writer who wrote
many witty, amusing and somewhat bawdy accounts of court life
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After his secret writings did indeed become public and published, the term anecdote became
commonly used for similar accounts
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Teachers and educators often tell classrooms of pupils
anecdotes about famous people
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Here is an example of an anecdote about Winston Churchill:
Winston Churchill was very fond of his pet dog Rufus
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When enjoying movies, Rufus had the best seat in
the house; on Winston Churchill's lap
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Churchill is believed to have
said to Rufus: “don't look now, dear
...
”

Anthropomorphism

Definition:
Anthropomorphism can be understood to be the act of lending a human quality, emotion or ambition
to a non-human object or being
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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
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Whether they are words or phrases of the same sentence, an antithesis is
used to create a stark contrast using two divergent elements that come together to create one uniform
whole
...
The
purpose of using an antithesis in literature is to create a balance between opposite qualities and lend a
greater insight into the subject
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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
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It is to be noted that aphorisms are usually witty
and curt and often have an underlying tone of authority to them
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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
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Archetypes are immediately identifiable and even though they run the risk of being overused, they are
still the best examples of their kind
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Assonance

Definition:
Assonance refers to repetition of sounds produced by vowels within a sentence or phrase
...
What sets it apart from alliterations is
that it is the repetition of only vowel sounds
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Example:
“A long song”
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Asyndeton as a literary tool
helps in shortening up the implied meaning of the entire phrase and presenting it in a succinct form
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Use of this literary device helps in creating a strong impact and
such sentences have greater recall worth since the idea is presented in a nutshell
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Read, Write, Learn
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Watch, Absorb, Understand
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Authorial Intrusion establishes a one to
one relationship between the writer and the reader where the latter is no longer a secondary player or
an indirect audience to the progress of the story but is the main subject of the author’s attention
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This technique was often used to reveal some crucial
elements of the story to the reader even though the protagonist might remain mystified within the
story for the time being
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This term
refers to the practice of basing a plot happening or event and anticipating the results it will have on a
faction of the Bible
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In an overall context, not limited to just
literature, bibliomancy refers to foretelling the future by turning to random portions of the Bible for
guidance
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Bildungsroman

Definition:
This is a very popular form of storytelling whereby the author bases the plot on the overall growth of
the central character throughout the timeline of the story
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It has often been seen that the protagonist begins with views,
aims and dreams that are in contrast to the other character’s in the story and then fights his or her
way through to achieve them
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Cacophony
Definition:

A cacophony in literature refers to the use of words and phrases that imply strong, harsh sounds
within the phrase
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Example:
His fingers rapped and pounded the door, and his foot thumped against the yellowing wood
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The purpose of using a
caesura is to create a dramatic pause, which has a strong impact
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Example:
Mozart- oh how your music makes me soar!

Characterization

Definition:
Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an author introduces and then
describes a character
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Example:
Michael Corleone was not jus' a mafiaso, but a family man
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Chiasmus

Definition:
Chiasmus is a figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other
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Circumlocution
Definition:
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
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Example:
Instead of writing “At 8 pm he arrived by car for the dinner party
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Conflict
Definition:
It is a literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story finds in achieving his
aims or dreams
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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
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Connotation

Definition:
Connotations are the associations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary
definition
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Example:
And once again, the autumn leaves were falling
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Consonance
Definition:

Consonance refers to repetition of sounds in quick succession produced by consonants within a
sentence or phrase
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Consonance is the
opposite of assonance, which implies repetitive usage of vowel sounds
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Denotation

Definition:
Denotation refers to the use of the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word
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In the above sentence, house is meant literally as in a building where a family lives
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Deus ex Machina

Definition:
Deus ex Machina is a rather debatable and often criticized form of literary device
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The use of Deus ex Machina is not
recommended as it is seen to be the mark of a poor plot that the writer needs to resort to random,
insupportable and unbelievable twists and turns to reach the end of the story
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Diction

Definition:
Diction is the distinctive tone or tenor of an author’s writings
...
Diction is usually judged with
reference to the prevailing standards of proper writing and speech and is seen as the mark of quality
of the writing
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Example:
Certain writers in the modern day and age use archaic terms such as ‘thy’, ‘thee’ and ‘wherefore’ to
imbue a Shakespearean mood to their work
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It refers to
a character in the story that is actually a counterfeit or a copy of a genuine character
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The doppelganger usually has a different appearance but an earthly soul and
supernatural hoodwinking abilities that allow it to fool other unsuspecting characters
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Jekyll and Mr
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It is used to convey the deeper symbolism of the corporeal art form by means of a
separate medium
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Example:
A photograph of an empty landscape can convey desolation, abandon and loss
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Epilogue

Definition:
Epilogues are an inherent part of any story or poem and are essential to the structure of any written
form
...

The purpose of an epilogue is to add a little insight to some interesting developments that happen
once the major plot is over
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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
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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
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This serves as a Epilogue for Shakespeare's tragi-comedy The Tempest
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It is usually used to add to a person
or place’s regular name and attribute some special quality to the same
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These descriptive words and phrases can be used
to enhance the persona of real and fictitious places, objects, persons and divinities
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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
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This device is used
when writing about matters such as sex, violence, death, crimes and things "embarrassing"
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The use of euphemisms is sometimes manipulated to lend a touch of
exaggeration or irony in satirical writing
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Below are some more examples of Euphemisms
Downsizing - This is used when a company fires or lays off a larger number of employees
Friendly fire - This is used by the military when soldiers are accidentally killed by other soldiers on the
same side
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Golden years - This is used to describe the later period of life when someone is of old age
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Enhanced interrogation - This is modern euphemism to minimize what by many people would be
viewed as torture
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The use of euphony is
predominant in literary prose and poetry, where poetic devices such as alliterations, rhymes and
assonace are used to create pleasant sounds
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This literary
devices is based on the use and manipulation of phonetics in literature
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The phrase is said to depict the highest degree of euphony, and is said to be
especially notable when spoken in the British accent
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Parallelism involves placing sentence items in a parallel grammatical

format wherein nouns are listed together, specific verb forms are listed together and the like
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The failure to maintain a
balance in grammatical forms is known as faulty parallelism wherein similar grammatical forms receive
dissimilar or unequal weight
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Flashback

Definition:
Flashback is a literary device wherein the author depicts the occurrence of specific events to the
reader, which have taken place before the present time the narration is following, or events that have
happened before the events that are currently unfolding in the story
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Flashback is used to create a background to
the present situation, place or person
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For example, it is common in movies for there to be
a flashback that gives the viewer a look into the characters life when they were younger, or when they
have done something previously
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Foil

Definition:
A foil is another character in a story who contrasts with the main character, usually to highlight one of
their attributes
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Foreshadowing
Definition:
The literary device foreshadowing refers to the use of indicative word or phrases and hints that set the
stage for a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen without
revealing the story or spoiling the suspense
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Example:
“He had no idea of the disastrous chain of events to follow”
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Hubris

Definition:
Hubris, in this day and age, is another way of saying overly arrogant
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The character portraying hubris, also commonly referred to as hybris, may have
just gained a huge amount of power and the false belief that they are “untouchable”
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It
used to be closely related to a crime in Athens
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The reason for this is because at the end of the story
you should be able to see that it is this flaw that brings the “bad guy” down
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Macbeth, the protagonist,
overfilled with ambition and arrogance, allows his hubris to think you would be able to kill the valiant
Duncan without penalty so he can claim the throne of Scotland for himself
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Hyperbaton
Definition:

A hyperbaton is a literary device wherein the author plays with the regular positioning of words and
phrases and creates a differently structured sentence to convey the same meaning
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This literary device is used to add more depth and interest
to the sentence structure
...
This sentence is a variation of the more conventional, “He
walked alone on the cold, lonely roads”
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The purpose of hyperbole is to create a larger-than-life effect and overly stress a specific point
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Example:
“I am so tired I cannot walk another inch” or “I’m so sleepy I might fall asleep standing here”
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Imagery helps the reader to visualize more realistically the
author’s writings
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Imagery is not limited to only visual sensations, but also refers to igniting kinesthetic,
olfactory, tactile, gustatory, thermal and auditory sensations as well
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Internal Rhyme

Definition:
In literature the internal rhyme is a practice of forming a rhyme in only one lone line of verse
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Example:
The line from the famed poem Ancient Mariner, “We were the first that ever burst”
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It is a
literary practice typical of the older classical poetry genre
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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
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Often irony is used to suggest the stark
contrast of the literal meaning being put forth
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Example:
Writing a sentence such as, “Oh! What fine luck I have!”
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Juxtaposition

Definition:
Juxtaposition is a literary device wherein the author places a person, concept, place, idea or theme
parallel to another
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This literary device is
usually used for etching out a character in detail, creating suspense or lending a rhetorical effect
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Kennings

Definition:
The use of Kennings 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
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The use of kennings was also prevalent in Old Norse and Germanic poetry
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Here are a few examples from Beowulf:
Battle-sweat = blood
Sky-candle = sun
Whale-road = ocean
Light-of-battle = sword

Litotes

Definition:
Litotes are figures of rhetoric speech that use an understated statement of an affirmative by using a
negative description
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Sometimes called an
ironical understatement and/or an avoidance of a truth which can be either positive or negative
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” The actual
meanings are: “I am feeling well,” and “he is not smart
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Example:
In everyday conversations in the 21st century, one may hear expressions like:
“not
“not
“not
“not

the brightest bulb”
a beauty”
bad”
unfamiliar”

These are all examples of negative litotes that mean the opposite: “a dim bulb, or dumb,” “plain in
appearance,” “good,” and “knows very well
...
”
Perhaps some best description litotes are found in the bible: take for instance, Jeremiah 30:19:
“I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small
...
”

Malapropism

Definition:
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
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A

trick to using malapropism 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
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" Instead, what the character
means to say is “"Our watch, sir, have indeed apprehended two suspicious persons
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A metaphor refers to a meaning or
identity ascribed to one subject by way of another
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The first subject, which is the
focus of the sentences is usually compared to the second subject, which is used to convey a degree of
meaning that is used to characterize the first
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Example:
“Henry was a lion on the battlefield”
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This sentence implies
immediately that Henry was courageous and fearless, much like the King of the Jungle
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It is
the practice of substituting the main word with a word that is closely linked to it
...
C” we are talking about the U
...
S
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The phrase “Washington
D
...
” is metonymy for the government of the U
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in this case
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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
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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
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Using a motif refers to the repetition of a specific theme dominating the
literary work
...

Example:
In many famed fairytales, the motif of a ‘handsome prince’ falling in love with a ‘damsel in distress’
and the two being bothered by a wicked step mother, evil witch or beast and finally conquering all to
live ‘happily ever after’ is a common motif
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Negative Capability

Definition:
The use of negative capability in literature is a concept promoted by poet John Keats, who was of the
opinion that literary achievers, especially poets, should be able to come to terms with the fact that
some matters might have to be left unsolved and uncertain
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Example:
The best references of the use of negative capability in literature would be of Keats’ own works,
especially poems such as Ode on a Grecian Urn and Ode to a Nightingale
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The word also sometimes refers to the
character or medium by which this justice is brought about as Nemesis was the patron goddess of
vengeance according to classical mythology
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Onomatopoeia
Definition:
The term ‘onomatopoeia’ refers to words whose very sound is very close to the sound they are meant
to depict
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Example:
Words such as grunt, huff, buzz and snap are words whose
pronunciation sounds very similar to the actual sounds these words represent
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For instance, sentences such as “the whispering of the
forest trees” or “the hum of a thousand bees” or “the click of the door in the nighttime” create vivid
mental images
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An oxymoron is an interesting literary device because it helps to perceive a deeper
level of truth and explore different layers of semantics while writing
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He possessed a cold fire in his eyes
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The uniqueness of paradoxes lies in the
fact that a deeper level of meaning and significance is not revealed at first glace, but when it does
crystallize, it provides astonishing insight
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Pathetic Fallacy

Definition:
Pathetic fallacy is a type of literary device whereby the author ascribes the human feelings of one or
more of his or her characters to nonhuman objects or nature or phenomena
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Example:
The softly whistling teapot informed him it was time for breakfast
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In such placements, the crux of the
sentence’s meaning does not become clear to the reader until they reach the last part
...

Example:
Instead of writing, “brokenhearted and forlorn she waited till the end of her days for his return” one
may write, “for his return, brokenhearted and forlorn, waited she till the end of her days”
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The use of this
literary device can be to embellish a sentence, to create a grander effect, to beat around the bush and
to draw attention away from the crux of the message being conveyed
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Personification
Definition:
Personification is one of the most commonly used and recognized literary devices
...

Example:
“The raging winds”
“The wise owl”
“The warm and comforting fire”

Plot

Definition:
The plot usually refers to the sequence of events and happenings that make up a story
...
The plot basically refers to
the main outcome and order 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
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Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back in the
end
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Simply put, the point of view determines the angle and perception of the story unfolding, and thus
influences the tone in which the story takes place
...
In a way, the point of view can allow or withhold the
reader access into the greater reaches of the story
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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
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Polysyndeton

Definition:
Polysyndeton refers to the process of using conjunctions or connecting words frequently in a sentence,
placed very close to one another
...
The use of polysyndetons is primarily for adding dramatic effect as they have a
strong rhetorical presence
...

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
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This is often done in order to create a name or word for something by
combining the individual characteristics of 2 or more other words
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The word “smog” is a portmanteau that was built combining “fog” and “smoke” and “smog” has the
properties of both fog and smoke
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Liger= Lion + Tiger= A hybrid of the two feline species, possessing characteristics of both
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Prologues are typically a
narrative ‘spoken’ by one of the characters and not from the part of the author
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"The origin of this story is
...
“It all began one day when…”

Puns
Definition:
Puns are a very popular literary device wherein a word is used in a manner to suggest two or more
possible meanings
...
Puns
can also refer to words that suggest meanings of similar-sounding words
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Example:
Santa’s helpers are known as subordinate Clauses
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Rhyme scheme refers to the order in which particular words rhyme
...

Example:
Roses are red (a)
Violets are blue (b)
Beautiful they all may be (c)
But I love you (b)
The above is an “a-b-c-b” rhyme scheme
...
Rhythm and rhyme together refer to the recurrence of similar
sounds in prose and poetry, creating a musical, gentle effect
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When the water’s boiling
Hear me shout;
Just lift me up
And pour me out”

Satire

Definition:

The use of satire in literature refers to the practice of making fun of a human weakness or character
flaw
...
In general, even though satire might be humorous and may
“make fun”, its purpose is not to entertain and amuse but actually to derive a reaction of contempt
from the reader
...
The scripts
and writing for the show are an excellent example of satire in written form
...
It basically helps in establishing where and when and under what circumstances the story
is taking place
...
This setting establishes the
background that Harry has a non-magical childhood with other “muggle” people and has no clue about
his special powers or his parents and is raised much like, actually worse than, regular people, till his
11th birthday
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By using similes a greater degree of meaning and understanding is attached to an otherwise
simple sentence
...

Similes are marked by the use of the words ‘as’ or ‘such as’ or ‘like’
...


Spoonerism

Definition:
Spoonerism refers to the practice of interchanging the first letters of some words in order to create
new words or even to create nonsensical words in order to create a humorous setting
...

Example:
The phrase “flesh and blood” being spoken as a character as “blesh and flood” in urgency and
heightened emotion
...
It basically refers to one unit or
group of lines, which forms one particular faction in poetry
...

Example:
“The greedy paddy cat,
Chased after the mice;
She got so round and fat,
But it tasted so nice”

Stream of consciousness

Definition:
The phrase ‘stream of consciousness’ refers to an uninterrupted and unhindered collection and
occurrence of thoughts and ideas in the conscious mind
...
This literary device is
usually used in order to provide a narrative in the form of the character’s thoughts instead of using
dialogue or description
...


"Life is not a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged; life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent
envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end
...
It basically leaves the reader holding their breath and wanting more information
...
Without suspense, a reader
would lose interest quickly in any story because there is nothing that is making the reader ask, “What’s
going to happen next?” In writing, there has to be a series of events that leads to a climax that
captivates the audience and makes them tense and anxious to know what is going to happen
...
You remember when you were a kid and very excited
to watch those Saturday morning shows
...
However, you didn’t get to find out
...
Same time, same
place
...


Symbol

Definition:
A symbol is literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often concealed at first sight, and
is representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than those that are visible in the literal
translation alone
...

Example:
The phrase “a new dawn” does not talk only about the actual beginning of a new day but also signifies
a new start, a fresh chance to begin and the end of a previous tiring time
...
It is
somewhat rhetorical in nature, where the entire object is represented by way of a fraction of it or a
fraction of the object is symbolized by the whole
...


Synesthesia
Definition:
While the term synesthesia literally refers to a medical condition wherein one or many of the sensory
modalities become joined to one another, in literature it refers to the depiction of a strong connection,
link or bond between the different senses
...
Synesthesia is the conflation of the senses
...


Syntax

Definition:
Syntax in literature refers to the actual way in which words and sentences are placed together in the
writing
...
It is not related to the act of choosing specific words or even the meaning of each
word or the overall meanings conveyed by the sentences
...
By
changing the syntax to "The car drives the man", the sentence becomes awkward
...
The
theme links all aspects of the literary work with one another and is basically the main subject
...

Example:
The main theme in the play Romeo and Juliet was love with smaller themes of sacrifice, tragedy,
struggle, hardship, devotion and so on
...
Tone can portray a variety of emotions ranging from solemn,
grave, and critical to witty, wry and humorous
...

Example:
In her Harry Potter series, author J
...
Rowling has taken an extremely positive, inspiring and uplifting
tone towards the idea of love and devotion
...
Tragedy is generally built up in 5 stages: a) happy times b) the introduction of a
problem c) the problem worsens to a crisis or dilemma d) the characters are unable to prevent the
problem from taking over e) the problem results in some catastrophic, grave ending, which is the
tragedy culminated
...
This moment has been immortalized by the phrase “Et tu
Brute?”, wherein Caesar realizes that he has finally been defeated, and that too through betrayal
...
Understating a fact is usually done by way of sarcasm, irony, wryness or any other form of
dry humor
...

Example:
The phrase, “Oh! I wonder if he could get any later; I am free all day long”
...


Verisimilitude

Definition:
Verisimilitude tends to be based around the appearance or proximity to being real, or the truth
...
It is a way of implying the believability or likelihood of a theory or narrative
...

Example:
It can be used in a variety of ways, for example;
“While some dislike the content of the novel due to its graphic nature, you cannot deny that the
content certainly gives the book some Verisimilitude”
An example of Verisimilitude in concept, though, could be a doubtful statement in a court of law or
even a false testimonial for a restaurant
...


Verse

Definition:
The literary term ‘verse’ is used to refer to any single, lone line of a poetry composition
...
The word can however, also refer to a stanza or any other part of the
poetry
...




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