Literary devices

Be it prose or poetry, writers often use literary devices, which are techniques that help make a piece of writing interesting, poignant, and engrossing. Several literary devices are commonly used in writing. While some can be used in both prose and poetry, those used specifically in poetry are known as poetic devices.  Various poetic devices […]

The Oxford Dictionary defines personification as “the practice of representing objects, qualities, etc. as humans.” Personification is a popular writing technique used by writers to bring a nonliving thing to life.  Personification and Anthropomorphism: Definition and Examples Personification examples:  Definition of Anthropomorphism The Oxford Dictionary defines anthropomorphism as “the practice of treating gods, animals or […]

What is Antithesis? Antithesis, in simple words, means the direct opposite of things. Its dictionary definition is “a noun that includes the rhetorical contrast of ideas using parallel arrangements of words.” It is a literary device that helps make a written work more captivating, impactful, and memorable. Following is a quote by Muhammad Ali, the […]

What is a Point of View? Point of view (POV) refers to the writer’s perspective from which a story or a narrative is told. It is the lens through which the events, characters, and experiences in a story are portrayed. In written works such as narratives, poems, and songs, the speaker or narrator provides the […]

Characterization refers to the process of creating characters’ personalities, traits, and motivations within a story. There are two main types that authors use in their works: direct and indirect. What is Indirect Characterization? Indirect characterization is used to reveal and develop a character’s traits and qualities inexplicitly. Instead of straightforward descriptions of a character’s attributes, […]

Characterization, a synonym for character development, refers to creating a fictional character in literature. It is an essential part of writing fiction and helps readers understand the characters better. It is done in two different ways: direct and indirect. This article will detail direct characterization. What is a Direct Characterization? Direct characterization is defined as […]

What is an Analogy? An analogy, by definition, is a literary device that compares similarities between two unlikely things. These two things have a partial resemblance in their characteristics. An analogy is different and more complex than a metaphor or a simile. Besides comparing two things, it also explains the similarity between them, which is its […]

What is Satire? Satire, by definition, is a literary and rhetorical device that uses sarcasm, irony, and ridicule to expose the flaws of individuals or society. The word “satire” made its way into the English language during the 16th century but has a Latin origin. It originated from the Latin word satura, which means “full.”  […]

What are Homophones? Homophones are two or more words that sound the same but differ in their meanings. The term “homophone” originates from the Greek words homo, meaning “same,” and phone, meaning “sound.” Here is an example of a homophone pair: He was very weak. She wanted to go home next week. Both these words—weak […]

What is an Allusion? An allusion is defined as a literary device that writers use to convey big ideas efficiently. It is a brief, indirect reference to a person, place, event, or other literary work with which the reader is presumably familiar. The word allusion hails from the Latin alludere, which means “to refer to.”  […]

What is an Allegory? Allegory is a literary device that is used to express abstract ideas in the form of objects, actions, or events. The word “allegory” is derived from its Latin origin allegoria, which means implying something else.  An allegory usually has two parts: a surface narrative and a hidden, underlying meaning.  It is […]

What Does Symbolism Mean? Symbolism is defined as the use of symbols to represent abstract ideas in the arts, literature, and films. The word “symbolism” originates from the Latin word symbolus, which means “a sign of recognition.” Symbols can take the form of people, objects, or even actions. But the meaning associated with them is […]