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When you identify a literary technique or other language devices in a text, think about how they might be linked to a theme, setting or character.
Techniques are used by writers as an attempt to make the reader think in a certain way. These techniques can be used to intrigue, inspire, persuade or simply convey information to the reader.
- Dramatic Irony
- Verbal Irony
- Figure of Speech
- Metaphor
- Simile
- Metonymy
- Synecdoche
- Aphorism
- Rhetorical Question
- Polysyndeton
Irony is a literary technique where what appears to be the case differs radically from what is actuallythe case. Dramatic irony is a type of irony that occurs when an audience understands the context more than the character in a story. Let’s say you’re telling a story about an interaction with a client that didn’t go the way you expected. You might...
Verbal irony occurs when a person says one thing but means another. Sarcasm is a good example of verbal irony. For example, you might say, “It was a wonderful dinner,” when, in fact, the food was terrible, and your partner showed up an hour late. Depending on the tone of your book, verbal irony can help create humor or make you more relatable.
Think of “figure of speech” as a kind of catch-all term for any word or phrase that’s used in a non-literal sense to create a dramatic effect. For example, it’s a figure of speech to say that it was “raining cats and dogs” or that something stands “an ice cube’s chance in Hell” of happening. A lot of the devices we’ve already discussed (e.g., allit...
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way. It often highlights the similarities between two different ideas. Take, for example, “The classroom was a zoo.” It wasn’t literally a zoo, but this metaphor expresses the wild energy of a room full of children. Or, “the curtain of night fell.” Night doesn’t h...
A simile is also a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way. But unlike a metaphor, a simile uses comparison words like “like” or “as.” “She was as bright as a lightbulb.” “He was stubborn like a mule.” Using similes can make your writing more interesting. The comparisons can spark your readers’ imagination while st...
Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. For example, a businessman is sometimes known as “a suit.” Or, in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “lend me your ears,” is a metonymy for “give me your full attention.” People use metonymy all the tim...
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something stands in for the whole or vice versa. It’s a subset of metonymy. For example, if you have “hungry mouths to feed,” you actually need to feed people. Their mouths are just a stand-in for the whole person. Or, you might say, “All of society was at the gala,” when you really mean, “All of ...
An aphorism is a concise statement of a general truth or principle. For example, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Most aphorisms are handed down over time, so chances are, you won’t coin your own. Think of these as the tried-and-true statements people already know. For example, if you’re describing toxic leadership, you could quickly say, “After ...
A rhetorical question is a question asked for effect, not because you want an answer. “Do you want to make money? Do you want to sleep better at night? Do you want to run a successful company?” Who wouldn’t say yes? (See what I did there?) Be careful not to overuse rhetorical questions because too many can get tedious. But used sparingly, they’re a...
Polysyndeton comes from the Ancient Greek for “many” and “bound together.” As its name implies, it’s a literary technique in which conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or) are used repeatedly in quick succession. Here it is in action: “I wanted an employee who was self-motivated and enterprising and skilled. I needed someone who could write and talk and n...
A literary technique that involves interruption of the chronological sequence of events by interjection of events or scenes of earlier occurrence : flashback anaphora | see definition » Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect
Jan 26, 2023 · Literary devices are ways of taking writing beyond its straightforward, literal meaning. In that sense, they are techniques for helping guide the reader in how to read the piece.
Nov 6, 2023 · Discover how sentence structure, persuasive thesis statements, and relevant media can enhance your content. Learn the importance of brainstorming, revising, editing, and regular practice in crafting compelling narratives. Develop an effective writing routine and elevate your writing prowess.
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Descriptive writing is about using the power of words to arouse the imagination, capture the attention, and create a lasting impact in the mind of the reader. In this article, you'll learn how to employ descriptive elements in your writing, tips to enhance your descriptive writing skills, and some exercises to better yourself at it.
