TECHNIQUES

AND LITERARY
DEVICES
WHAT IS LITERARY DEVICES
AND TECHNIQUES
 Literary devices are techniques that writers use
to express their ideas and enhance their writing.
Literary devices highlight important concepts in a
text, strengthen the narrative, and help readers
connect to the characters and themes.
Here are 10 of the most common literary devices

 Simile
 Metaphor
 Imagery
 Symbolism
 Flashbacks
 Foreshadowing
 Motif
 Allegory
 Juxtaposition
 Point of view
 Hyperbole
 Paradox
 Tone
 Alliteration
 Allusion
 Exposition
 Irony
 Aphorism
 Repetition
 Personification
Discussion
 Simile-A simile isa figure of speech that
compares two different things in an interesting
way.
Example: She is as innocent as an angel.
  Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech
containing an implied comparison. 
Example: His words cut deeper than a knife.
 Imagery-Imagery means to use figurative
language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in
such a way that it appeals to our physical senses.
Example: The children were screaming and shouting
in the fields.
 Symbolism-Symbolism is a literary device that
uses symbols, be they words, people, marks,
locations, or abstract ideas to represent something
beyond the literal meaning.
Example: David stopped his car at the red signal
 Flashbacks-a flashback is a scene that takes place before a
story begins. Flashbacks interrupt the chronological order of
the main narrative to take a reader back in time to the past
events in a character's life.
Example: In The Outsiders, Johnny is nervous and always
carries a knife. The novel flashes back at one point to let us
know that Johnny was beaten up in the past, and now carries a
knife with him.

 Foreshadowing-Foreshadowing is a literary device in which

a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the
story. ... In addition, any event or action in the story may
throw a hint to the readers about future events or actions.
Example: A character in a story comments on the weather, and
says, "I think a storm is coming." This can signify a physical
storm or a metaphorical storm that is coming in the story.
 Motif-A motif is a literary term that is an idea, object,
or concept that repeats itself throughout a text.
A motif gives clues to theme or reinforces ideas an
author wants to emphasize.
Example: Hearing the phrase, "Some things in life never
change" repeated throughout a story (to push a character
to make a big change)

 Allegory-An allegory is a simple story that represents

a larger point about society or human nature, whose
different characters may represent real-life figures.
 Example: George Orwell’s Animal Farm is one of
literature’s most famous allegories. The surface story
is about a group of farm animals who rise up, kick out
the humans, and try to run the farm themselves. 
 Juxtaposition-Juxtaposition is the placement of
two or more things side by side, often in order to
bring out their differences. 
Example: A waitress is remarkably rude and impatient
with a dating couple. She is extremely kind, though, to
a quiet man who is eating alone with a book.
 Point of view- Point of view refers to who is telling
or narrating a story. A story can be told in three
different ways: first person, second person, and third
person.
Example: First person- I always look forward to my
summer vacation at the beach. I like to collect seashells
and swim in the ocean.
 Second person- In just a few simple steps you can
make a big change in your life!

 Third person- What they told her was not the truth.
 Hyperbole- Hyperbole is a figure of speech in
which an author or speaker purposely and
obviously exaggerates to an extreme.
Example: That suitcase weighed a ton!
 Paradox- a paradox is a literary device that
contradicts itself but contains a plausible kernel of
truth.
Example: Save money by spending it.
 Tone- tone in literature is the way the author expresses his
attitude through his writing.
Example: Scared
Anxious
Excited
Worried
Smart
Depressing
 Alliteration- Alliteration is a term to describe a literary
device in which a series of words begin with the same
consonant sound. 
Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
 Allusion-An allusion is a figure of speech that references a person, place,
thing, or event. Each of these concepts can be real or imaginary, referring
to anything from fiction, to folklore, to historical events and religious
manuscripts.
Example:  a woman might say to her husband, "Thanks, Romeo," after he's
offered some type of romantic gesture. Traditionally, Romeo (from
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet) is looked upon as one of the most
romantic fictional characters in history. In this example, the wife would
have succeeded in telling her husband he's wonderful, simply by alluding to
this fictional romantic man.
 Exposition- exposition is the insertion of background information within
a story or narrative. This information can be about the setting, characters'
backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc.
Example: The prologue of Romeo and Juliet gives us information about the
conflict between the Montague and Capulet families. Then, we meet
Romeo, who is pining for Rosaline, and Juliet, who is supposed to marry
Paris. Romeo and his friends decide to mask themselves and attend a party
at the Capulets'-when Romeo sees Juliet, the action begins to rise.
 Irony- Verbal irony , Situational irony , Dramatic irony
Verbal irony- occurs when a speaker’s intention is
the opposite of what he or she is saying. Example: a character
stepping out into a hurricane and saying, “What nice weather
we’re having!”
Situational irony- occurs when the actual result of a situation is
totally different from what you’d expect the result to be. Sitcoms
often use situational irony. Example: a family spends a lot of
time and money planning an elaborate surprise birthday party for
their mother to show her how much they care. But it turns out,
her birthday is next month, and none of them knew the correct
date. She ends up fuming that no one cares enough to remember
her birthday.
 Dramatic irony- ccurs when the audience knows
a key piece of information that a character in a
play, movie or novel does not. This is the type of
irony that makes us yell, “DON’T GO IN
THERE!!” during a scary movie. 
Example: Dramatic irony is huge in Shakespeare’s
tragedies, most famously in Othello and Romeo and
Juliet.
 Aphorism- An aphorism is a brief saying or
phrase that expresses an opinion or makes a
statement of wisdom.
Example: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and wise
 Repetition- Repetition is a literary device that involves using
the same word or phrase over and over again in a piece
of writing or speech.
Example: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
"Oh, woeful, oh woeful, woeful, woeful day!
--Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
 Personification- This creative literary tool adds interest and
fun to poems or stories.
Example: My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every
morning.
Quiz:
 1-3- types of irony
 4. a literary device that involves using the same
word or phrase over and over again in a piece
of writing or speech.
 5. literary device that uses symbols, be they words,
people, marks, locations, or abstract ideas to
represent something beyond the literal meaning.
 6. a literary device in which a writer gives an
advance hint of what is to come later in the story.
 7. way the author expresses his attitude through
his writing.
 8. is the insertion of background information
within a story or narrative.
 9.  is a scene that takes place before a story begins.
 10. exaggerates to an extreme.
 11-15. parts of Imagery.
 In general, the literary devices are a collection of universal
artistic structures that are so typical of all works of literature
frequently employed by the writers to give meanings and a
logical framework to their works through language.  
THANK YOU AND
GOD BLESS