Literary Devices Types

Generally speaking, literary devices can be grouped into four categories: Juxtaposition, Allusions, Symbolism, and Foreshadowing. All of these elements have an important role to play in a work of fiction.

Allusions

Using allusions in literary devices can be a clever way to add depth and context to your writing. It can create a shared understanding between you and your reader. This shared understanding allows you to feel more connected to the text. Using allusions in literary devices can also help you test your cultural literacy.

Allusions can be found in literary works, creative nonfiction, and even everyday speech. They can be subtle or overt. Most writers use allusions as a way to make their writing more accessible. They may also use them for a variety of reasons, such as to convey complex ideas.

Foreshadowing

Using foreshadowing can make a literary work more captivating. Foreshadowing can heighten drama and suspense, and also create a thematic link between parts of the text. This literary device is used in almost every genre.

Some examples of foreshadowing are prophecies, omens, and fortunes received by characters. These predictions and omens may or may not be realized. They can be used to hint at an impending problem or a big reveal.

In a mystery novel, foreshadowing is used to create suspense and heighten drama. It can also make readers anticipate major turmoil in the near future.

Metaphors

Using metaphors as literary devices is a great way to add color and depth to your writing. They can make complex concepts easier to understand. They can also make your writing more fun to read.

A metaphor is a comparison between two things. It can be implicit or explicit. It is usually a comparison between two different things that are not alike. A simile is a comparison using comparison words like “as” or “like”. It uses a point of comparison and a vehicle.

Symbolism

Symbolism is a literary device that uses a symbol or object to represent something else. The use of a symbol can be subtle or overt, depending on the context.

Symbols are usually visual. They can also be abstract. Some symbols have more than one meaning, such as the symbol for the moon.

Symbolism can give your story a lasting impact. It can also help you tell a story better. It helps you convey the ideas in your book in a way that is more enlightening and interesting.

Juxtaposition

Using a literary device like juxtaposition can be an effective way to add to the complexity of your writing. It can be used to show contrasts between two entities, or a comparison between two different concepts. Using a literary device like this can also change the tone of your writing.

The best way to get started is to look at examples of this literary device. You can find examples of these devices in novels, plays, poems, and even in television shows.

Onomatopoeias

Whether you’re writing a poem, a story or a comic book, you may want to use onomatopoeias literary devices types to add some texture to your writing. These words mimic the sounds of certain objects or animals. They can also help you create a more engaging piece of writing.

Unlike plain expression, onomatopoeia is emphatic, which helps you to better connect with the scene. For instance, if you’re writing a poem about a drunken night in an East Village bar, you can use onomatopoeias to describe the sounds of the drink and the people in the bar.

Incongruity

Among the myriad literary devices used in comedic writing, one that flies under the radar is incongruity. In a literary context, incongruity is defined as an inappropriate match between two seemingly contradictory concepts. Alternatively, it may be a deliberate act or a combination of redundancy and coincidence.

Incongruity is most often associated with comic writing. Using incongruity in a piece of fiction, such as in a novel or play, is a great way to lighten the mood and to amuse the reader. It can be humorous or just silly, but it is also a good way to make a point.

Verisimilitude

Using literary devices can enhance the verisimilitude of your story. Some literary devices include allusions and wit. These literary devices are meant to add depth to the meaning of your story.

Allusions are references to people or places in history. The reader might recognize a connection between characters, even if they have never met that person. This can be a humorous or accidental connection. The use of wit is commonly used in comedy writing. When a character says something that sounds very similar to another character, a reader might recognize a connection. This is known as a pun.