Search results
Dec 21, 2015 · If writing is your passion, you probably already know a dozen or so stylistic devices, but I’m betting there are a few on this list you’ve never heard of. Take a look at this comprehensive list of stylistic devices and see if any might work in your current WIP (work in progress).
- Title
- Subtitles
- Cover Image
- Table of Contents
- Chapter Titles
- Subheadings
- Bold Print
- Italics
- Bullet Points/Numbered Lists
- Tables
The title is the heading at the top of a text, often written in larger or bolder type. It serves to introduce and briefly summarize the topic or theme of the document. The title gives an initial impression of the content, and often determines whether the reader continues to engage with the text. Generally, a title should engage and intrigue the rea...
Subtitles come after a title either on a new line or following a colon (:). They tend to add more detail and context to the title to help the reader develop a greater understanding of the purpose or contents of the text they’re about to read. Here are some real-life examples: 1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking 2. W...
Also on the front of a book (before we even open the first page!) we have another text feature: the cover image. This image could be a photograph or an artist’s depiction of a key feature of the text. A very famous cover image, for example, is from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which depicts Harry and Ron in a flying car. Harry’s scraggy...
Often, when you open a book, you will not find the text immediately. Instead, you will come across a table of contents. This is here to help you navigate the text in a non-linear fashion. Tables of contents are found in both fiction and non-fiction texts. For non-fiction texts, they serve a greater purpose, because non-fiction texts are often desig...
Longer texts, such as novels, tend to have chapters. These are ‘sections’ of a book that each have a coherent theme or reason that they are clustered together. In non-fiction texts, it’s usually because each chapter addresses a particular idea or topic. In fiction texts, it might represent a certain segment of the storyline. Non-fiction texts will ...
Subheadings are found throughout a text and function to divide a text into sections. They provide a brief summary of the content of each section, allowing readers to scan and locate relevant information quickly. Generally, subheadings are more common in non-fiction than fiction texts. They might be used in texts such as academic articles, textbooks...
Bold print is a stylistic choice in which the text is darkened to stand out from the surrounding text. It id used to emphasize certain words or phrases that the author might want you to focus on. In other words, bold print highlights the most important information for the reader. It makes it easier for the reader to spot key points. Most commonly, ...
Italics is a text style where the letters lean slightly to the right. It’s used to emphasize a point, such as if a character yells something! Italic text could also denote titles of works in some referencing style, or indicate foreign or latin words. Italics provide a visual hint that the text holds special significance, whether it be for emphasis ...
Bullet points and numbered lists make it easier for a reader to scan through items, instructions, or other ordered and structured data. It is used to organize information in a clear, concise format. These formats provide a straightforward way to digest and comprehend information. As a result, they can provide a better reader experience when present...
Tables are a structured way to present data and complex information, whether numerical or textual. By aligning data in columns and rows, we can scan, compare and contrast, and order the data easily. It can be a lot faster to present and receive this complex information than if it were presented in textual format. In other words, tabulated data prov...
May 22, 2024 · A literary device is a writing technique that writers use to express ideas, convey meaning, and highlight important themes in a piece of text. A metaphor, like we mentioned earlier, is a famous example of a literary device. These devices serve a wide range of purposes in literature.
- Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in...
- 1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Imagery 4. Symbolism 5. Flashbacks 6. Foreshadowing 7. Motif 8. Allegory 9. Juxtaposition 10. Point of view
- An allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes. In an allegorical story, things represent mor...
- Alliteration describes a series of words in quick succession that all start with the same letter or sound. It lends a pleasing cadence to prose and...
- An allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something. You probably allude to things all the time in everyday speech, without eve...
- Anachronism is when something happens or is attributed to a different era than when it actually existed. This is usually a mistake, such as an auth...
- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a series of clauses or sentences. It’s often seen in poetry and speeches, intend...
- Anastrophe is a figure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are...
- To anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather. But unlike personification...
- An aphorism is a universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to-the-point way. Aphorisms are typically witty and memorable, often becoming adag...
- Allegory. An allegory is a story that is used to represent a more general message about real-life (historical) issues and/or events. It is typically an entire book, novel, play, etc.
- Alliteration. Alliteration is a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.
- Allusion. Allusion is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many allusions make reference to previous works of literature or art.
- Anachronism. An anachronism occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented.
- Alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds within a group of words. For example, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
- Onomatopoeia. An onomatopoeia is a word that imitates, suggests, or resembles the sound it’s describing. Common onomatopoeias include “gurgle,” “hiss,” “boom,” “whir,” and “whizz.”
- Foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is an advance warning about something that’s going to happen in the future. In fiction, foreshadowing can be subtle. For example, something that happens in the first chapter of a murder mystery can come into play at the end of the book.
- Hyperbole. Hyperbole is an exaggeration that’s not meant to be taken literally. For example, if my friend surprised me by eating a lot of pizza, I might say, “Hey man, remember that time you ate, like, fifteen pizzas in one night?”
Sep 7, 2021 · Literary devices are specific techniques that allow a writer to convey a deeper meaning that goes beyond what’s on the page. Literary devices work alongside plot and characters to elevate a story and prompt reflection on life, society, and what it means to be human.
People also ask
What are literary devices?
How many literary devices are there?
Why do authors use literary devices?
How do I identify and analyze different literary techniques?
Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Instant PDF downloads. Refine any search. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more.
