Literary Devices | List & Examples

Literary devices are the techniques and strategies authors use to enrich their writing and take it beyond the literal meaning of words. They serve various purposes and can operate at the sentence level or even permeate an entire literary work. Common literary devices include metaphors, similes, and irony.

Examples of literary devices
After a long trek, the cold water was inviting me to jump in. [personification]

All our requests for a budget increase have been met with deafening silence. [oxymoron]

The fire crackled and hissed. [onomatopoeia]

What are literary devices?

Literary devices refer to the creative tools writers use to elevate their works above ordinary writing.

When used effectively, literary devices add depth, beauty, and emotional resonance to literary works. Writers typically employ several devices simultaneously. However, some literary devices are more common in certain forms of writing. For example, we are more likely to encounter assonance or alliteration in poetry than in prose.

Although we can still enjoy a work of literature without actively recognizing a malapropism or examples of personification, understanding literary devices is crucial. It allows us to appreciate the depth and complexity of a text, maximizing our overall comprehension and enjoyment of the writing.

Note
Literary devices can be classified into different types depending on their scale, such as word level, sentence level, and structural level. For example, writers can use:

  • Onomatopoeia (word level) to create vivid imagery and enhance the reader’s experience (e.g., “The bees buzzed around the flowers”).
  • Parallelism (sentence level) to create balance and rhythm (e.g., “Not only is he a great musician but also a dedicated scholar”).
  • Foreshadowing (structural level) as an overarching narrative strategy, to build suspense and anticipation (e.g., “As the dark clouds gathered overhead, he couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom”).

Literary devices list

Here is a list of some common literary devices with definitions and examples.

Literary device Definition Example
Alliteration Repetition of the initial consonant sound in nearby words Three thin tigers throbbed through the thicket.
Metaphor An implicit comparison between two dissimilar things Laughter is the best medicine.
Imagery Descriptive language that appeals to the reader’s senses A blanket of sparkling white snow covered the mountains.
Foreshadowing Hinting at things that will happen later in a story to create anticipation A violent thunder blasts as the protagonist arrives at a run-down mansion.
Euphemism Replacing a harsh or offensive word with a milder one They were all let go. [they were all fired]
Allusion A passing reference to a well-known person, event, or literary work Ice cream is my Achilles’ heel.
Point of view The perspective from which a story is told The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! is a retelling of the story from the wolf’s point of view.
Irony A contradiction between the apparent and underlying meaning of words or situations A police station getting broken into.
Simile An explicit comparison between two dissimilar things using “like” or “as” She is like a rainbow.
Satire Using humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize flaws in human behavior and society South Park is a satire of American life and culture.
Juxtaposition Placing two elements side by side for comparison or contrast A juxtaposition of virtue and vice.
Caesura A break or pause in a line of poetry (indicated by the symbols //) “To be, // or not to be // — that is the question”
Hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration for comic or rhetorical effect I’ve seen this move a hundred times.
Paradox A statement or situation that seems illogical at first and yet makes sense The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Literary devices examples

Literary devices encompass a wide range of elements and techniques. Some operate at word level and help create multiple interpretations or vivid imagery. Others refer to stylistic elements that shape an entire story.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound in a series of nearby words (e.g., “slithering snake”). This is used to create a rhythmic effect, add emphasis, or make a phrase more memorable. Alliteration is commonly used in the names of cartoon and comic characters (e.g., “the Green Goblin,” “Doctor Doom,” “Peter Parker”).

Alliteration example
A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.

Metaphor

A metaphor is a direct comparison between two dissimilar things, typically by stating that one thing is another.

Metaphor example: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Imagery

Imagery is the use of figurative language to appeal to the reader’s senses. It involves detailed descriptions of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, and it is used to create a specific mood or atmosphere in a literary work. It also refers to recurring types of images, such as food or nature imagery.

Imagery example: Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time
She sent for one of those squat, plump little cakes called “petites madeleines” […] I raised to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had soaked a morsel of the cake. No sooner had the warm liquid mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary thing that was happening to me […] I sensed that it was connected with the taste of the tea and the cake, but that it infinitely transcended those savours, could, no, indeed, be of the same nature as theirs.

Allegory

An allegory is a narrative in which abstract concepts, such as good, evil, or death, have become characters, places, or other elements in the story. The purpose of an allegory is usually to convey a deeper meaning or impart a moral lesson.

Allegory example
Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel Dune includes many references to the Middle East and has been interpreted as an allegory for its history and geopolitics. For example, the story is set on a desert planet that controls the most invaluable resource in the world, called “spice,” which may represent oil, and is inhabited by the Fremen, the indigenous desert-dwelling warriors, who may represent the Bedouin.

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing occurs when the author hints at future events before they happen. These hints can be revealed with varying degrees of subtlety, but the future is never fully disclosed.

Foreshadowing example
Foreshadowing often takes the form of a prophecy. In Sophocles’ play Antigone, Tiresias, the blind prophet, warns Creon that something awful will befall his family unless he asks for the forgiveness of the gods and frees Antigone. This hints at later developments in the story where Creon’s son and wife die.

Euphemism

Euphemism is a mild or indirect word or phrase that replaces one that could be considered harsh or unpleasant. Euphemisms are often used in the context of delicate or sensitive topics, like death, sex, or social taboos, to avoid causing discomfort.

Euphemism example
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth employs a euphemism in act 1, scene 5 when she states “He that’s coming must be provided for.” What she really means is that King Duncan, who is arriving at the castle, must be killed.

Flashback

A flashback is an interruption in the chronological sequence of events to show readers a scene from an earlier time. It is a technique used to provide important background information or reveal meaningful details about the characters and the plot.

Flashback example
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, flashbacks are used extensively as a narrative technique. The most important ones revolve around James Gatz’s transformation into Jay Gatsby and his past relationship with Daisy Buchanan. Through these flashbacks, we learn essential background information about Gatsby’s character and motivations.

Allusion

An allusion is a reference, typically brief and indirect, to a person, event, or other literary work that the reader is expected to recognize. Through allusions, writers can condense layers of meaning and significance into a single word or expression.

Allusion example 
Portraying snakes as deceptive or evil creatures is a common biblical allusion that references the story of the Garden of Eden. For example, in the Harry Potter series, a snake called Nagini is one of the antagonist’s allies.

Point of view

Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told, and it determines who is telling the story to whom. For example, a story might be told in first person (“I,” “me,” “we”), second person (“you”), or third person (“it,” “they,” “she,” “he”). It is also possible to shift throughout the story.

For example, in A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the story is told from the point of view of Dr. Watson in a first-person narrative, as in most Sherlock Holmes stories.

Point of view example: A Study in Scarlet
“Poor devil!” he said, commiseratingly, after he had listened to my misfortunes. “What are you up to now?”

“Looking for lodgings,” I answered. “Trying to solve the problem as to whether it is possible to get comfortable rooms at a reasonable price.”

“That’s a strange thing,” remarked my companion, “you are the second man to-day that has used that expression to me.”

Irony

Irony is a literary device in which a statement or situation has the opposite meaning of what it seems. Writers use irony in a variety of ways, including in dialogue or when describing a situation to highlight a contrast between appearance or expectation and reality.

Irony example
In Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado,” the name of the main character, Fortunato, can be considered an instance of irony. Although his name means “lucky” in Italian, the reader realizes early on in the story that the character is going to be murdered.

Simile

A simile is an explicit comparison between two dissimilar things such that their comparability seems unlikely. Similes contain the words “like” or “as,” which differentiates them from metaphors.

Simile example: Robert Burns’s “A Red, Red Rose”
O my Luve is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

That’s sweetly played in tune.

Satire

Satire is a technique writers use to criticize the shortcomings and flaws of individuals, institutions, or society at large. Although satire is humorous, its goal is to create awareness and bring about change.

Satire example
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift is an essay that satirically suggests that poor Irish people should sell their children to the upper classes to solve poverty-related issues. Swift’s real goal was to criticize how far removed from reality the ruling class had become.

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is the placement of contrasting ideas, images, or characters side by side to encourage readers to consider the relationships between them. It is often used in literature to create contrast or highlight a theme.

Juxtaposition example
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen juxtaposes the characters of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickam throughout the novel. While Mr. Darcy is portrayed as proud and reserved, Mr. Wickam is charming and seemingly amiable, leading readers to view the first as “bad” and the second as “good.” However, the story reveals the opposite, and this juxtaposition serves to emphasize the theme of appearance versus reality.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is the use of exaggerated language to emphasize a point or add humor to a situation. It involves extravagant statements or descriptions that are obviously untrue.

Hyperbole example
In the poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” Wordsworth describes a field of daffodils with the line “ten thousand saw I at a glance.” This exaggerates the number of flowers the persona sees for the sake of emphasis, and it is not to be taken literally.

Paradox

A paradox is a seemingly impossible situation or statement that appears self-contradictory at first yet reveals a deeper truth or meaning.

Paradox example
Oscar Wilde’s witticisms were often based on paradox. For example, his statement “Life is much too important to be taken seriously,” seems to contradict common sense because it suggests that something important should not be taken seriously. However, upon further reflection, it conveys the idea that we should not waste our lives being overly serious or worried, but rather enjoy it and make the most of it.

Frequently asked questions about literary devices

What is the difference between literary devices and rhetorical devices?

Literary devices and rhetorical devices are closely related, but they differ in their purpose and use:

  • Literary devices encompass a broad category of artistic techniques that writers use to enhance their writing, adding interest and depth. For example, devices like irony or metaphor and narrative styles like first-person point of view fall under this category.
  • Rhetorical devices, on the other hand, are techniques used to persuade and evoke emotion. Examples include metonymy, appeal to emotion, and understatement. Although these can be used as literary devices, we often encounter them in various forms of communication, such as speeches, advertisements, and debates where their primary role is to influence decision-making.

In short, literary devices are used to enrich a narrative, whereas rhetorical devices are more focused on persuasion and emotional appeal. However, literary and rhetorical devices sometimes overlap (e.g., irony).

What is the difference between literary devices and figures of speech?

Literary devices and figures of speech are both techniques used in writing and speaking; however, they serve different purposes and are used in different ways.

  • Literary devices are techniques or tools that a writer uses to create a specific effect or convey a certain meaning. These devices include elements of language, structure, style, and narrative technique.
  • Figures of speech, on the other hand, are a subset of literary devices. They primarily involve the use of language in non-literal ways. Examples of figures of speech include metaphors, synecdoche, and consonance.

In short, while all figures of speech are literary devices, not all literary devices are figures of speech because literary devices encompass a broader range of techniques.

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Kassiani Nikolopoulou, MSc

Kassiani has an academic background in Communication, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy. As a former journalist she enjoys turning complex information into easily accessible articles to help others.