Literary Devices 15 Literary Elements With Examples Tips to Use Them

Literary Devices 15 Literary Elements With Examples Tips to Use Them Literary Devices: 15 Literary Elements With Examples Tips to Use Them All writing is made up of literary devices whether you realize it or not.But what if you could intentionally uplevel your writing, make it better, more impactful, and crafting it in a way to hook readers from the introduction?What would it mean for you if you were able to guide your readers in a specific direction and interpret your words the way you want them to?Using literary devices is exactly how you can do thatand well teach you how with our list of literary devices.Although the term literary devices can be a wee bit intimidating, theyre actually pretty simple.In fact, youre likely using a ton when writing your book that you dont even know youre utilizing- and well touch on which those are in a little bit.Here are 15 literary devices to use in your writing: NOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Self:Allusion Example 1: Careful, now. You dont want to go opening Pandoras Box.In this example, the allusion is Pandoras Box. Because this is a reference to a real 2: He was a real goodguy ball:Diction Example 1: I bid you adieu.The diction present here is formal diction, as most people dont use bid and adieu regularly in everyday speach.Diction Example 2: I remember her hair in particular, because it was on fleek!Here, fleek is a slang term used to describe a womans hair, which means its slang diction.#3 AlliterationAlliteration is a literary device that uses the same letters or sounds at the beginning of words in a sentence or title.There are many nursery rhymes that use alliteration but this is also useful for creating something memorable within your writing.You can also use alliteration when choosing the title of your book, as it makes it easier to remembe r, as you can see in the example of alliterative titles above.Alliteration Literary Device Example:Alliteration Example 1: She sells sea shells by the sea shore.In this example, alliteration is present in both the sh sound and the s sound.Alliteration Example 2: He was a real goodguy ball:Allegory Example: One of the most famous works using allegory is George Orwells Animal Farm. The perceived story is about a group of farm animals who rise up and defeat humans but the underlying story is about the Russian Revoluation.Using an allegory is often telling a darker story in a way thats easier to understand and for readers to receive.#5 ColloquialismOne way to increase the world building in your book is to use colloquialisms.Colloquialisms are expressions, words, and phrases that are used in informal, everyday speech, including slang.You can use these a couple of different ways. Firstly, you can use these as slang in the real world and secondly, you can even create your books own collo quialisms for their world and culture, and even when writing dialogue.Colloquialism Literary Device Example:Colloquialism Examples:Bamboozle to deceieveGonna going toBe blue to be sadBugger off go awayOver yonder over thereDa bomb the bestYou can create your own coloquialisms within your own world to increase the realism.#6 EuphemismWe tend to think of euphemisms as sexual euphemisms, which is how theyre often used. However, euphemisms are actually any terms that refer to something impolite or unpleasant.We create phrases or other words in order to avoid using the actual term because theyre impolite, rude, or indecent. Those alternatives are considered euphemisms.This is often why we think of sexual euphemisms when we hear of this literary device. Most individuals would rather make a much lighter comment when referring to something as indecent as sex, but the same case is made for when someone dies.Euphemism Literary Device Example:Euphemism Examples:Before I go before I die Do the dirty have sexRear:You can even use flashbacks as a plot device, like in the example below.For example, in Vicious by V.E. Schwab, she uses flashbacks as a recurring element in her book. Every other chapter goes back in time and then back to the present for the next chapter as a way to structure the story itself.So in this instance, Schwab is using this literary device to shape the entire narrative of her story instead of simply using it as a single piece, which is a unique take on flashbacks.#8 ForeshadowingForeshadowing is when the author places elements within the writing that gives clues about what will happen in the future of the story.These can often be small bits and pieces that some readers might not pick up on the first read through. They might even look back and realize that certain elements were foreshadowing once they hit the climax or a big plot twist was revealed.Foreshadowing can be both literal and thematic.You can write a scene where theres a conversation t hat the reader cant fully understand the meaning of until more is revealed.You can also write a scene that has symbolic elements that foreshadow events, like placing a black crow in a scene that foreshadows a death, as crows are symbolic of this.If you really want to up your creative writing, you can even create themes to foreshadow within your own world.As an example of this literary device, you can create a culture in which rabbits are a known sign of change and conspicuously place a rabbit in a later scene.Foreshadowing Literary Device Example:Foreshadowing Example 1:In Back to the Future, one of the clocks in the opening credits has actor Harold Lloyd from the silem film Safety First hanging from the minute hand. This foreshadows Doc Brown hanging from the Hill Valley clock tower later in the movie as he tried to send Marty McFly back to the 1980s.Foreshadowing Example 2: In The Avengers Tony Stark makes a comment about one of the ships engineers playing a game called Galaga as they all get together for the first time. The objective of the game in real life is to defend Earth from alien invaders, which is what happens later in the movie.#9 ImageryThis is one that we briefly touched on above and also one you likely learned in school, though it may have been a while since then so well give you a refresher.Imagery is when you use visually descriptive or figurative language in your writing. Think of it more like showing versus telling in writing where you use more sensory language versus blunt, plain words.You would also use stronger verbs in order to present stronger imagery in your writing.Get Your FREE Strong Verbs List HereOver 200 strong verbs and the weak ones they replace! Imagery Literary Device Example:Heres an example of imagery from Hannah Lee Kidders anthology, Little Birds:Notice how Kidder uses visuals to bring life to her words. Youre very easily able to picture where this scene takes place and exactly what those rocks look like.#10 PersonificationPersonification is a literary device where you give human:Imagery Example 1:The wind whistled past my ears like a familiar tune Id long forgotten.Imagery Example 2:The moon yanked a blanket of silver light over the forest.Imagery Example 3:Squatting in the corner was a felt chair covered in the dust and damp of abandonment.#11 Juxtaposition Juxtaposition means placing contrasting elements next to one another in order to emphasize one or both, including words, scenes, or themes.This literary device can sound overly fancy but its quite simple.Many times, authors will use juxtaposition in order to create a stronger emotional reaction from readers.Think of when a happy moment in a movie or book is follo wed by a sad, heart:Juxtaposition Example 1:It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness. A Tales of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.Juxtaposition Example 2:I hate loving you.Juxtaposition Example 3:You will soon be asked to do great violence in the cause of good. The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers#12 Metaphor/SimileThis is the most popular literary device that has to be used with caution because if used too much, metaphors and similes can reek of cliches and amateur writing.Metaphors and similes are comparisons used to create better clarification and understanding for readers. While these are similar, theyre quite different.MetaphorA metaphor is a comparison between two things that are NOT alike and replaces the word with another word.SimileSimiles are comparisons between two things that are NOT like a nd replaces the word with another word but uses like or as within it.Metaphors VS Similes Examples:Metaphor Example 1:She was drowning in a sea of her own despair.Simile Example 1:It was like she was drowning in a sea of her own despair.Metaphor Example 2:His heart was lead, weighed down by the memory of what hed done.Simile Example 2:His heart was as heavy as lead, weighed down by the memory of what hed done.Literary devices are used to make your writing stronger. However, you dont have to use every single device out there. These are the best to strengthen your writing.#13 OnomatopoeiaWhile its name may be confusing, this literary device is actually easy to understand once you get past its difficult spelling.An onomatopoeia is a word or phrase that shows you the sound something makes. Since we cant hear books, this literary device is best used to paint a clear picture and include the sense of hearing in your writing.When using this literary element in writing, the correct formatti ng is almost always to have the word italicized to show emphasis of the sound.Onomatopoeia Literary Device Example:BuzzZapSplatBoomSplashZingCrankWhooshBangCreak#14 SymbolismEvery story uses symbolism in some way. This literary device is the use of a situation or element to represent a larger message, idea, or concept.Many times, authors use symbolism as a way to convey a broader message that speaks to more readers. You can also use symbolism to foreshadow what will happen later in the story.Symbolism Literary Device Example:Crows are used to symbolize a bad omen, like deathThe color purple symbolizes royaltyThe color red can symbolize death, struggle, power, passionSpiders can symbolize spying, sneaky, or untrustworthiness#15 ToneThe tone of a book is something that conveys the narrators opinion, attitude, or feelings about what is written.This literary device has the power to shape the entire narrative. For example, if you want to catch a reader off-guard when something traumati c or intense happens, keeping the tone light and humorous before the event can increase the sensation of shock and tension.Tone can guide your readers right into the emotion you want them to feel in a particular scene.Ready to start your book?Writing a good book is much harder than it may seemAnd its not just about the book, either- not if you want it to sell and do well, that is.