LITERARY DEVICES

when the word choice is more formal or high class.

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

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

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

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

when words that are used in everyday life are written

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

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

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

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

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

Crows are used to symbolize

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

Personification

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bloody daggers and hands = guilt and murder

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The author of A Tales of Two Cities 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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