Literary Devices and Their Definitions

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Allegory

Back

story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other

people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities.

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Alliteration

Back

repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are

close together.

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Allusion

Back

reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature,

religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to

something (usually from literature, etc.).

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Ambiguity

Back

deliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting,

meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way-

- this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vagueness,

and detracts from the work

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Analogy

Back

Comparison made between two things to show how they are alike

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Anaphora

Back

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more

sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s

point more coherent.

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Anastrophe

Back

Inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a

sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony. It is a fancy word for inversion.

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Anecdote

Back

Brief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something,

often shows character of an individual

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Antagonist

Back

Opponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a

story.

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Antimetabole

Back

Repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical

order.

Moliere: “One should eat to live, not live to eat.” In poetry, this is called chiasmus.