Literary Device

Definition of a Literary Device

A literary device is a technique or tool writers use to enhance the impact of their writing. It involves the use of language, structure, and figurative elements in a different way. It means are means to creating create depth, meaning, and emotional resonance in literary works such as novels, poems, and plays. These literary devices such as as metaphors, similes, symbolism, and irony, among others, serve to engage readers. Their use makes it easy to convey complex ideas and evoke specific emotions, not only enriching the overall storytelling experience but also making the work powerful.

Categorization of Literary Devices

Principle	Explanation	Example
Function or Purpose	Literary devices are categorized based on their primary function or purpose in a literary work. Some create vivid imagery, like simile, metaphor, and imagery, while others establish a rhythmic pattern, such as alliteration and rhyme. Categorization by intended effect helps readers recognize their contributions.	Example: In Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18,” the use of a metaphor comparing the beloved to a “summer’s day” creates vivid imagery, emphasizing the beloved’s beauty and timelessness.
Figurative vs. Literal	This categorization distinguishes between figurative and literal devices. Figurative devices (e.g., metaphors, personification) use symbolic language to convey abstract meanings, while literal devices convey information straightforwardly.	Example: Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope is the thing with feathers,” show “Hope” as a bird with feathers conveys an abstract idea of hope taking flight.
Structural vs. Stylistic	Literary devices can be classified based on their impact on the overall structure or the writing style. Structural devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashback) affect the narrative’s organization, while stylistic devices (e.g., alliteration, onomatopoeia) contribute to the author’s writing style and tone.	Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses flashback to help structure the story by providing background information about the protagonist’s childhood.
Rhetorical Devices	This category comprises devices used to persuade, influence, or evoke emotional responses from readers. Examples include repetition, rhetorical questions, and parallelism.	Example: In Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the repetition of the phrase “I have a dream” emphasizes his vision for racial equality and inspires the audience.
Sound Devices	Some devices focus on auditory aspects, creating musicality and rhythm in the writing. Rhyme, alliteration, and assonance are typical examples.	Example: Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells” uses repetition and onomatopoeia (“tintinnabulation”) to create a musical and rhythmic effect, evoking different emotions with each stanza.
Sensory Devices	Devices in this category appeal to the reader’s senses, enhancing the sensory experience of the text. Imagery and onomatopoeia are common examples.	Example: In John Keats’s “Ode to Autumn,” rich imagery describing “mists and mellow fruitfulness” appeals to the reader’s senses, evoking a vivid depiction of autumn.
Tropes and Schemes	Tropes involve figurative language to convey meanings beyond the literal interpretation (e.g., irony, metonymy), while schemes focus on word arrangement for specific effects (e.g., anaphora, chiasmus).	Example: In William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” dramatic irony occurs when Juliet’s parents plan her marriage to Paris while she is secretly married to Romeo, creating tension and tragedy.
Historical or Cultural Context	Literary devices can be grouped based on their prevalence or significance in a specific literary period or cultural tradition.	Example: The extensive use of allegory and religious symbolism in Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy” reflects the medieval Christian worldview prevalent during his time.

Functions of Literary Devices in Literary Words

1. Enhancing Imagery and Descriptions
   • Similes and Metaphors: These devices add good comparisons to create mental images.
   • Personification: This literary device means attributing human qualities to non-human entities for a deeper emotional connection.
   • Imagery: It means invoking sensory experiences through detailed language.
2. Creating Mood and Atmosphere
3. Symbolism: It means using objects or elements to represent abstract ideas or emotions.
   • Foreshadowing: This literary device means building anticipation by hinting at future events.
   • Setting: This means establishing the backdrop and ambiance of the story.
4. Developing Characterization
   • Dialogue: This literary device means revealing characters’ personalities, emotions, and relationships through conversations.
   • Flashback: It means providing insight into a character’s past to understand their present actions.
   • Irony: It means highlighting contrasts between appearance and reality, often revealing character traits.
5. Advancing Plot and Conflict
   • Suspense: This literary device means building tension to engage readers and keep them invested in the story’s outcome.
   • Plot Twist: It means surprising readers with unexpected turns in the narrative.
   • Allusion: This literary device means referring to historical, mythological, or literary events to add depth to the plot.
6. Conveying Theme and Message
   • Allegory: It means using characters or events as symbols to convey broader moral or philosophical lessons.
   • Motif: It means repeating symbols or images that reinforce the central theme.
   • Tone: This literary device is the author’s attitude toward the subject, influencing how readers perceive the message.
7. Engaging the Reader Emotionally
   • Hyperbole: It means exaggerating for emotional impact or emphasis.
   • Onomatopoeia: It means using words that imitate sounds, creating an auditory experience.
   • Rhetorical Question: It means prompting readers to think, encouraging an emotional response.
8. Adding Rhythm and Musicality
   • Rhyme: It means using words with matching sounds to create a rhythmic effect.
   • Alliteration: It means repetition of initial consonant sounds for a lyrical quality.
   • Assonance: This literary device means repeating vowel sounds to enhance the flow of the text.
9. Offering Social Commentary and Critique
   • Satire: It means using humor, irony, or ridicule to expose and criticize societal flaws.
   • Parody: It means imitating a work to mock or comment on its style or themes.
   • Dystopia: It means presenting a nightmarish or undesirable society to reflect on contemporary issues.
10. Crafting Memorable and Artistic Writing
    • Oxymoron: It means combining contradictory terms for poetic effect.
    • Euphemism: It means substituting mild or indirect language for harsh or unpleasant expressions.
    • Anaphora: It means repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, adding rhythm.
11. Invoking Empathy and Understanding
    • Pathos: This rhetorical device means eliciting emotions to foster a connection between readers and characters.
    • Stream of Consciousness: This literary device means offering insight into characters’ thoughts and feelings in real-time.
    • Juxtaposition: This literary device means placing contrasting elements side by side to evoke contemplation and empathy.

These literary devices serve multiple functions within literary works, enriching the reader’s experience and enhancing the depth and impact of the writing. They are also significant in that they have enriched English studies in many ways including helping in forming and framing theoretical perspectives.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M. H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 11th ed., Cengage Learning, 2014.
2. Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2014.
3. Cuddon, J. A. The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. 5th ed., Penguin Books, 2014.
4. DiYanni, Robert. Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, 2010.
5. Harmon, William, and C. Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature. 12th ed., Pearson, 2011.
6. Kennedy, X. J., Dana Gioia, and Mark Bauerlein. Handbook of Literary Terms: Literature, Language, Theory. 3rd ed., Pearson, 2012.
7. ___. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 13th ed., Pearson, 2015.
8. Murfin, Ross C., and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. 4th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017.
9. Peck, John, and Martin Coyle. Literary Terms and Criticism. 3rd ed., Macmillan International Higher Education, 2002.