LITERARY DEVICES

when you use visually descriptive or figurative language in your writing. 

Bugger off – go away, bamboozle – to deceive, da bomb – the best, are just some of examples of THIS

"I hate loving you." is an example of THIS.

something that conveys the narrator’s opinion, attitude, or feelings about what is written.

where abstract ideas are described using characters, events, or other elements

"Others were blank, names forgotten to the bleaching sun" is an example of THIS.

when words that are used in everyday life are written

are actually any terms that refer to something impolite or unpleasant.

 "it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness," is an example of THIS.

the use of a situation or element to represent a larger message, idea, or concept.

expressions, words, and phrases that are used in informal, everyday speech, including slang.

Personification

"It was like she was drowning in a sea of her own despair." is an example of THIS.

a word or phrase that shows you the sound something makes.

contrasting words or phrases next to each other in order to emphasize both

"She was drowning in a sea of her own despair." is an example of THIS.

You will soon be asked to do great violence in the cause of good. – The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

a literary device where you give human-like qualities to non-human elements.

comparisons between two things that are NOT like and replaces the word with another word but uses “like” or “as” within

"O full of scorpions is my mind, my dear wife" (Macbeth)

commonly used for a younger audience and includes newly coined words or phrases. 

when the author places elements within the writing that gives clues about what will happen in the future of the story.

uses the same letters or sounds at the beginning of words in a sentence or title

Before I go – before I die, thin on top – bald, having a loose screw – being dumb, are examples of THIS

when the narrator goes back in time for a specific scene or chapter in order to give more context for the story.

Squatting in the corner was a felt chair covered in the dust and damp of abandonment.

when the word choice is more formal or high class.

Bloody daggers and hands = guilt and murder

in Vicious by V.E. Schwab, she uses THESE as a recurring element in her book.

can guide your readers right into the emotion you want them to feel in a particular scene.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, . . " is an example of THIS.

The author of A Tales of Two Cities 

"it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity," is an example of THIS.

The moon yanked a blanket of silver light over the forest.

The wind whistled past my ears like a familiar tune I’d long forgotten.

a literary device that references a person, place, thing, or event in the real world. 

Think of when a happy moment in a movie or book is followed by a sad, heart-wrenching scene.

"it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness.” is an example of THIS.

Crows are used to symbolize

Buzz, Zap, Splat, Boom, Zing, Whoosh, are examples of THIS.

a comparison between two things that are NOT alike and replaces the word with another word.

"Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it" (Lady Macbeth)

placing contrasting elements next to one another in order to emphasize one or both, including words, scenes, or themes.

One of the most famous works using this literary device is George Orwell’s Animal Farm. 

when your characters (or you writing a nonfiction) are speaking directly to everyday people