Common Literary Devices by Lilian de Oliveira Rosario

Alliteration

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:14:09 UTC

Alliteration is the use of the same sound or sounds, especially consonants, at the beginning of several words that are close together.

"Round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran".

Allusion

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:17:09 UTC

An allusion is a reference to an event, a person, or another text.
Writers use allusions to make comparisons and build connections with their readers, allusions also help writers summarize complex ideas in one quick reference.

oxymoron

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:17:24 UTC

A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Repetition

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:17:36 UTC

Repetition involves repeating a word, phrase, or sentence multiple times
example:
To love is to dream, to dream is to live, to live is to enjoy, to enjoy is to love.

Another definition:
If used occasionally, it can be quite effective to drill home a point, or to create an atmosphere,
For example horror writers often use this to make the reader feel trapped and scared:
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"

Imagery

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:19:51 UTC

Imagery appeals to one or more of the reader’s five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Authors use sensory language to create a clear image in the reader’s mind. For example, an author might create an image of ocean waves on a shoreline by describing them as “gentle lapping waves, cool to the touch.”

Symbolism

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:20:01 UTC

Symbolism is the use of a symbol to represent something else. The symbol might be an object, person, place, or event. A symbol often represents an abstract idea, but it can also represent something concrete.

A dove is a common symbol. It often represents the abstract concept of peace. Be aware that a symbol can have more than one meaning, and its meaning can change throughout a text or from one text to another.

Euphemism

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:20:11 UTC

Euphemism is the replacement of a harsh or unpleasant word or phrase with a milder or indirect word or phrase. For example, instead of saying that you were fired from a job, you might say that your company was downsizing. Authors use euphemisms to write about a difficult topic without embarassing the reader.

Paradox

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:20:20 UTC

A paradox is a figure of speech that at first seems false or contradictory but, upon further investigation, might be true or likely.
Example:

Save money by spending it.
If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.
This is the beginning of the end.

Idiom

lilianrosario1 — 2022-10-11 17:20:30 UTC

An idiom is an expression that means something different from its literal meaning.

Example: it's raining cats and dogs.