109 Literary Devices: Definitions & Examples

Discover 109 literary devices with definitions and unique examples. Learn how writers use them to create emotion, depth, and meaning.

Literary devices are tools writers use to add depth, emotion, and artistry to their work. They make words more powerful, helping you connect with stories on a deeper level.

From metaphors and imagery to foreshadowing and irony, literary devices shape how you experience a story. When used effectively, they can evoke emotion, build suspense, and add rhythm and beauty with just a few stylistic choices.

In this guide, you’ll explore the most common literary devices, what they mean, how they work, and how to use them. Each term includes a clear definition and example to help you understand and remember it easily.

So, whether you’re analyzing a novel, crafting poetry, or improving your own writing, let’s begin by exploring what literary devices are.

What Are Literary Devices?

A literary device is a technique writers use to enhance meaning, structure, or emotional impact. You’ll find them in all forms of writing in novels, poetry, plays, essays, and even speeches.

Literary devices fall into two main groups: literary elements and literary techniques. Some devices affect the overall structure of a story, like theme, setting, and plot. Others work at the sentence level, shaping how words sound or what they suggest beyond their literal meaning.

Literary Elements

Literary elements are the big-picture components that shape an entire story. They include plot, setting, theme, tone, and characters. These elements form the foundation of any narrative and appear throughout a work.

Literary Techniques

Literary techniques are smaller, more deliberate stylistic choices. They include tools like alliteration, metaphor, and foreshadowing. These are literary devices that make sentences sound more engaging or emphasize meaning.

Both categories work together. Elements build structure, while techniques add color, sound, and emotion. When combined, they create writing that feels rich and intentional.

Writers use literary devices to:

Create vivid images in your mind
Convey complex ideas in simple ways
Add rhythm, contrast, or emotion to their writing
Guide your reactions and expectations as you read

You can think of literary devices as the secret ingredients that turn ordinary writing into memorable art.

Common Literary Devices

Some literary devices appear in nearly every form of writing. These help you recognize patterns, express emotion, and build rhythm in language. Understanding them gives you a strong foundation for exploring more complex techniques.

Literary Device	Description	Example
Alliteration	Repeats the same beginning sound in nearby words.	Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Analogy	Explains one thing by comparing it to another.	Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.
Foreshadowing	Hints at events that will happen later.	Dark clouds gathered before the tragedy.
Hyperbole	Exaggerates for emphasis or humor.	I’ve told you a million times!
Idiom	An expression whose meaning differs from its literal words.	It’s raining cats and dogs.
Imagery	Appeals to the reader’s senses through vivid description.	The scent of rain filled the cool morning air.
Irony	Contrasts expectation with reality for effect.	The fire station burned down.
Metaphor	Compares two different things by saying one is the other.	Her voice was music to his ears.
Onomatopoeia	Uses words that imitate sounds.	The bees buzzed in the garden.
Personification	Gives human qualities to non-human things.	The sun smiled over the hills.
Pun	Uses words with multiple meanings or similar sounds for humor.	Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
Simile	Compares two things using like or as.	The night was as quiet as a whisper.
Symbolism	Uses objects or actions to represent deeper meanings.	A dove symbolizes peace.

Now, let’s explore the full list of literary devices — from the most common to the more advanced forms that enrich every kind of writing.

List of Literary Devices (A–Z)

Writers use hundreds of literary devices to give their work depth, rhythm, and meaning. Some shape the structure of a story, while others enhance tone, imagery, or emotion. Understanding these devices helps you recognize how authors craft memorable lines and powerful messages.

Below, you’ll find a complete A–Z list of literary devices with clear definitions and examples.

Allegory

An allegory is a story that represents a deeper idea, moral, or political message. Writers use it to express complex themes through symbolic characters or events.
Example: George Orwell’s Animal Farm explores the dangers of totalitarianism through farm animals who mirror human political struggles.

Alliteration

Alliteration repeats the same starting sound in nearby words to create rhythm or emphasis. It often makes lines more memorable or musical.
Example: “Peter proudly painted purple pansies” uses repetition to create flow and focus.

Allusion

An allusion indirectly references a famous person, event, or work of art. It connects the text to shared cultural knowledge without directly naming it.
Example: Saying “He met his Waterloo” alludes to Napoleon’s defeat, suggesting complete failure.

Amplification

Amplification adds more details or layers to a statement to strengthen its meaning or emotional impact.
Example: “She wasn’t just tired; she was exhausted, drained, and utterly spent.”

Anacoluthon

Anacoluthon is where a sentence suddenly breaks off or changes grammatical structure, reflecting emotion or confusion.
Example: “I warned you, well, it doesn’t matter now.”

Anadiplosis

Anadiplosis repeats the last word of one phrase at the start of the next for emphasis.
Example: “Strength leads to confidence. Confidence leads to success.”

Anagram

An anagram rearranges letters in a word or phrase to form another, often for clever or hidden meaning.
Example: “Listen” becomes “silent,” showing the connection between hearing and quietness.

Analogy

An analogy compares two things to explain an unfamiliar idea using something you already understand.
Example: “Learning a new language is like unlocking a door to another world.”

Anaphora

Anaphora repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses to build rhythm or emotion.
Example: “You dream. You strive. You achieve.”

Anastrophe

Anastrophe changes normal word order for emphasis or a poetic tone.
Example: “Bright was the moon that night” places the focus on brightness.

Anecdote

An anecdote is a brief personal story that illustrates a point or adds interest.
Example: You might share a story about failing a test to explain the value of persistence.

Antagonist

An antagonist opposes the main character, creating conflict and driving the plot forward.
Example: Voldemort challenges Harry Potter’s courage and shapes his growth.

Anthropomorphism

Anthropomorphism gives animals or objects true human traits—like speech or emotion.
Example: In Beauty and the Beast, the clock and teapot talk and sing like people.

Antimetabole

Antimetabole repeats words in reverse order to highlight contrast or balance.
Example: “You learn to teach, and you teach to learn.”

Antithesis

Antithesis places opposite ideas side by side to emphasize contrast.
Example: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Aphorism

An aphorism is a short, memorable statement that expresses a truth or principle.
Example: “Knowledge is power.”

Apostrophe

In literature, apostrophe is when a speaker addresses someone absent, dead, or nonhuman as if they could respond.
Example: “O Death, where is your sting?”

Archetype

An archetype is a universal symbol, character, or theme that appears repeatedly across stories.
Example: The hero’s journey is a timeless archetype seen in many myths.

Assonance

Assonance repeats vowel sounds in nearby words to create mood or musicality.
Example: “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.”

Asyndeton

Asyndeton omits conjunctions between phrases to create speed or intensity.
Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

Bathos

Bathos shifts suddenly from serious to silly, often creating humor or irony.
Example: “He spent his final hour doing what he loved most—checking emails.”

Bildungsroman

A Bildungsroman is a coming-of-age story that follows a character’s growth from youth to adulthood.
Example: Jane Eyre shows Jane’s journey toward independence and identity.

Cacophony

Cacophony uses harsh, jarring sounds to create tension or discomfort.
Example: “The clash and clang of metal echoed through the alley.”

Catharsis

Catharsis is the emotional release a reader feels after intense events in a story.
Example: You feel relief and sadness when justice is finally served in a tragedy.

Chiasmus

Chiasmus flips word order in parallel phrases to add emphasis or symmetry.
Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Circumlocution

Circumlocution uses more words than necessary, often to avoid stating something directly.
Example: Saying “He’s no longer with us” instead of “He died.”

Cliché

A cliché is an overused phrase that has lost its original impact.
Example: “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

Cliffhanger

A cliffhanger ends a scene or story with suspense to keep readers eager for more.
Example: The hero hangs from a ledge as the chapter ends.

Colloquialism

Colloquialism uses informal language or regional slang to make dialogue sound real.
Example: “Ain’t that something?” feels conversational and authentic.

Conceit

A conceit is an extended, imaginative comparison between two very different things.
Example: Comparing two lovers to the two halves of a compass.

Connotation

Connotation refers to the emotional or implied meaning behind a word.
Example: “Home” suggests warmth and safety, not just a building.

Consonance

Consonance repeats consonant sounds within or at the end of words.
Example: “The ship sailed to the silent shore.”

Denotation

Denotation is a word’s direct, dictionary definition.
Example: “Home” literally means a place where someone lives.

Deus ex Machina

Deus ex machina introduces an unexpected event or character to solve a conflict suddenly.
Example: A hero is saved by a long-lost ally appearing out of nowhere.

Diction

Diction is the writer’s word choice and tone that shape a text’s mood and style.
Example: Hemingway’s simple diction contrasts with Shakespeare’s poetic expression.

Didactic

A didactic work teaches a moral, lesson, or truth, sometimes more than it entertains.
Example: Aesop’s fables use animals to teach life lessons.

Dystopia

A dystopia depicts a world full of oppression or suffering, often as a warning.
Example: 1984 portrays a society controlled by fear and surveillance.

Elegy

An elegy is a reflective poem or song written to mourn someone’s death.
Example: A poet writes about a lost friend to find peace in grief.

Ellipsis

An ellipsis (…) shows that part of a sentence has been left out or that thought trails off.
Example: “I was thinking… maybe we shouldn’t go.”

Epigraph

An epigraph is a short quote placed at the beginning of a book or chapter to suggest a theme.
Example: A quote about courage opens a story about facing fear.

Epiphany

An epiphany is a sudden moment of realization or clarity.
Example: You realize success isn’t about perfection but persistence.

Epithet

An epithet adds a descriptive word or phrase to highlight a quality.
Example: “Alexander the Great” emphasizes his power and fame.

Euphemism

A euphemism softens harsh or unpleasant ideas with gentler language.
Example: “She passed away” instead of “She died.”

Euphony

Euphony uses soft, harmonious sounds to create a pleasant, musical effect in writing.
Example: The line “The whisper of waves on the shore” flows smoothly, creating euphony.

Exposition

Exposition provides background details about characters, setting, or events so you can understand the story’s context.
Example: The opening of Romeo and Juliet explains the feud between the Montagues and Capulets.

Fable

A fable is a short story that teaches a moral, often featuring talking animals.
Example: In The Tortoise and the Hare, slow and steady wins the race.

Farce

A farce uses exaggerated humor, absurd situations, and misunderstandings to entertain.
Example: A mistaken identity causes chaos in a wedding scene, creating wild comedy.

Flashback

A flashback interrupts the present timeline to show an earlier event. It provides context or reveals key details.
Example: A soldier remembers his childhood before battle begins.

Flashforward

A flashforward jumps ahead in time to show what will happen later in the story.
Example: A film shows the hero as an old man, hinting at his future legacy.

Foil

A foil is a character who contrasts with another, highlighting their qualities.
Example: Draco Malfoy’s arrogance makes Harry Potter’s humility stand out.

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing gives hints about future events to build suspense or curiosity.
Example: Dark clouds gathering may foreshadow a coming tragedy.

Frame Story

A frame story is a narrative that contains another story within it.
Example: In Frankenstein, letters from Captain Walton frame Victor’s tale.

Genre

A genre classifies writing based on style, theme, or structure.
Example: The Lord of the Rings belongs to the fantasy genre.

Homophone

A homophone is a word that sounds like another but has a different meaning or spelling.
Example: “Knight” and “night” sound alike but mean different things.

Hubris

Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance that leads to a character’s downfall.
Example: Oedipus’s pride blinds him to the truth of his fate.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole exaggerates for effect, often adding humor or drama.
Example: “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room.”

Hypophora

Hypophora is when a writer asks a question and then immediately answers it.
Example: “Why do we read? Because stories help us understand ourselves.”

Idiom

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning differs from the literal meanings of its words.
Example: Saying “break the ice” means to start a friendly conversation, not to destroy frozen water.

Idyll

An idyll describes peaceful, simple scenes of rural life.
Example: A shepherd resting under the sun with his flock nearby.

Imagery

Imagery uses vivid language to appeal to your senses and paint a clear picture.
Example: The scent of fresh rain filled the cool morning air.

In Medias Res

In medias res means starting a story in the middle of the action.
Example: An epic begins in battle, revealing earlier events later.

Irony

Irony contrasts expectation with reality, often creating humor or insight.
Example: A fire station burns down.

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition places two contrasting ideas or images side by side to highlight their differences.
Example: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”Litotes

Litotes expresses something by negating its opposite, creating subtle understatement.
Example: Saying “not bad” when you mean “very good.”

Malapropism

A malapropism mixes up similar-sounding words, often creating humor.
Example: “He’s the pineapple of politeness” instead of “pinnacle.”

Metalepsis

Metalepsis makes an indirect or layered reference to another phrase or idea.
Example: Saying “I’ve got to catch the worm” refers to the proverb “The early bird catches the worm.”

Metaphor

A metaphor directly compares two unlike things to show their similarity.
Example: “Time is a thief that steals our moments.”

Metonymy

Metonymy replaces the name of something with a related term.
Example: Saying “the crown” to mean royalty.

Mood

Mood is the emotional feeling or atmosphere a story creates for the reader.
Example: A dark, stormy setting builds a mood of fear and tension.

Motif

A motif is a recurring symbol, image, or idea that reinforces a theme.
Example: Repeated references to light and darkness in Macbeth reflect guilt and innocence.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia uses words that imitate sounds.
Example: The bee went buzz around the garden.

Oxymoron

An oxymoron combines contradictory words for poetic effect or emphasis.
Example: “Bittersweet memories” blend happiness and sadness.

Palindrome

A palindrome reads the same backward and forward.
Example: “Madam, I’m Adam.”

Parable

A parable is a short, simple story that teaches a moral or lesson.
Example: The story of the Good Samaritan teaches kindness and compassion.

Paradox

A paradox joins opposite ideas that seem impossible but reveal a truth.
Example: “Less is more.”

Parallelism

Parallelism uses similar sentence structures for rhythm and clarity.
Example: “She came, she saw, she conquered.”

Parody

A parody imitates another work’s style to create humor or critique.
Example: A comedy sketch mimics a superhero movie to poke fun at clichés.

Pathetic Fallacy

Pathetic fallacy gives nature or objects human emotions to reflect mood.
Example: The sky wept as the hero said goodbye.

Pathos

Pathos appeals to your emotions, evoking sympathy or sadness.
Example: An animal shelter ad shows lonely pets waiting for homes.

Personification

Personification gives human qualities to things that aren’t human.
Example: The wind whispered through the trees.

Polyptoton

Polyptoton repeats words with the same root but different endings.
Example: “Strong men strongly oppose strength wasted.”

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton repeats conjunctions for rhythm or emphasis.
Example: “We laughed and sang and danced and dreamed all night.”

Portmanteau

A portmanteau blends two words to form a new one with combined meaning.
Example: “Brunch” comes from “breakfast” and “lunch.”

Prologue

A prologue introduces a story’s background, setting, or main themes before the main plot begins.
Example: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet opens with a prologue that explains the families’ feud.

Protagonist

A protagonist is the main character who drives the story forward and faces the central conflict.
Example: Harry Potter is the protagonist who fights against Voldemort’s evil.

Pun

A pun plays on words with double meanings or similar sounds to create humor.
Example: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

Red Herring

A red herring misleads readers or distracts them from the real issue.
Example: A false suspect in a mystery story diverts attention from the true culprit.

Rhetorical Question

A rhetorical question asks for effect, not an actual answer.
Example: “Who doesn’t love a good story?”

Rhyme

Rhyme occurs when two or more words share the same ending sound.
Example: “Sky” and “high” rhyme perfectly in sound and rhythm.

Sarcasm

Sarcasm uses irony to mock or express contempt, often humorously.
Example: “Oh, great! Another meeting—just what I needed today.”

Satire

Satire uses humor, exaggeration, or irony to expose flaws in society or human behavior.
Example: Animal Farm criticizes political corruption through animal characters.

Simile

A simile compares two things using “like” or “as.”
Example: “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”

Soliloquy

A soliloquy is when a character speaks their thoughts aloud, revealing inner feelings.
Example: Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be” speech explores his doubts and fears.

Stream of Consciousness

Stream of consciousness shows a character’s thoughts as they naturally flow.
Example: “I should go shopping—but the rain—oh, maybe tomorrow—wait, did I feed the cat?”

Syllogism

A syllogism is a logical argument combining two premises to reach a conclusion.
Example: All humans are mortal. Socrates is human. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Symbolism

Symbolism uses objects, actions, or characters to represent deeper meanings.
Example: A dove often symbolizes peace.

Syntax

Syntax is the way words are arranged to form sentences. It shapes tone and rhythm.
Example: “I cannot go out” sounds firmer than “Can’t go out, sorry.”

Tautology

Tautology repeats the same idea using different words.
Example: “It’s free of charge.”

Theme

A theme is the central idea or message of a story.
Example: Friendship and loyalty are themes in Charlotte’s Web.

Tone

Tone is the writer’s attitude toward the subject or reader.
Example: A sarcastic tone sounds very different from a sincere one.

Tragic Flaw

A tragic flaw is a weakness that leads to a hero’s downfall.
Example: Macbeth’s ambition destroys him.

Tricolon

A tricolon uses three parallel phrases or clauses for rhythm and emphasis.
Example: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Ubi Sunt

Ubi sunt (Latin for “where are”) reflects on things or people lost to time.
Example: “Where are the heroes of yesterday?” evokes nostalgia and sorrow.

Understatement

Understatement deliberately downplays something’s importance for irony or effect.
Example: After a flood, you might say, “We had a little rain.”

Utopia

A utopia depicts an ideal, perfect society free of problems.
Example: A novel imagines a peaceful world without poverty or war.

Verisimilitude

Verisimilitude makes a story feel realistic and believable.
Example: Detailed descriptions of everyday life give a novel authenticity.

Vernacular

Vernacular uses the everyday language of a region or group.
Example: Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn captures Southern dialect.

Zeugma

A zeugma links one word to two others in different ways, creating humor or surprise.
Example: “She broke his heart and his phone.”

How to Identify Literary Devices

To identify literary devices, look for patterns, repeated imagery, and emotional shifts in the text. Notice unusual word choices, sentence rhythms, or symbolic references. With practice, you’ll start spotting them naturally and understanding how they shape meaning.

How to Use Literary Devices in Writing

Use literary devices purposefully to enhance your writing, not overwhelm it. Each device should serve a clear function, whether that’s creating rhythm, revealing emotion, or deepening meaning.

Choose the right device for the right moment. A metaphor can make a description more powerful, while foreshadowing can build suspense. Dialogue enriched with idioms or irony can make characters sound more authentic.

Avoid overuse. When too many devices appear at once, they can distract your reader or make your writing feel artificial. Instead, weave them naturally into your sentences so they flow with your narrative.

Read your work aloud to check if the devices sound natural. If something feels forced or unclear, simplify it. The best literary devices are subtle, they guide the reader’s emotions without drawing attention to themselves.

When used well, literary devices make your writing vivid, memorable, and emotionally engaging. They turn ordinary words into art that resonates with readers long after they’ve finished reading. Once you understand how to use them, every line you write can carry greater purpose and precision.

Conclusion

Literary devices give writing beauty, emotion, and depth. They help you connect words with meaning, memory, and imagination.

As you read or write, notice how each technique shapes tone, emotion, and flow. With time, you’ll master the art of using literary devices to make your writing unforgettable.