Literary Devices and Their Functions

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onomatopoeia

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Words that imitate or suggest the sounds they describe, such as 'buzz', 'bang', or 'sizzle'.

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personification

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A figurative language device where writers attribute human qualities, emotions, or actions to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas.

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foreshadowing

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A literary device where an author drops hints regarding what is to happen in the future.

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herring

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A misleading clue or piece of information intentionally introduced to distract the reader or characters from the true object or person of interest.

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epiphany

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A moment of revelation or insight experienced by a character.

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alliteration

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The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words, such as 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore.'

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imagery

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Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates vivid mental pictures.

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simile

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as', e.g., 'as brave as a lion'.

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metaphor

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A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as', e.g., 'Time is a thief'.

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hyperbole

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Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, e.g., 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'