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In this article, we'll help you get familiar with most commonly used literary devices in prose and poetry. We'll give you a clear definition of each of the terms we discuss along with examples of literary elements and the context in which they most often appear (comedic writing, drama, or other).
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Concise definitions, usage tips, and lots of examples for 136 literary devices and terms.
- Definition
- Significance
- Example
- Introduction
- Philosophy
- Analysis
- Benefits
A Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. In other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics.
However, the metaphor figure of speech is different from a simile, because we do not use like or as to develop a comparison in metaphor poems and metaphor sentences. It makes an implicit or hidden comparison and not an explicit one.
Lets now take a look at some common examples of meptahors. Here E. E. Cummings has compared his beloved to the moon, as well as to the sun. This is another good metaphor by a modern poet. Just check the excellence of using a metaphor in just one sentence. The second one is its extension. Lets explore a few metaphor meaning and examples such as call...
Metaphors are used in all types of literature, but not often to the degree they are used in poetry. This is because metaphor poem is meant to communicate complex images and feelings to readers, and metaphors often state the comparisons most emotively. Now that we know the definition of metaphor, lets take a look at some examples.
John Donne, a metaphysical poet, was well-known for his abundant use of metaphors throughout his poetical works. In his well-known work, The Sun Rising, the speaker scolds the sun for waking him and his beloved. Among the most evocative metaphors in literature, he explains She is all states, and all princes, I. This line demonstrates the speakers b...
This is a good metaphor by Milton, from his epic Paradise Lost. Here, Milton has compared his poetry to a dove.
From the above arguments, explanations, and examples, we can easily infer the function of metaphors; both in our daily lives and in a piece of literature. Using appropriate metaphors appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers, sharpening their imaginations to comprehend what is being communicated to them. Moreover, it gives a life-like ...
In literature, writers carefully choose specific words and phrases depending on the outcome they wish to achieve for the reader. Diction is the literary device that refers to these linguistic word choices and their artistic arrangement by a writer.
- Metaphor. Metaphors, also known as direct comparisons, are one of the most common literary devices. A metaphor is a statement in which two objects, often unrelated, are compared to each other.
- Simile. Similes, also known as indirect comparisons, are similar in construction to metaphors, but they imply a different meaning. Like metaphors, two unrelated objects are being compared to each other.
- Analogy. An analogy is an argumentative comparison: it compares two unalike things to advance an argument. Specifically, it argues that two things have equal weight, whether that weight be emotional, philosophical, or even literal.
- Imagery. Is imagery a literary device? Absolutely! Imagery can be both literal and figurative, and it relies on the interplay of language and sensation to create a sharper image in your brain.
Nov 18, 2022 · Learn the definition of figure of speech and twenty different types to use in your writing, with examples from literature.
Tone is a literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work. By conveying this attitude through tone, the writer creates a particular relationship with the reader that, in turn, influences the intention and meaning of the written words.