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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
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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
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Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel group, the
alliteration involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence
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Alliterations are used to add character to the
writing and often add an element of ‘fun’ to the piece
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(The ‘W’ sound is highlighted and repeated
throughout the sentence
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It is up to the reader to make a connection to the
subject being mentioned
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In the example the author uses the mention of Mother Teresa to indicate the sort of qualities that Mary
has
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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”

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
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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
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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
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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
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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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