LITERARY DEVICES

Personification

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bloody daggers and hands = guilt and murder

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

Crows are used to symbolize

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

when the word choice is more formal or high class.

when words that are used in everyday life are written

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

The author of A Tales of Two Cities 

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

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

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

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

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