How to Know Literary Devices

Literary devices are effective tools authors use to underscore meaning in their texts. Most college English classes will require students to know a few literary devices. Whether you're studying poetry or prose, it's important to learn about literary devices. Here are a few popular terms to help you get started.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Become familiar with figurative language. Figurative language is a literary device where one thing or things compare to something else; the intended meaning is different from the words themselves. For example, metaphors, similes, and personification are figurative language. A metaphor substitutes one idea for another. His face is a moon. A simile makes a comparison usually with the words "like or "as." She walked like a snake. Personification is when objects are or abstract objects are endowed with human characteristics. The flower looked up at the sun and reached for its light.

2. Notice the setting in literature. The setting is a literary device that denotes the time and place of a story. Sometimes it's specific and sometimes it's implied or ambiguous. The setting usually has an overall impact on the characters and story.

3. Understand themes. The main message or ideas of a piece is the theme. Works of art can have more than one theme. One of the main themes in Toni Morrison's book The Bluest Eye is racism.

4. Know allegory. An allegory is where every aspect of a story symbolizes or stands for something else. George Orwell's book, Animal Farm, is an allegory.

5. Recognize alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds. The sounds are usually in close proximity to one another. For example, The star shows its shinning strength.

6. Know hyperboles. An hyperbole is a literary device that is an obvious exaggeration for emphasis. The desert was so hot fire burned high along the sand.

7. Watch for paradoxes. A paradox is an idea that makes sense on the surface; however, a closer reading reveals another usually opposing meaning.

8. Look for allusions as literary devices. An allusion, not illusion, is an indirect reference to something else.

[1960texan]

on 9/2/2009 Nice illustration of literary devices.

[missflorence]

on 9/2/2009 This is VERY good! I followed your link here from the forums and I'm glad I did.

[tachic]

on 7/29/2009 Good tips to know literary devices.

[sonni57]

on 7/12/2009 Good list of literary devices I needed this.

[lucindaroth]

on 7/12/2009 Fantastic. This is something everyone should read.