literary part of speech

• Literary Terms
• Figures of Speech
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Use Figures of Speech

I. What are Figures of Speech?

A figure of speech is a word or phrase using figurative language—language that has other meaning than its normal definition. In other words, figures of speeches rely on implied or suggested meaning, rather than a dictionary definition.  We express and develop them through hundreds of different rhetorical techniques, from specific types like metaphors and similes , to more general forms like sarcasm and slang.

Figures of speech make up a huge portion of the English language, making it more creative, more expressive, and just more interesting! Many have been around for hundreds of years—some even thousands—and more are added to our language essentially every day. This article will focus on a few key forms of figures of speech, but remember, the types are nearly endless!

III. Types of Figure of Speech

There are countless figures of speech in every language, and they fall into hundreds of categories. Here, though, is a short list of some of the most common types of figure of speech:

A. Metaphor

Many common figures of speech are metaphors. That is, they use words in a manner other than their literal meaning. However, metaphors use figurative language to make comparisons between unrelated things or ideas. The “peak of her career,” for example, is a metaphor, since a career is not a literal mountain with a peak , but the metaphor represents the idea of arriving at the highest point of one’s career.

An idiom is a common phrase with a figurative meaning. Idioms are different from other figures of speech in that their figurative meanings are mostly known within a particular language, culture, or group of people. In fact, the English language alone has about 25,000 idioms. Some examples include “it’s raining cats and dogs” when it is raining hard, or “break a leg” when wishing someone good luck.

This sentence uses an idiom to make it more interesting:

There’s a supermarket and a pharmacy in the mall, so if we go there, we can kill two birds with one stone.

The idiom is a common way of saying that two tasks can be completed in the same amount of time or same place.

A proverb is a short, commonplace saying that is universally understood in today’s language and used to express general truths. “Don’t cry over spilt milk” is a popular example. Most proverbs employ metaphors (e.g. the proverb about milk isn’t  literally  about milk).

This example uses a proverb to emphasize the situation:

I know you think you’re going to sell all of those cookies, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

Here, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means that you shouldn’t act like something has happened before it actually does.

A simile is a very common figure of speech that uses the words “like” and “as” to compare two things that are not related by definition. For example, “he is as tall as a mountain,” doesn’t mean he was actually 1,000 feet tall, it just means he was really tall.

This example uses a simile for comparison:

The internet is like a window to the world —you can learn about everything online!

The common phrase “window to the world” refers to a hypothetical window that lets you see the whole world from it. So, saying the internet is like a window to the world implies that it lets you see anything and everything.

E. Oxymoron

An oxymoron is when you use two words together that have contradictory meanings. Some common examples include s mall crowd, definitely possible, old news, little giant , and so on.

A metonym is a word or phrase that is used to represent something related to bigger meaning. For example, fleets are sometimes described as being “thirty sails strong,” meaning thirty (curiously, this metonym survives in some places, even when the ships in question are not sail-powered!) Similarly, the crew on board those ships may be described as “hands” rather than people.

Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always), irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms). For example, maybe you eat a really bad cookie, and then say “Wow, that was the best cookie I ever had”—of course, what you really mean is that it’s the worst cookie you ever had, but being ironic actually emphasizes just how bad it was!

IV. The Importance of Figures of Speech

In general, the purpose of a figure of speech is to lend texture and color to your writing. (This is itself a figure of speech, since figures of speech don’t actually change the colors or textures on the page!) For instance, metaphors allow you to add key details that make the writing more lively and relatable. Slang and verbal irony, on the other hand, make the writing seem much more informal and youthful (although they can have the opposite effect when misused!) Finally, other figures of speech, like idioms and proverbs, allows a writer to draw on a rich cultural tradition and express complex ideas in a short space.

V. Examples of Figures of Speech in Literature

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)

This is one of the most famous metaphors ever crafted in the English language. Shakespeare uses his extended metaphor to persuade the audience of the similarities between the stage and real life. But rather than making his play seem more like life, he suggests that life is more like a play. His metaphor calls attention to the performative, creative, and fictional aspects of human life.

“Our words are b ut crumbs that fall down from the feast o f the mind.” (Khalil Gibran, Sand & Foam )

Gibran’s timeless metaphor succeeds for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is not a cliché – had Gibran said “words are just the tip of the iceberg ,” he would have been making roughly the same point, but in a much more clichéd way. But the feast of the mind is a highly original metaphor. In addition, it’s a successful double metaphor. The crumbs and the feast are two parts of the same image, but they work together rather than being “mixed” (see How to Use Figures of Speech ).

“If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.” (Russian Proverb)

Like many proverbs, this one draws on a simple metaphor of chasing rabbits. The rabbits can stand in for all sorts of objectives, from jobs to relationships, but the coded message is quite clear – focus your energy on a single objective, or you will likely fail. This literal statement, though, is quite dry and not terribly memorable, which shows the power of figures of speech.

VI. Examples of Figures of Speech in Pop Culture

The chorus to Sean Kingston’s Fire Burning contains a couple of figures of speech. First of all, there’s the word “shorty” used as a slang term (see Related Terms ) for a young woman. She may or may not be literally short, but the figure of speech applies either way (though it could easily be taken as belittling and derogatory). Second, Kingston sings the metaphor: “she’s fire, burning on the dance floor.” Hopefully this is a figure of speech and not a literal statement; otherwise, Kingston and everyone else in the club are in mortal danger!

“Oh, thanks! This is much better!” (Townspeople, South Park )

This is an example of irony. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, South Park satirized the government’s response to the disaster by writing about a similar disaster in South Park. In a bumbling effort to rescue people from the floods, the authorities accidentally spill oil on the flood waters and set it on fire, making the situation far more dangerous. In response, they ironically “thank” the people responsible—their meaning is obviously the opposite of their words!

Years of talks between Washington and Havana resulted in Obama’s historic visit to Cuba on March 21st. (Patreon 2016)

This is a common form of metonym in foreign policy and news media. The capital city of a country is used as a metonym for the national government. The talks, of course, are not literally between these two cities, but between the leaders and government officials of the two countries (US and Cuba).

VII. Related Terms

Literal and figurative language.

Language is generally divided into two categories: literal, and figurative. Literal language relies on the real definition of words and phrases, or their literal meanings. Figurative language, on the other hand, relies on implied meanings, which can be understood differently depending on the location or who is using it. For example, “the sky is blue” relies on the literal definition of the word “blue,” while “I am feeling blue” relies on the figurative definition. All figures of speech rely on the use of figurative language for their meaning.

Sarcasm is mocking or bitter language that we use to express different meaning than what we say; often the exact opposite. When your intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning, that’s irony (another type of figure of speech), which includes common phrases like “Oh, great…” when you really mean something is bad.

Slang is language that uses atypical words and phrases to express specific meanings. It varies greatly by region, demographic, and language—for example, you would find different slang in the U.S. and in the U.K. even though they are both English speaking countries. Likewise, teenagers and the elderly will use different slang terms, as would Spanish and English. Many slang terms are figures of speech. For example, “bro” could be used to describe a friend rather than an actual brother; this would be using the word as a figure of speech.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

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Blogs / Language / Literary Elements: A List of 8 Literary Devices

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Literary elements: a list of 8 literary devices.

Literary elements are the building blocks of great stories. They are essential. If any of these pieces are missing, there will be no story.

Great news! If you are a reader or student of story, these will help you unlock understanding. If you are a writer, they offer opportunities.

Let’s dive in and discover how these pieces can be used to reveal the full picture, just like a jigsaw puzzle.

What Are Literary Devices?

There can be confusion with any technical jargon. Yup, I said it. Elements, devices, techniques are all subject specific words. And that’s jargon. So let’s dig in and get clear on these terms to give us a shared understanding to build on.

Elements are the big bits that a story must have to be considered a story. So what would that include? At the most basic, a story is about someone, or something, doing something somewhere. Characters acting out a plot in a setting. So, what else is essential?

We expect some kind of structure for our story: a beginning, middle, and end. We are including some author choices that create the reading experience and meaning like theme, voice, and point of view.

Devices is the broadest term. Any specific aspect we look at closely, whether we recognize, identify or analyze, is a device. Elements and techniques fall under the umbrella of devices.

Techniques are what the writer uses to express themselves which can include techniques focused on language, like metaphors, and techniques focused on narrative, like flashbacks, backstory, and foreshadowing. 

The easy way to think about the difference between elements and techniques is that elements are necessary to a story, techniques are optional. Both create a unique story and understanding them can make both reading and writing even more fun.

Let’s start with literary elements.

Literary Elements List: 8 Essentials

Let’s start with the big three. They are the parts of our first definition of a story: character, plot, and setting.

3 Key Elements

The readers follow the characters in a story. The characters don’t need to be human. These beings drive the story forward, do the actions, and have the feelings. It is their motivation, struggles and thoughts that the reader follows throughout the story.

These could be animals, like those in George Orwell’s Animal Farm , humans like the characters in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, or any other being, like the hobbits and others in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

However unique or unusual, the characters in a story are the avatars for the humans reading that story. Creating connection through motivations, emotions and reactions help the reader become immersed in the characters. 

This offers the readers the unique opportunity to experience the world as someone or something else. That is the magic of reading. Where else can we find ourselves deeply inside someone else’s perspective?

What happens in the story is the plot. The writer creates a chronology of events.Without the plot, you wouldn’t have a story. From an action packed thriller like The Bourne Identity to the development of a relationship in a romance like The Duke and I , stories have action.

The action is driven by the character’s external story goal. What do they want? The plot develops as the protagonist strives to attain that goal. For example, Sherlock Holmes must solve a mystery or Katniss Everdeen must survive the Hunger Games.

If someone asks what a story is about, you will  usually give a summary of the plot.

Another easy way to find the goal of the story is to consider the central conflict in the story. This is the struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of the story. The outcome of the story provides the resolution of the conflict. The conflict also sets up what is at stake for the character if they don’t achieve the story goal. What will happen if they lose?

For Sherlock Holmes, the murderer will get away and could kill again. For Katniss Everdeen, she will die and leave her family without the support they need to survive as well.

In Fictionary, these elements become the Skeleton Story Blurb. This simple statement captures these essential elements and helps you see that every scene in your story is essential for this story. The skeleton blurb is summed up as: The protagonist must (story goal) otherwise (story stakes). How easy is that?

So, there are characters doing things but there is still one major element missing, setting. 

Setting creates the story world through time and place. 

Some stories take place over a set time. Authors can use a short time span to create tension. From Ulysses by James Joyce to The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, authors have used the constraint of a single day to heighten the tension and play with the pace of their story. 

Other novels span decades to give a sweeping saga of a story. James Michener was well known for his epic historical stories. Readers get hints in the titles of some books: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich or One Hundred Years of Solitude .

Where the story is set is also essential. While people often think of world-building in terms of the fantasy and historical fiction genres, place plays a vital role in all stories. Imagine Anne without Green Gables or Catherine and Heathcliff anywhere by Wuthering Heights. 

Powerful stories give you the sense that It couldn’t happen anywhere else – or at any other time.

The setting is a powerful element that can set the mood, create conflict and offer the main backdrop for the story.

In Fictionary, these three elements are called the Supergroups. All the other Fictionary editing elements are found under these three headings.

Literary Element List: 3 Story Structure Elements

Structure is the way a story is assembled. This is anything with a clear organizational pattern. Every work has a structure of some sort. Sometimes it is new and original, but usually it is known.

Some familiar structures include the hero’s journey and the three act structure. There are many articles and books on story structure including beat sheets like Save the Cat and Romancing the Beat.

After much research, Kristina Stanley created the Fictionary Story Arc. This structure includes five key story arc scenes that are essential to a strong story structure. Using this simpler structure, a writer can add beats and additional subplots with the confidence that the core of their story is strong. 

Point of View

A reader experiences the story through a particular character or narrator for every scene. 

In some novels, there will be a single point of view character that the reader stays with throughout the story. First person narratives often have this singular focus. It is popular in many modern YA books as the reader can closely relate with the protagonist. This is a classic choice to create a close and limited perspective for the reader, as in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

Other novels use a variety of point of view characters. This widening of the reader’s experience can create tension as the reader knows more than the protagonist. 

A mystery novel may include scenes from the murderer’s point of view to heighten the fear for the protagonist. Romance novels often focus on the two love interests’ points of view to give the reader a sense of anticipation as characters actions may not convey their inner feelings.

If a story is written in first person, there will be a single point of view through which the reader experiences the story, if only for a scene. There are more stories being written that have more than one character using first person narration. 

The Sun Is Also A Star includes chapter titles of the character names to make the switch in point of view clear for the reader. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin has multiple first person narrators.

Literature is divided up into types or genres. The major divisions are into drama, poetry, and fiction. Fiction can be further divided, usually by length or content. Length divisions include novels, novellas,, and short stories. Content genres can include mystery, romance, and fantasy for example.

Here we are going to focus on content genres as they develop reader expectations. When you pick up a romance book, you want to get to the “happily ever after” moment. As a reader of horror, you want monsters and a sense of terror. Each content genre has specific elements or conventions that will be expected by the reader. 

Understanding these elements can help a writer develop a story that meets the readers’ expectations for the genre or that challenges those expectations.

Literary Element List: 2 Elements for the Author’s Style

With a strong theme, a story and the characters become memorable. The main idea or message conveyed by the story helps the readers get a sense of deeper understanding of the characters and a sense of reflection about the possible impact of the theme in their own lives. 

While the theme is often conveyed indirectly in the story, the reader can generally express it as a full sentence.

While the writer may have one theme at the forefront of their thinking, the readers may discover other themes within the book that resonate personally. That is the wonderful aspect of this element. Every person will bring themselves, their experiences, and understanding to their awareness of the themes in a book.

For example, in The Hunger Games , the reader can find the themes of survival, rebellion, and interdependence. The reader may instead focus on the theme of love and family or self-sacrifice. Theme brings so much depth to the story. 

Finally, essential to the story is the voice. What is this? Voice captures the author’s use of language, tone, imagery to create their own style. 

Think about some of your favorite authors. Whether Stephen King is writing a short story like Shawshank Redemption or a novel like Carrie, there is a unique voice to his writing.

Let’s look at some aspects that help us understand this element.

Of course, writers use language. But how? Think about the use of short or long sentences. The integration of dialect or specific description. Voice is created in the decisions an author makes about how they use language in their story. 

Some writers create a new language for characters in their stories. In A Clockwork Orange , Anthony Burgess created a whole new language for the teens called Nadsat. In 1984 , George Orwell described Newspeak.

Similar to tone of voice when speaking, tone is the emotion or attitude expressed in the writer’s voice. Often, the reader will sense the tone without being conscious of it. 

This is where the writer can use tone to create a connection between the reader and the character, to create emotional distance from a character, to create questions or trust. This aspect of voice has many different possibilities.

Writers use language to convey their world and characters. In helping the reader become immersed in the world, writers use language to describe the senses. This is imagery. 

Imagery helps you follow that age old advice of show don’t tell. As you are reading, notice the moments you feel truly in the story world. Look for imagery there!

Let’s look at a quick example and then delve into a few literary devices authors may use to create their own voice.

Scott Fitzgerald shows the restless, aimless lives of Daisy and Jordan in this first description of the women as seen by Nick:

“The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon. They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house. I must have stood for a few moments listening to the whip and snap of the curtains and the groan of a picture on the wall. Then there was a boom as Tom Buchanan shut the rear windows and the caught wind died out about the room, and the curtains and the rugs and the two young women ballooned slowly to the floor.”

The images created by the visual of rippling and fluttering dresses and the sound of the whip, snap and boom create contrast between the restless movement of the women and the control that Tom exerts over them are powerful and clear.

As mentioned above, literary devices is the broadest term for those aspects we examine as readers and writers. As well as the specific elements listed above, devices include those specific techniques as well as the broader ideas like internal character arcs and narrative strategy.

Literary Devices List

Here is a brief list of some literary devices to whet your appetite.

• Alliteration
• Foreshadowing

Consider using these as inspiration for further exploration of literary devices.

Whether you are checking that you have the eight essential literary elements or examining how different literary devices are used in works that you read, understanding literary jargon can help express yourself and share your discoveries.

One great way to explore the use of devices in your own fiction writing is to explore them using the Fictionary app. As you fill in the Fictionary elements for each scene, you will discover your writing habits. You will be free to make informed choices as you create the best story for your readers.

As a reader, you can be aware of how different writers choose to integrate these essential literary elements into their work. 

With all this knowledge, you are ready to start the conversation about what makes a story great for you. What stories do you love? Bet you know why!

Parts of Speech: The Ultimate Guide for Students and Teachers

This article is part of the ultimate guide to language for teachers and students. Click the buttons below to view these.

What are Parts of Speech ?

Just as a skilled bricklayer must get to grips with the trowel, brick hammer, tape measure, and spirit level, the student-writer must develop a thorough understanding of the tools of their trade too.

In English, words can be categorized according to their common syntactic function in a sentence, i.e. the job they perform.

We call these different categories Parts of Speech . Understanding the various parts of speech and how they work has several compelling benefits for our students.

Without first acquiring a firm grasp of the various parts of speech, students will struggle to fully comprehend how language works. This is essential not only for the development of their reading comprehension but their writing skills too.

Parts of speech are the core building blocks of grammar . To understand how a language works at a sentence and a whole-text level, we must first master parts of speech.

In English, we can identify eight of these individual parts of speech, and these will provide the focus for our Complete Guide to Parts of Speech .

THE EIGHT PARTS OF SPEECH (Click to jump to each section)

A complete unit on teaching figurative language.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE  is like  “SPECIAL EFFECTS FOR AUTHORS.”  It is a powerful tool to create  VIVID IMAGERY  through words. This  HUGE UNIT  guides you through completely understanding  FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE .

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Often the first word a child speaks will be a noun, for example, Mum , Dad , cow , dog , etc.

Nouns are naming words, and, as most school kids can recite, they are the names of people, places, and things . But, what isn’t as widely understood by many of our students is that nouns can be further classified into more specific categories. 

These categories are:

Common Nouns

Proper nouns, concrete nouns, abstract nouns, collective nouns, countable nouns, uncountable nouns.

All nouns can be classified as either common or proper .

Common nouns are the general names of people, places, and things. They are groups or classes on their own, rather than specific types of people, places, or things such as we find in proper nouns.

Common nouns can be further classified as abstract or concrete – more on this shortly!

Some examples of common nouns include:

People: teacher, author, engineer, artist, singer.

Places: country, city, town, house, garden.

Things: language, trophy, magazine, movie, book.

Proper nouns are the specific names for people, places, and things. Unlike common nouns, which are always lowercase, proper nouns are capitalized. This makes them easy to identify in a text.

Where possible, using proper nouns in place of common nouns helps bring precision to a student’s writing.

Some examples of proper nouns include:

People: Mrs Casey, J.K. Rowling, Nikola Tesla, Pablo Picasso, Billie Eilish.

Places: Australia, San Francisco, Llandovery, The White House, Gardens of Versailles.

Things: Bulgarian, The World Cup, Rolling Stone, The Lion King, The Hunger Games.

Nouns Teaching Activity: Common vs Proper Nouns

• Provide students with books suitable for their current reading level.
• Instruct students to go through a page or two and identify all the nouns.
• Ask students to sort these nouns into two lists according to whether they are common nouns or proper nouns.

As mentioned, all common and proper nouns can be further classified as either concrete or abstract .

A concrete noun is any noun that can be experienced through one of the five senses. In other words, if you can see, smell, hear, taste, or touch it, then it’s a concrete noun.

Some examples of concrete nouns include:

Abstract nouns refer to those things that can’t be experienced or identified through the five senses.

They are not physical things we can perceive but intangible concepts and ideas, qualities and states.

Some examples of abstract nouns include:

Nouns Teaching Activity: Concrete Vs. Abstract Nouns

• Provide students with a book suitable for their current reading level.
• Instruct students to go through a page or two and identify all the nouns (the lists from Practice Activity #1 may be suitable).
• This time, ask students to sort these nouns into two lists according to whether they are concrete or abstract nouns.

A collective noun is the name of a group of people or things. That is, a collective noun always refers to more than one of something.

Some examples of collective nouns include:

People: a board of directors, a team of football players, a cast of actors, a band of musicians, a class of students.

Places: a range of mountains, a suite of rooms, a union of states, a chain of islands.

Things: a bale of hay, a constellation of stars, a bag of sweets, a school of fish, a flock of seagulls.

Countable nouns are nouns that refer to things that can be counted. They come in two flavors: singular and plural .

In their singular form, countable nouns are often preceded by the article, e.g. a , an , or the .

In their plural form, countable nouns are often preceded by a number. They can also be used in conjunction with quantifiers such as a few and many .

Some examples of countable nouns include:

COUNTABLE NOUNS EXAMPLES

Also known as mass nouns, uncountable nouns are, as their name suggests, impossible to count. Abstract ideas such as bravery and compassion are uncountable, as are things like liquid and bread .

These types of nouns are always treated in the singular and usually do not have a plural form. 

They can stand alone or be used in conjunction with words and phrases such as any , some , a little , a lot of , and much .

Some examples of uncountable nouns include:

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS EXAMPLES

Nouns Teaching Activity: How many can you list ?

• Organize students into small groups to work collaboratively.
• Challenge students to list as many countable and uncountable nouns as they can in ten minutes.
• To make things more challenging, stipulate that there must be an uncountable noun and a countable noun to gain a point.
• The winning group is the one that scores the most points.

Without a verb, there is no sentence! Verbs are the words we use to represent both internal and external actions or states of being. Without a verb, nothing happens.

There are many different types of verbs. Here, we will look at five important verb forms organised according to the jobs they perform:

Dynamic Verbs

Stative verbs, transitive verbs, intransitive verbs, auxiliary verbs.

Each verb can be classified as being either an action or a stative verb.

Dynamic or action verbs describe the physical activity performed by the subject of a sentence. This type of verb is usually the first we learn as children. 

For example, run , hit , throw , hide , eat , sleep , watch , write , etc. are all dynamic verbs, as is any action performed by the body.

Let’s see a few examples in sentences:

• I jogged around the track three times.
• She will dance as if her life depends on it.
• She took a candy from the bag, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.

If a verb doesn’t describe a physical activity, then it is a stative verb.

Stative verbs refer to states of being, conditions, or mental processes. Generally, we can classify stative verbs into four types:

• Emotions/Thoughts

Some examples of stative verbs include: 

Senses: hurt, see, smell, taste, hear, etc.

Emotions: love, doubt, desire, remember, believe, etc.

Being: be, have, require, involve, contain, etc.

Possession: want, include, own, have, belong, etc.

Here are some stative verbs at work in sentences:

• That is one thing we can agree on.
• I remember my first day at school like it was yesterday.
• The university requires students to score at least 80%.
• She has only three remaining.

Sometimes verbs can fit into more than one category, e.g., be , have , look , see , e.g.,

• She looks beautiful. (Stative)
• I look through the telescope. (Dynamic)

Each action or stative verb can also be further classified as transitive or intransitive .

A transitive verb takes a direct object after it. The object is the noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that has something done to it by the subject of the sentence.

We see this in the most straightforward English sentences, i.e., the Subject-Verb-Object or SVO sentence. 

Here are two examples to illustrate. Note: the subject of each sentence is underlined, and the transitive verbs are in bold.

• The teacher answered the student’s questions.
• She studies languages at university.
• My friend loves cabbage.

Most sentences in English employ transitive verbs.

An intransitive verb does not take a direct object after it. It is important to note that only nouns, noun phrases, and pronouns can be classed as direct objects. 

Here are some examples of intransitive verbs – notice how none of these sentences has direct objects after their verbs.

• Jane’s health improved .
• The car ran smoothly.
• The school opens at 9 o’clock.

Auxiliary verbs, also known as ‘helping’ verbs, work with other verbs to affect the meaning of a sentence. They do this by combining with a main verb to alter the sentence’s tense, mood, or voice.

Auxiliary verbs will frequently use not in the negative.

There are relatively few auxiliary verbs in English. Here is a list of the main ones:

• be (am, are, is, was, were, being)
• do (did, does, doing)
• have (had, has, having)

Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs (in bold) in action alongside a main verb (underlined).

She is working as hard as she can.

• You must not eat dinner until after five o’clock.
• The parents may come to the graduation ceremony.

The Subject-Auxiliary Inversion Test

To test whether or not a verb is an auxiliary verb, you can use the Subject-Auxiliary Inversion Test .

• Take the sentence, e.g:
• Now, invert the subject and the suspected auxiliary verb to see if it creates a question.

Is she working as hard as she can?

• Can it take ‘not’ in the negative form?

She is not working as hard as she can.

• If the answer to both of these questions is yes, you have an auxiliary verb. If not, you have a full verb.

Verbs Teaching Activity: Identify the Verbs

• Instruct students to go through an appropriate text length (e.g., paragraph, page, etc.) and compile a list of verbs.
• In groups, students should then discuss and categorize each verb according to whether they think they are dynamic or stative, transitive or intransitive, and/or auxiliary verbs.

The job of an adjective is to modify a noun or a pronoun. It does this by describing, quantifying, or identifying the noun or pronoun. Adjectives help to make writing more interesting and specific. Usually, the adjective is placed before the word it modifies.

As with other parts of speech, not all adjectives are the same. There are many different types of adjectives and, in this article, we will look at:

Descriptive Adjectives

• Degrees of Adjectives

Quantitative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives, possessive adjectives, interrogative adjectives, proper adjectives.

Descriptive adjectives are what most students think of first when asked what an adjective is. Descriptive adjectives tell us something about the quality of the noun or pronoun in question. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as qualitative adjectives .

Some examples of this type of adjective include:

• hard-working

In sentences, they look like this:

• The pumpkin was enormous .
• It was an impressive feat of athleticism I ever saw.
• Undoubtedly, this was an exquisite vase.
• She faced some tough competition.

Degrees of Adjectives 

Descriptive adjectives have three degrees to express varying degrees of intensity and to compare one thing to another. These degrees are referred to as positive , comparative , and superlative .

The positive degree is the regular form of the descriptive adjective when no comparison is being made, e.g., strong .

The comparative degree is used to compare two people, places, or things, e.g., stronger .

There are several ways to form the comparative, methods include:

• Adding more or less before the adjective
• Adding -er to the end of one syllable adjectives
• For two-syllable adjectives ending in y , change the y to an i and add -er to the end.

The superlative degree is typically used when comparing three or more things to denote the upper or lowermost limit of a quality, e.g., strongest .

There are several ways to form the superlative, including:

• Adding most or least before the adjective
• Adding -est to the end of one syllable adjectives
• For two-syllable adjectives ending in y , change the y to an i and add -est to the end.

There are also some irregular adjectives of degree that follow no discernible pattern that must be learned off by students, e.g., good – better – best .

Let’s take a look at these degrees of adjectives in their different forms.

Let’s take a quick look at some sample sentences:

• It was a beautiful example of kindness. 

Comparative

• The red is nice, but the green is prettier .

Superlative

• This mango is the most delicious fruit I have ever tastiest. 

Quantitive adjectives provide information about how many or how much of the noun or pronoun.

Some quantitive adjectives include:

• She only ate half of her sandwich.
• This is my first time here.
• I would like three slices, please.
• There isn’t a single good reason to go.
• There aren’t many places like it.
• It’s too much of a good thing.
• I gave her a whole box of them.

A demonstrative adjective identifies or emphasizes a noun’s place in time or space. The most common demonstrative adjectives are this , that , these , and those .

Here are some examples of demonstrative adjectives in use:

• This boat is mine.
• That car belongs to her.
• These shoes clash with my dress.
• Those people are from Canada.

Possessive adjectives show ownership, and they are sometimes confused with possessive pronouns.

The most common possessive adjectives are my , your , his , her , our , and their .

Students need to be careful not to confuse these with possessive pronouns such as mine , yours , his (same in both contexts), hers , ours , and theirs .

Here are some examples of possessive adjectives in sentences:

• My favorite food is sushi.
• I would like to read your book when you have finished it.
• I believe her car is the red one.
• This is their way of doing things.
• Our work here is done.

Interrogative adjectives ask questions, and, in common with many types of adjectives, they are always followed by a noun. Basically, these are the question words we use to start questions. Be careful however, interrogative adjectives modify nouns. If the word after the question word is a verb, then you have an interrogative adverb on hand.

Some examples of interrogative adjectives include what , which , and whose .

Let’s take a look at these in action:

• What drink would you like?
• Which car should we take?
• Whose shoes are these?

Please note: Whose can also fit into the possessive adjective category too.

We can think of proper adjectives as the adjective form of proper nouns – remember those? They were the specific names of people, places, and things and need to be capitalized.

Let’s take the proper noun for the place America . If we wanted to make an adjective out of this proper noun to describe something, say, a car we would get ‘ American car’.

Let’s take a look at another few examples:

• Joe enjoyed his cup of Ethiopian coffee.
• My favorite plays are Shakespearean tragedies.
• No doubt about it, Fender guitars are some of the best in the world.
• The Mona Lisa is a fine example of Renaissance art.

Though it may come as a surprise to some, articles are also adjectives as, like all adjectives, they modify nouns. Articles help us determine a noun’s specification. 

For example, ‘a’ and ‘an’ are used in front of an unspecific noun, while ‘the’ is used when referring to a specific noun.

Let’s see some articles as adjectives in action!

• You will find an apple inside the cupboard.
• This is a car.
• The recipe is a family secret.

Adjectives Teaching Activity: Types of Adjective Tally

• Choose a suitable book and assign an appropriate number of pages or length of a chapter for students to work with.
• Students work their way through each page, tallying up the number of each type of adjective they can identify using a table like the one below:

• Note how degrees of adjective has been split into comparative and superlative. The positive forms will take care of in the descriptive category.
• You may wish to adapt this table to exclude the easier categories to identify, such as articles and demonstrative, for example.

Traditionally, adverbs are defined as those words that modify verbs, but they do so much more than that. They can be used not only to describe how verbs are performed but also to modify adjectives, other adverbs, clauses, prepositions, or entire sentences.

With such a broad range of tasks at the feet of the humble adverb, it would be impossible to cover every possibility in this article alone. However, there are five main types of adverbs our students should familiarize themselves with. These are:

Adverbs of Manner

Adverbs of time, adverbs of frequency, adverbs of place, adverbs of degree.

Adverbs of manner describe how or the way in which something happens or is done. This type of adverb is often the first type taught to students. Many of these end with -ly . Some common examples include happily , quickly , sadly , slowly , and fast .

Here are a few taster sentences employing adverbs of manner:

• She cooks Chinese food well .
• The children played happily together.
• The students worked diligently on their projects.
• Her mother taught her to cross the road carefully .
• The date went badly .

Adverbs of time indicate when something happens. Common adverbs of time include before , now , then , after , already , immediately , and soon .

Here are some sentences employing adverbs of time:

• I go to school early on Wednesdays.
• She would like to finish her studies eventually .
• Recently , Sarah moved to Bulgaria.
• I have already finished my homework.
• They have been missing training lately .

While adverbs of time deal with when something happens, adverbs of frequency are concerned with how often something happens. Common adverbs of frequency include always , frequently , sometimes , seldom , and never .

Here’s what they look like in sentences:

• Harry usually goes to bed around ten.
• Rachel rarely eats breakfast in the morning.
• Often , I’ll go home straight after school.
• I occasionally have ketchup on my pizza.
• She seldom goes out with her friends.

Adverbs of place, as the name suggests, describe where something happens or where it is. They can refer to position, distance, or direction. Some common adverbs of place include above , below , beside , inside , and anywhere .

Check out some examples in the sentences below:

• Underneath the bridge, there lived a troll.
• There were pizzerias everywhere in the city.
• We walked around the park in the pouring rain.
• If the door is open, then go inside .
• When I am older, I would like to live nearby .

Adverbs of degree express the degree to which or how much of something is done. They can also be used to describe levels of intensity. Some common adverbs of degree include barely , little , lots , completely , and entirely .

Here are some adverbs of degree at work in sentences:

• I hardly noticed her when she walked into the room.
• The little girl had almost finished her homework.
• The job was completely finished.
• I was so delighted to hear the good news.
• Jack was totally delighted to see Diane after all these years.

Adverb Teaching Activity: The Adverb Generator

• Give students a worksheet containing a table divided into five columns. Each column bears a heading of one of the different types of adverbs ( manner , time , frequency , place , degree ).
• Challenge each group to generate as many different examples of each adverb type and record these in the table.
• The winning group is the one with the most adverbs. As a bonus, or tiebreaker, task the students to make sentences with some of the adverbs.

Pronouns are used in place of a specific noun used earlier in a sentence. They are helpful when the writer wants to avoid repetitive use of a particular noun such as a name. For example, in the following sentences, the pronoun she is used to stand for the girl’s name Mary after it is used in the first sentence. 

Mary loved traveling. She had been to France, Thailand, and Taiwan already, but her favorite place in the world was Australia. She had never seen an animal quite as curious-looking as the duck-billed platypus.

We also see her used in place of Mary’s in the above passage. There are many different pronouns and, in this article, we’ll take a look at:

Subject Pronouns

Object pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, intensive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns.

Subject pronouns are the type of pronoun most of us think of when we hear the term pronoun . They operate as the subject of a verb in a sentence. They are also known as personal pronouns.

The subject pronouns are:

Here are a few examples of subject pronouns doing what they do best:

• Sarah and I went to the movies last Thursday night.
• That is my pet dog. It is an Irish Wolfhound.
• My friends are coming over tonight, they will be here at seven.
• We won’t all fit into the same car.
• You have done a fantastic job with your grammar homework!

Object pronouns operate as the object of a verb, or a preposition, in a sentence. They act in the same way as object nouns but are used when it is clear what the object is.

The object pronouns are:

Here are a few examples of object pronouns in sentences:

• I told you , this is a great opportunity for you .
• Give her some more time, please.
• I told her I did not want to do it .
• That is for us .
• Catherine is the girl whom I mentioned in my letter.

Possessive pronouns indicate ownership of a noun. For example, in the sentence:

These books are mine .

The word mine stands for my books . It’s important to note that while possessive pronouns look similar to possessive adjectives, their function in a sentence is different.

The possessive pronouns are:

Let’s take a look at how these are used in sentences:

• Yours is the yellow jacket.
• I hope this ticket is mine .
• The train that leaves at midnight is theirs .
• Ours is the first house on the right.
• She is the person whose opinion I value most.
• I believe that is his .

Reflexive pronouns are used in instances where the object and the subject are the same. For example, in the sentence, she did it herself , the words she and herself refer to the same person.

The reflexive pronoun forms are:

Here are a few more examples of reflexive pronouns at work:

• I told myself that numerous times.
• He got himself a new computer with his wages.
• We will go there ourselves .
• You must do it yourself .
• The only thing to fear is fear itself .

This type of pronoun can be used to indicate emphasis. For example, when we write, I spoke to the manager herself , the point is made that we talked to the person in charge and not someone lower down the hierarchy. 

Similar to the reflexive pronouns above, we can easily differentiate between reflexive and intensive pronouns by asking if the pronoun is essential to the sentence’s meaning. If it isn’t, then it is used solely for emphasis, and therefore, it’s an intensive rather than a reflexive pronoun.

Often confused with demonstrative adjectives, demonstrative pronouns can stand alone in a sentence.

When this , that , these , and those are used as demonstrative adjectives they come before the noun they modify. When these same words are used as demonstrative pronouns, they replace a noun rather than modify it.

Here are some examples of demonstrative pronouns in sentences:

• This is delicious.
• That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
• These are not mine.
• Those belong to the driver.

Interrogative pronouns are used to form questions. They are the typical question words that come at the start of questions, with a question mark coming at the end. The interrogative pronouns are:

Putting them into sentences looks like this:

• What is the name of your best friend?
• Which of these is your favourite?
• Who goes to the market with you?
• Whom do you think will win?
• Whose is that?

Pronoun Teaching Activity: Pronoun Review Table

• Provide students with a review table like the one below to revise the various pronoun forms.
• They can use this table to help them produce independent sentences.
• Once students have had a chance to familiarize themselves thoroughly with each of the different types of pronouns, provide the students with the headings and ask them to complete a table from memory.  

Prepositions

Prepositions provide extra information showing the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another part of a sentence. These are usually short words that come directly before nouns or pronouns, e.g., in , at , on , etc.

There are, of course, many different types of prepositions, each relating to particular types of information. In this article, we will look at:

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of place, prepositions of movement, prepositions of manner, prepositions of measure.

• Preposition of Agency
• Preposition of Possession
• Preposition of Source

Phrasal Prepositions

It’s worth noting that several prepositional words make an appearance in several different categories of prepositions.

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens. Common prepositions of time include after , at , before , during , in , on .

Let’s see some of these at work:

• I have been here since Thursday.
• My daughter was born on the first of September.
• He went overseas during the war.
• Before you go, can you pay the bill, please?
• We will go out after work.

Sometimes students have difficulty knowing when to use in , on , or at . These little words are often confused. The table below provides helpful guidance to help students use the right preposition in the right context.

The prepositions of place, in , at , on , will be instantly recognisable as they also double as prepositions of time. Again, students can sometimes struggle a little to select the correct one for the situation they are describing. Some guidelines can be helpful.

• If something is contained or confined inside, we use in .
• If something is placed upon a surface, we use on .
• If something is located at a specific point, we use at .

A few example sentences will assist in illustrating these:

• He is in the house.
• I saw it in a magazine.
• In France, we saw many great works of art.
• Put it on the table.
• We sailed on the river.
• Hang that picture on the wall, please.
• We arrived at the airport just after 1 pm.
• I saw her at university.
• The boy stood at the window.

Usually used with verbs of motion, prepositions of movement indicate movement from one place to another. The most commonly used preposition of movement is to .

Some other prepositions of movement include:

Here’s how they look in some sample sentences:

• The ball rolled across the table towards me.
• We looked up into the sky.
• The children ran past the shop on their way home.
• Jackie ran down the road to greet her friend.
• She walked confidently through the curtains and out onto the stage.

Preposition of manner shows us how something is done or how it happens. The most common of these are by , in , like , on , with .

Let’s take a look at how they work in sentences:

• We went to school by bus.
• During the holidays, they traveled across the Rockies on foot.
• Janet went to the airport in a taxi.
• She played soccer like a professional.
• I greeted her with a smile.

Prepositions of measure are used to indicate quantities and specific units of measurement. The two most common of these are by and of .

Check out these sample sentences:

• I’m afraid we only sell that fabric by the meter.
• I will pay you by the hour.
• She only ate half of the ice cream. I ate the other half.
• A kilogram of apples is the same weight as a kilogram of feathers.

Prepositions of Agency

These prepositions indicate the causal relationship between a noun or pronoun and an action. They show the cause of something happening. The most commonly used prepositions of agency are by and with .

Here are some examples of their use in sentences:

• The Harry Potter series was written by J.K. Rowling.
• This bowl was made by a skilled craftsman.
• His heart was filled with love.
• The glass was filled with water.

Prepositions of Possession

Prepositions of possessions indicate who or what something belongs to. The most common of these are of , to , and with .

Let’s take a look:

• He is the husband of my cousin.
• He is a friend of the mayor.
• This once belonged to my grandmother.
• All these lands belong to the Ministry.
• The man with the hat is waiting outside.
• The boy with the big feet tripped and fell.

Prepositions of Source

Prepositions of source indicate where something comes from or its origins. The two most common prepositions of source are from and by . There is some crossover here with prepositions of agency.

Here are some examples:

• He comes from New Zealand.
• These oranges are from our own orchard.
• I was warmed by the heat of the fire.
• She was hugged by her husband.
• The yoghurt is of Bulgarian origin.

Phrasal prepositions are also known as compound prepositions. These are phrases of two or more words that function in the same way as prepositions. That is, they join nouns or pronouns to the rest of the sentence.

Some common phrasal prepositions are:

• According to
• For a change
• In addition to
• In spite of
• Rather than
• With the exception of

Students should be careful of overusing phrasal prepositions as some of them can seem clichéd. Frequently, it’s best to say things in as few words as is necessary.

Preposition Teaching Activity: Pr eposition Sort

• Print out a selection of the different types of prepositions on pieces of paper.
• Organize students into smaller working groups and provide each group with a set of prepositions.
• Using the headings above as categories, challenge students to sort the prepositions into the correct groups. Note that some prepositions will comfortably fit into more than one group.
• The winning group is the one to sort all prepositions correctly first.
• As an extension exercise, students can select a preposition from each category and write a sample sentence for it.

ConjunctionS

Conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, and clauses. There are three main types of conjunction that are used to join different parts of sentences. These are:

• Coordinating
• Subordinating
• Correlative

Coordinating Conjunctions

These conjunctions are used to join sentence components that are equal such as two words, two phrases, or two clauses. In English, there are seven of these that can be memorized using the mnemonic FANBOYS:

Here are a few example sentences employing coordinating conjunctions:

• As a writer, he needed only a pen and paper.
• I would describe him as strong but lazy.
• Either we go now or not at all.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are used to introduce dependent clauses in sentences. Basically, dependent clauses are parts of sentences that cannot stand as complete sentences on their own. 

Some of the most common subordinate conjunctions are: 

Let’s take a look at some example sentences:

• I will complete it by Tuesday if I have time.
• Although she likes it, she won’t buy it.
• Jack will give it to you after he finds it.

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are like shoes; they come in pairs. They work together to make sentences work. Some come correlative conjunctions are:

• either / or
• neither / nor
• Not only / but also

Let’s see how some of these work together:

• If I were you, I would get either the green one or the yellow one.
• John wants neither pity nor help.
• I don’t know whether you prefer horror or romantic movies.

Conjunction Teaching Activity: Conjunction Challenge

• Organize students into Talking Pairs .
• Partner A gives Partner B an example of a conjunction.
• Partner B must state which type of conjunction it is, e.g. coordinating, subordinating, or correlative.
• Partner B must then compose a sentence that uses the conjunction correctly and tell it to Partner A.
• Partners then swap roles.

InterjectionS

Interjections focus on feelings and are generally grammatically unrelated to the rest of the sentence or sentences around them. They convey thoughts and feelings and are common in our speech. They are often followed by exclamation marks in writing. Interjections include expressions such as:

• Eww! That is so gross!
• Oh , I don’t know. I’ve never used one before.
• That’s very… err …generous of you, I suppose.
• Wow! That is fantastic news!
• Uh-Oh! I don’t have any more left.

Interjection Teaching Activity: Create a scenario

• Once students clearly understand what interjections are, brainstorm as a class as many as possible.
• Write a master list of interjections on the whiteboard.
• Partner A suggests an interjection word or phrase to Partner B.
• Partner B must create a fictional scenario where this interjection would be used appropriately.

With a good grasp of the fundamentals of parts of speech, your students will now be equipped to do a deeper dive into the wild waters of English grammar. 

To learn more about the twists and turns of English grammar, check out our comprehensive article on English grammar here.

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, figurative language, definition of figurative language, types of figurative language, common examples of figurative language, significance of figurative language in literature.

Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle (Greek) and Quintilian (Roman) were some of the first to theorize about the use and function of figurative language. Aristotle argued that figurative language was not merely an embellishment, but instead mirror the way humans actually process information, which is to say by comparing it to things we already know. Thus, when we use the simile, “Her fleece was white as snow,” this isn’t to provide a trivial comparison but instead to help the reader or listener imagine the purity of Mary’s lamb’s fleece.

Examples of Figurative Language in Literature

Example #1: allusion.

Are you then Virgil, the fountainhead that pours so full a stream of speech?” I answered him, my head bent low in shame.” O glory and light of all other poets, let my long study and great love avail that made me delve so deep into your volume. You are my teacher and my author. You are the one from whom alone I took the noble style that has brought me honor.”

( Inferno by Dante Alighieri)

Example #2: Metaphor

JAQUES: All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances

William Shakespeare used numerous examples of figurative language in his plays and poetry. Indeed, most literary devices can be found somewhere in his texts. The above quote from his comedy As You Like It is one of the most famous examples of metaphor in all of literature. The character of Jaques is explaining to the Duke that life is much like actors in a play. Indeed, Jaques doesn’t just say that the world is “like” a stage; he avers that life is indeed a stage. This is a powerful metaphor from Shakespeare’s works as it explains what was most likely a truism for Shakespeare’s own life.

Example #3: Metonymy

MARC ANTONY: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

Metonymy uses a part of the whole to refer to the whole. In this case, Marc Antony asks friends and Romans to “lend [him their] ears.” He is using the metonymic understanding of “ears” to refer to the entirety of their attention. He is, perhaps, being a bit humble in this request, as his eulogy for Caesar turns out to be a feat of rhetoric. Marc Anthony uses many different examples of figurative language to build his emotional appeal and connect with the listeners.

Example #4: Personification

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered— Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before— On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.” Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

(“The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe)

Example #5: Hyperbole

I’ll love you, dear, I’ll love you Till China and Africa meet, And the river jumps over the mountain And the salmon sing in the street, I’ll love you till the ocean Is folded and hung up to dry

Test Your Knowledge of Figurative Language

But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

A. Metaphor B. Allusion C. Metonymy [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: A is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

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personification

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• Literary Devices - Personification

personification , figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object.

An example is “The Moon doth with delight / Look round her when the heavens are bare” ( William Wordsworth , “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood,” 1807). Another is “Death lays his icy hand on kings” ( James Shirley , “The Glories of Our Blood and State,” 1659).

Personification has appeared in European poetry since ancient times, when Homer used it in the Iliad and the Odyssey . It is particularly common in allegory ; for example, the medieval morality play Everyman (15th century) and the Christian prose allegory Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) by John Bunyan contain characters such as Death, Fellowship, Knowledge, Giant Despair, Sloth, Hypocrisy, and Piety. Personification became almost an automatic mannerism in 18th-century Neoclassical poetry, as exemplified by these lines from Thomas Gray ’s “An Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard” (1751):

Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth A Youth, to Fortune and to Fame unknown: Fair Science frown’d not on his humble birth, And Melancholy mark’d him for her own.

Figurative Language: Definition, Examples and Different Types

We are going to look at figurative language. We will discuss what it is and how it can be used by looking at some examples. We will also look at the various different types of figurative language which are used in the English language.

Figurative Language Video by 7ESL

Figurative language is an essential aspect of expressive writing and communication, as it enables authors and speakers to convey their message through creative and imaginative means. Utilizing various literary devices such as similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia, figurative language allows for the enhancement of meaning and emotional impact in written and spoken communication. By employing these techniques, writers can create vivid imagery and connect with their audience on a deeper, more emotional level.

Figurative Language

Figurative Language Definition

Figurative language is a way of speaking or writing which is in a non-literal sense and is designed to have more of an impact on the subject it is referring to. It is used to add a more vivid or imaginative description of something, someone, or a situation.

When using figurative language, the speaker wishes to convey something in a way that is not usual in everyday language. It will have a more rhetorical meaning and may not seem to make sense until the listener understands the concept of figurative language.

When used in a literary sense, figurative language adds new layers to the meaning of the text and can create a more emotional, deep response for the reader.

Similes and metaphors are among the most common forms of figurative language. Similes are comparisons between two seemingly different things using the words “like” or “as,” while metaphors make similar comparisons without the use of these connectors. Personification occurs when human characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, whereas hyperbole refers to intentional exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. Idioms, on the other hand, are commonly used expressions whose meanings differ from their literal definitions, often providing a unique cultural insight.

Types of Figurative Language

There are different types of figurative language. These forms of figurative language serve to engage readers, enrich the language, and breathe life into otherwise mundane expressions. By employing these diverse techniques, writers can evoke a wide range of emotions and reactions from their readers, ultimately enhancing the overall quality and depth of their work.

Let’s take a look at them.

A metaphor is a phrase describing something as something that is not in reality. It is used to compare two things symbolically. A metaphor literally describes something as something it is not. A good example of a metaphor would be ‘ Love is a battlefield .’

Another example, “ Her eyes were shining stars ” is a metaphor that compares a person’s eyes to stars, implying the brightness of the eyes.

A simile is a type of figurative language that is used to compare one thing against another. Similes compare the likeness of two things and often feature the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. An example of this would be ‘ her smile was as bright as the sun in the sky.’

Another example of a simile would be,  “ His face was as red as a tomato ,” which compares the redness of someone’s face to the color of a tomato.

A hyperbole is a figure of speech that exaggerates the meaning of a sentence. For example, you could say ‘ My granddad is as old as time. ‘

Another example of hyperbole would be, “ I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse .” Obviously, no one could actually eat a horse, but this statement conveys a sense of extreme hunger.

An idiom is a phrase that bears no literal meaning to the situation it is describing but it implies the facts or story behind it. For example, ‘ there is a silver lining in every cloud .’ This does not mean that there are silver linings inside clouds but it is referring to the fact that in a bad situation, good can always be found.

Idioms are often specific to a language, culture, or region and might not make sense when translated. Some more examples of idioms are “ break a leg ” (meaning “good luck”) and “ barking up the wrong tree ” (meaning “pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action”).

Personification

Personification is a type of figurative language. It is used to give an inanimate object or item a sense of being alive. The speaker would talk to the object as if it could understand and was intelligent. This helps create a more vivid and relatable image for the reader.

For example, “ The wind whispered through the trees ” paints a picture of a gentle breeze by giving it the human action of whispering.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a form of figurative language in which words that are used to describe a sound actually resemble the sound they are referring to. These words can create sensory images and enhance the reader’s experience. Examples of onomatopoeia include “ buzz ” (to imitate the sound of a bee) and “ bang ” (to imitate the sound of a loud noise or explosion).

An oxymoron is a term that features two words that appear to contradict each other but make sense of the situation overall. This rhetorical device is often used for humor or to make a point. Examples include “jumbo shrimp,” “civil war,” and “deafening silence.”

Symbolism is another form of figurative language that is used to express an abstract idea using an item or words. For example, a red rose can symbolize love, while a black cat can symbolize bad luck or evil. Symbolism is often used to add depth and meaning to a story, poem, or other literary work.

Alliteration

Alliteration is a type of figurative speech in which the repetition of letters or sounds is used within one sentence. Examples include “ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers ” and “ She sells seashells by the seashore .”

Puns are a form of figurative language that creates a play on words. They add an extra meaning to a subject and are often seen as a form of joke or to be humorous. Examples include “ Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana ” and “ A horse is a very stable animal. ”

A form of figurative speech is irony . This is when a statement made is directly contradictory to reality. It is also used to convey a style of sarcasm. There are several types of irony, including verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony.

Verbal irony occurs when a speaker says something but means the opposite. For example, if it’s raining outside and someone says, “ What a lovely day !” that would be verbal irony.

Situational irony occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. For example, if a fire station burns down, that would be situational irony.

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not. For example, if a character in a play is about to make a bad decision, and the audience knows it’s a bad decision but the character doesn’t, that would be dramatic irony.

A synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something represents the whole or the whole represents a part. It is used to emphasize specific aspects of an object or idea. For example, “wheels” may be used to represent a car, or “all hands on deck” implies that the whole crew is needed.

Metonymy is a figure of speech where an attribute or component of something is used to represent the whole thing. This is often used for symbolic or poetic purposes. Examples include referring to the government as “the White House” or the film industry as “Hollywood.”

Allusion refers to a figure of speech where the author makes a reference to another work, event, person, or idea, without directly mentioning it. This can help create deeper meaning and connections for the reader. Examples include referencing Shakespeare’s Hamlet with “To be or not to be” or referring to a historical event like the Titanic when describing a disaster.

Assonance is a figure of speech that involves the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. This can help create a musical effect within the text. Examples include “ The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain ” and “ The early bird catches the worm. ”

Litotes is a figure of speech that uses understatement or negative expressions to emphasize a point or create a positive effect. This rhetorical device often employs double negatives or contrasting statements. Examples include “ It’s not the worst idea in the world ” or “ I’m not unhappy with the results .”

A paradox is a figure of speech that presents a seemingly contradictory statement that, when considered more closely, may reveal a deeper truth. Examples include “ Less is more ” and “ The only constant is change .”

Anaphora is a figure of speech that uses the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences, clauses, or lines. This repetition can help create emphasis and establish a rhythm in the text. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr.’s “ I Have a Dream ” speech and Charles Dickens’ opening lines in A Tale of Two Cities, “ It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. ”

When the above things are used in spoken English they can add an extra flair to a conversation that may otherwise have a less dramatic meaning. The speaker is able to more easily convey the depth, urgency, or importance of a matter by using one of these rhetorical devices . It is extremely common for native speakers to use these figures of speech without thinking about it and so they are often heard in conversation.

When used in written text such as fiction, poetry, song, or script literary devices such as onomatopoeia or alliteration can add a new layer and make a text more interesting to read. It can also be used to further describe the emotions of characters or situations within a literary piece which enables the reader to create a clearer picture in their mind of what the author is referring to.

Figurative Language: Function and Impact

Emphasis and understatement.

Figurative language functions as a powerful tool that allows writers to emphasize certain ideas and create understatement by using literary devices like idioms, metaphors, or hyperboles. By employing these devices, authors can direct the reader’s attention to significant aspects of the text, thereby reinforcing the overall theme or message. For example, an understatement like “It’s just a scratch,” when referring to a significant wound, can create a sense of irony or sarcasm, while emphasis through exaggeration can convey the intensity of a situation.

Imagery and Symbolism

Another essential function of figurative language is the creation of vivid imagery and symbolism. By using descriptive words and phrases, writers can paint a more detailed picture in the reader’s mind, making the scene or character more memorable. Imagery engages the reader’s senses, drawing them into the story and helping them forge a stronger connection with the text. Symbolism adds depth by attaching additional meanings to particular objects, characters, or situations, which may not be apparent through a literal interpretation.

Descriptive Words and Sensory Connection

Through the use of descriptive words , figurative language allows readers to establish a sensory connection with the text. By appealing to the reader’s sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell, authors can stimulate the reader’s imagination and evoke emotions. This sensory connection makes the text more relatable and engaging, fostering a stronger bond between the reader and the content.

For example, consider the following simile:

• Her voice was like a soft breeze rustling through the trees.

This figurative comparison elicits the image of a gentle wind, creating a calming atmosphere and establishing an auditory connection with the reader.

Literal Meaning and Literal Language

While figurative language is essential in creating emphasis, imagery, and sensory experiences, it exists alongside literal language in a balance that significantly impacts reader comprehension. Literal meaning provides a straightforward interpretation of words or phrases, whereas figurative language involves deliberate deviation from literal meaning to convey a deeper or more nuanced message. By skillfully navigating between the two, authors ensure that their intended meaning comes across clearly, while still maintaining the richness and subtlety afforded by figurative devices.

Figurative Language Examples

We are now going to take a look at some examples of the different types of figurative language which we have discussed. We will separate the examples into the different categories listed above to make it easier to see which one fits where.

Examples of Similes

Here are some examples of similes.

• As strong as an ox.
• As brave as a lion.
• As tall as a skyscraper.
• As hot as hell.
• As hard as nails.
• As light as a feather.
• As tough as old boots.
• As bright as a button.
• As shiny as a penny.
• As common as muck.
• As white as a sheet.
• As tall as a chimney.
• As bold as brass.
• As cool as a cucumber.
• As wet as water.
• As sweet as sugar.
• As pleased as punch.
• As slow as a sloth.

Examples of Metaphors

Here are some examples of metaphors.

• She was a shining star.
• A blanket of snow.
• She cried a river of tears.
• My mother-in-law is a dragon.
• The classroom was a zoo.
• She is a night owl.
• Steve is a couch potato.
• My husband is a pig
• She is an airhead.
• They were two peas in a pod.
• Life is a rollercoaster.
• Mary is ice cold.
• The lake was a mirror
• My brother is a monster.
• I have seven rug rats.

Examples of Oxymorons

Here are some examples of oxymorons

• Bittersweet
• Pretty ugly
• Alone together
• Act naturally
• Definitely maybe
• Clearly confused
• Farewell reception
• Deafening silence
• Jumbo shrimp
• Growing smaller
• Only choice
• Open secret
• Original copy
• Random order
• Sweet sorrow
• Walking dead
• Honest thief
• Quite incredible
• Old fashioned
• Deeply superficial

Examples of Hyperboles

Here are some examples of hyperboles.

• She ran faster than the wind.
• This bag weighs a tonne.
• You have enough food to feed the five thousand.
• That boy is as tall as a giraffe.
• My mom is going to kill me.
• She has a mile wide smile.
• This job is impossible.
• I am drowning in my sorrows.
• My holiday is never going to arrive.
• He is my guardian angel.
• The trees are dancing in the wind.
• You have a brain the size of a pea.
• I have told you a million times not to do that.
• I could eat a horse.
• I have a thousand and one things to do.

Examples of Idioms

Here are some examples of idioms.

• A picture paints a thousand words-which means that a picture can explain something better than many words could.
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder-which means that beauty is seen differently according to who is looking.
• Add fuel to the fire = which means to make a situation worse by your action.
• As easy as pie-which means that something is very easy.
• Break the bank-which means to spend more money than you have.
• Get a kick out of it-which means that someone gets a thrill from something.
• We are in the same boat-which means that two people are in the same situation.
• A blessing in disguise-which refers to something that seems bad but actually turns out to be beneficial.
• A dime a dozen-which means that something is cheap.
• Beat around the bush – which means avoid getting straight to the point.
• A chip on the shoulder – which means that someone has a bad attitude.
• Cutting corners-which means missing out on parts of a job.
• Let someone off the hook – which means to let someone get away with a mistake or wrongdoing.
• Go back to the drawing board – which means to go back to making the initial plans.
• Rub someone up the wrong way-which means to annoy someone.
• Cross that bridge when we come to it-which means to face an issue when it arises.
• Wrap your head around something-which means to understand a complex issue.
• Break a leg-which means good luck.
• Sing your heart out-which means to sing well and a lot.
• Hit the hay-which means to go to bed.
• It takes two to tango-which means it takes two people to create a situation.
• Kill two birds with one stone-which means to complete two tasks by only doing one thing.

Examples of Personification

Here are some examples of how personification is used in sentences.

• Please work the phone, I need to make a call.
• Come on you stupid computer, why won’t you turn on?
• Help me find what I’m looking for dictionary, please.
• Where are you whisk? I need to start baking.
• Where are you hiding the pencil? I could have sworn I left you on the table.
• Why are you so heavy, suitcase?
• Come on car, why do you keep breaking down?
• Why don’t you last a long bar of chocolate?

Examples of S ymbolism

Here are some examples to show how symbolism can work in a sentence.

• The black death killed many people all those years ago.
• We had to put out a red alert.
• We desperately want to get on the property ladder.
• My son has been in hospital but he has been a lion.
• After our argument, I offered her an olive branch.
• The time after the war was dove-like.
• We had disputed long enough so I raised a white flag.
• He gave her a red rose to show how much he loved her.
• He is so wise that he rivals the owl.

Examples of Alliteration

Here are some examples of alliteration being used in a sentence.

• She sells seashells on the seashore.
• The horse’s hooves hobbled along the hillside.
• Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer ran around the road.
• Eagles end up eating entrails.
• Any aunts are appreciated.
• Fog filled the flora in the forest.

Examples of Onomatopoeia

Here are some examples of onomatopoeia being used in sentences.

• The horse neighed when I rode him.
• The sausages sizzled in the frying pan.
• My cough made a loud hacking sound.
• The ghost said boo.
• The wind whistled through the trees.
• The cat purred as he stroked it.
• The bird’s wings made a fluttering sound.
• The car zoomed past us on the road.
• The ball boinged up against the wall.
• The leaves rustled under my feet.
• The waterfall splashed into the canyon.
• The broken tap dripped all the time.
• In the jungle, you can hear the monkeys chatter.
• There was a bang which woke me from my sleep.
• The clock ticked quietly in the corner.
• The sound of the buzzing bees was prominent in the meadow.
• There was a huge metallic clang when I dropped the pan.
• I gasped in horror when I saw the car crash.
• I can hear the moo of the cows through the open window.
• The train chugged along the tracks.
• At night, you can hear the owls hooting outside.
• The frogs croaked loudly on the pond.
• It made a slapping sound as I hit the ground.
• My husband grunted when I told him that we were going to my parent’s for dinner.

Examples of Puns

Here are some examples of what a pun would sound like.

• An egg in the morning is hard to beat.
• A horse is a very stable animal.
• The opinion of an elephant carries a lot of weight.
• A good pun is its own reward.
• I bet someone a cut of beef the other day, he wouldn’t match me as he said the steaks were too high.
• Did you hear about the optician who made a spectacle of himself?
• The helpers of Santa are subordinate clauses.
• How do you communicate with a fish? You drop them a line.
• A cat ate some cheese and then he awaited the arrival of a mouse with bated breath.
• They have created a flea from scratch.
• What did the duck say to the barkeep? Put it on my bill.
• Black Beauty was a dark horse.
• I fixed my trousers at the library, that was a turn-up for the books.

Examples of Synecdoche

Another form of figurative language is synecdoche. This is when a whole is represented by a part or vice versa. Here are some examples of how synecdoche works in a sentence.

• At school, we learn our ABCs
• My little sister is currently learning her 123s.
• My sister always pays for her plastic when she goes shopping.
• I am getting my first set of wheels once I pass my driving test.
• He is going to ask for her hand.
• We need to put some wind in the sails.
• The employers needed a lot of hired hands to complete all the work that needed to be done.
• At the party, we cracked open the bubbly.
• the employed the boots out into the field.
• I enjoy tickling the ivories.
• He goes out to earn the bread.

Examples of Irony

Here are some examples of how irony is used in a sentence.

• When he stepped out into the thunderstorm, he exclaimed ‘What lovely we are having.’
• The irony of the situation was that the robbers targeted the police station.
• The marriage counselor ended up getting a divorce from her husband.
• I posted on Facebook about how bad Facebook is.
• He claims to be an animal rights activist but he wears a fur coat.
• The ambulance arrived at the heart attack patient but ended up running him over.
• She was a cobbler yet her children had no shoes.
• I won the lottery on my retirement day.

Examples of Figurative Language in Literature and Pop Culture

Figurative language is often used in literature to evoke strong emotions or create vivid imagery. Let’s examine some of the common types of figurative language, with examples from literature and pop culture.

Similes use the words “like” or “as” to compare two different things. In literature, they can be used to make descriptions more vivid and memorable. For example, in Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind,” a simile is used to describe a character’s curiosity: “The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key.”

Metaphors are a direct comparison between two different things without using the words “like” or “as.” These can be found in literature as well as in everyday language. For example, the famous line in Shakespeare’s “ Romeo and Juliet “: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Allusions occur when a work references another text, person, place, or event. These references can be used to create connections between different works or to add depth to a story. An example of allusion can be found in the poem “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot, which has several references to classical literature, such as the myth of the Sibyl and the story of Tiresias.

Symbolism uses symbols to represent an idea or quality. This can be found in literature and various forms of pop culture. For example, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” the letter “A” is a symbol representing Hester Prynne’s sin and her status as an adulterer. In pop culture, symbols can be found in movies, music, and artwork.

Figurative Language in Pop Culture

Figurative language is not limited to literature; it can also be found in music, television, movies, and other forms of popular culture. For example, in the song “Juicy” by Notorious B.I.G., the word “limelight” is used metaphorically to represent fame, as the line goes: “Now I’m in the limelight ’cause I rhyme tight.”

Another example would be in the movie “The Lion King,” where Mufasa’s spirit appearing in the clouds and telling Simba to “remember who you are” serves as a metaphor for remembering one’s roots and staying true to oneself.

Importance of Figurative Language

Career development.

Figurative language can enhance various aspects of an individual’s career. Professionals in fields such as marketing, advertising, and public relations use figurative language to create more compelling and persuasive content. For example, descriptive words, metaphors, and analogies can help explain complex ideas and engage the target audience. Additionally, understanding figurative language is essential in fields like finance and management; for instance, in the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), management may use metaphors to explain complex concepts.

Communication Tool

Figurative language serves as a powerful communication tool, allowing speakers and writers to convey complex ideas, emotions, and experiences more effectively. Examples of figurative language include:

• Oxymorons, which express contradictory meanings to highlight a concept or idea
• Hyperbole, which involves exaggeration to emphasize a point or create a comedic effect
• Cliché, which refers to overused expressions that can help quickly communicate ideas

By using these devices, individuals can enrich their spoken and written communication, making it more engaging and relatable to the audience.

Writing Skills

Developing a strong grasp of figurative language can significantly improve one’s writing skills. It enables authors to create vivid imagery, strengthen arguments, and evoke emotions in readers. For example, using descriptive words, similes, and metaphors can make even mundane descriptions come to life, painting a more vibrant picture for the reader. In turn, this can lead to more engaging content, whether in the form of fiction, non-fiction, or professional writing.

Engaging and Conveying a Message

Figurative language plays a crucial role in helping writers and speakers engage their audience and convey their intended message. By tapping into emotions, figurative language can make complex or abstract concepts more accessible, enabling the audience to better understand and connect with the content. For instance, using analogies and metaphors helps frame challenging ideas in relatable terms, while personification allows readers or listeners to identify with non-human objects.

In summary, figurative language is an essential aspect of communication and writing that can aid in career development, serve as an effective communication tool, improve writing skills, and help engage audiences and convey messages. By mastering various figurative language devices, individuals can elevate their spoken and written communication, making it more dynamic and impactful.

To sum it up, figurative language is used to add impact and extra description in a non-literal sense to what you are saying. There are many ways in which you can do this and there are different types of figurative language for different types of situations.

FAQs on Figurative Language

What is figurative language?

Figurative language is a manner of expression that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to deliver a message or emphasize a point. It is often used in narrative writing to make emotional connections with the reader and to enrich the text with artistic or engaging elements.

What are some common types of figurative language?

There are several types of figurative language, with the most common ones being:

• Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as” (e.g., Her eyes shone like stars).
• Metaphor: A direct comparison between two, unlike things without using “like” or “as” (e.g., Time is a thief).
• Personification: Attributing human characteristics to nonhuman entities or objects to make them more relatable (e.g., The chair squealed in pain when the hammer smashed it).
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect (e.g., I could sleep for a year).
• Idiom: A common expression with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation of its words (e.g., Break a leg).

When should figurative language be used?

Figurative language should be used when the writer wants to create a strong emotional impact, evoke vivid images, or generate a memorable impression. It can be applied in poetry, prose, and various forms of writing, such as essays , novels, and short stories. However, it is crucial not to overuse figurative language, as it may cause confusion and detract from the clarity of the text.

How does figurative language enhance writing?

By deviating from the literal meaning of words, figurative language adds another layer of depth and richness to the writing, making it more engaging and enjoyable for readers. It helps provoke thought, create emotional connections, and bring abstract concepts to life. In addition, figurative language can introduce humor or irony, develop vivid imagery, and establish a distinct style or tone in the text.

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• Knowledge Base
• Parts of speech

The 8 Parts of Speech | Chart, Definition & Examples

A part of speech (also called a word class ) is a category that describes the role a word plays in a sentence. Understanding the different parts of speech can help you analyze how words function in a sentence and improve your writing.

The parts of speech are classified differently in different grammars, but most traditional grammars list eight parts of speech in English: nouns , pronouns , verbs , adjectives , adverbs , prepositions , conjunctions , and interjections . Some modern grammars add others, such as determiners and articles .

Many words can function as different parts of speech depending on how they are used. For example, “laugh” can be a noun (e.g., “I like your laugh”) or a verb (e.g., “don’t laugh”).

Table of contents

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions
• Interjections

Other parts of speech

Interesting language articles, frequently asked questions.

A noun is a word that refers to a person, concept, place, or thing. Nouns can act as the subject of a sentence (i.e., the person or thing performing the action) or as the object of a verb (i.e., the person or thing affected by the action).

There are numerous types of nouns, including common nouns (used to refer to nonspecific people, concepts, places, or things), proper nouns (used to refer to specific people, concepts, places, or things), and collective nouns (used to refer to a group of people or things).

Ella lives in France .

Other types of nouns include countable and uncountable nouns , concrete nouns , abstract nouns , and gerunds .

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A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. Pronouns typically refer back to an antecedent (a previously mentioned noun) and must demonstrate correct pronoun-antecedent agreement . Like nouns, pronouns can refer to people, places, concepts, and things.

There are numerous types of pronouns, including personal pronouns (used in place of the proper name of a person), demonstrative pronouns (used to refer to specific things and indicate their relative position), and interrogative pronouns (used to introduce questions about things, people, and ownership).

That is a horrible painting!

A verb is a word that describes an action (e.g., “jump”), occurrence (e.g., “become”), or state of being (e.g., “exist”). Verbs indicate what the subject of a sentence is doing. Every complete sentence must contain at least one verb.

Verbs can change form depending on subject (e.g., first person singular), tense (e.g., simple past), mood (e.g., interrogative), and voice (e.g., passive voice ).

Regular verbs are verbs whose simple past and past participle are formed by adding“-ed” to the end of the word (or “-d” if the word already ends in “e”). Irregular verbs are verbs whose simple past and past participles are formed in some other way.

“I’ve already checked twice.”

“I heard that you used to sing .”

Other types of verbs include auxiliary verbs , linking verbs , modal verbs , and phrasal verbs .

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. Adjectives can be attributive , appearing before a noun (e.g., “a red hat”), or predicative , appearing after a noun with the use of a linking verb like “to be” (e.g., “the hat is red ”).

Adjectives can also have a comparative function. Comparative adjectives compare two or more things. Superlative adjectives describe something as having the most or least of a specific characteristic.

Other types of adjectives include coordinate adjectives , participial adjectives , and denominal adjectives .

An adverb is a word that can modify a verb, adjective, adverb, or sentence. Adverbs are often formed by adding “-ly” to the end of an adjective (e.g., “slow” becomes “slowly”), although not all adverbs have this ending, and not all words with this ending are adverbs.

There are numerous types of adverbs, including adverbs of manner (used to describe how something occurs), adverbs of degree (used to indicate extent or degree), and adverbs of place (used to describe the location of an action or event).

Talia writes quite quickly.

Other types of adverbs include adverbs of frequency , adverbs of purpose , focusing adverbs , and adverbial phrases .

A preposition is a word (e.g., “at”) or phrase (e.g., “on top of”) used to show the relationship between the different parts of a sentence. Prepositions can be used to indicate aspects such as time , place , and direction .

I left the cup on the kitchen counter.

A conjunction is a word used to connect different parts of a sentence (e.g., words, phrases, or clauses).

The main types of conjunctions are coordinating conjunctions (used to connect items that are grammatically equal), subordinating conjunctions (used to introduce a dependent clause), and correlative conjunctions (used in pairs to join grammatically equal parts of a sentence).

You can choose what movie we watch because I chose the last time.

An interjection is a word or phrase used to express a feeling, give a command, or greet someone. Interjections are a grammatically independent part of speech, so they can often be excluded from a sentence without affecting the meaning.

Types of interjections include volitive interjections (used to make a demand or request), emotive interjections (used to express a feeling or reaction), cognitive interjections (used to indicate thoughts), and greetings and parting words (used at the beginning and end of a conversation).

Ouch ! I hurt my arm.

I’m, um , not sure.

The traditional classification of English words into eight parts of speech is by no means the only one or the objective truth. Grammarians have often divided them into more or fewer classes. Other commonly mentioned parts of speech include determiners and articles.

• Determiners

A determiner is a word that describes a noun by indicating quantity, possession, or relative position.

Common types of determiners include demonstrative determiners (used to indicate the relative position of a noun), possessive determiners (used to describe ownership), and quantifiers (used to indicate the quantity of a noun).

My brother is selling his old car.

Other types of determiners include distributive determiners , determiners of difference , and numbers .

An article is a word that modifies a noun by indicating whether it is specific or general.

• The definite article the is used to refer to a specific version of a noun. The can be used with all countable and uncountable nouns (e.g., “the door,” “the energy,” “the mountains”).
• The indefinite articles a and an refer to general or unspecific nouns. The indefinite articles can only be used with singular countable nouns (e.g., “a poster,” “an engine”).

There’s a concert this weekend.

If you want to know more about nouns , pronouns , verbs , and other parts of speech, make sure to check out some of our language articles with explanations and examples.

Nouns & pronouns

• Common nouns
• Proper nouns
• Collective nouns
• Personal pronouns
• Uncountable and countable nouns
• Verb tenses
• Phrasal verbs
• Types of verbs
• Active vs passive voice
• Subject-verb agreement

A is an indefinite article (along with an ). While articles can be classed as their own part of speech, they’re also considered a type of determiner .

The indefinite articles are used to introduce nonspecific countable nouns (e.g., “a dog,” “an island”).

In is primarily classed as a preposition, but it can be classed as various other parts of speech, depending on how it is used:

• Preposition (e.g., “ in the field”)
• Noun (e.g., “I have an in with that company”)
• Adjective (e.g., “Tim is part of the in crowd”)
• Adverb (e.g., “Will you be in this evening?”)

As a part of speech, and is classed as a conjunction . Specifically, it’s a coordinating conjunction .

And can be used to connect grammatically equal parts of a sentence, such as two nouns (e.g., “a cup and plate”), or two adjectives (e.g., “strong and smart”). And can also be used to connect phrases and clauses.

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Synecdoche Definition

What is synecdoche? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, a part of something is used to refer to its whole . For example, "The captain commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part. A less common form of synecdoche occurs when a whole is used to refer to a part . An example of this is when the word "mortals" is used to mean humans—"mortals" technically includes all animals and plants (anything that dies), so using "mortals" to mean humans is a synecdoche that uses a category to stand in for one of its subsets.

Some additional key details about synecdoche:

• Generations of writers have used synecdoche in both poetry and prose.
• Synecdoche is a device used in many idioms, colloquial expressions, and slang terms.
• One common form of synecdoche uses a body part (hand, heart, head, eyes, etc.) to stand in for an entire person.

How to Pronounce Synecdoche

Here's how to pronounce synecdoche: sih- nek -duh-kee

Wholes, Parts, and Synecdoche

A synecdoche occurs when a part stands in for a whole, or a whole stands in for a part. To recognize synecdoche it's helpful to understand that there are different sorts of wholes and parts. The most common types of wholes and parts are:

• A physical structure and its parts: "All hands on deck!" is a part-to-whole synecdoche of this sort because "hands" stand in for the sailors of which they are physically a part.
• An object and the material it is made of: In this sort of synecdoche, the whole can be thought of as the thing's essence— what the thing truly is—while the part is its matter, the physical material that makes it up but which doesn't define that full essence. "Are you paying with plastic?" is a synecdoche in which plastic, a material, stands in for a credit card, which, as a monetary device, is much more than its material.
• A container and what it contains: "Can I buy you a glass?" refers not to the glass itself; it is a synecdoche in which "glass" refers to the drink inside it.
• A category and the items in those categories: "America took home gold" is a whole-to-part synecdoche in which the larger category of "America" is used to stand in only for American olympians. This type of synecdoche can also be part-to-whole. For example, "The citizens were all put to the sword" is a synecdoche in which the term "sword" stands in for the entire category of weapons used to kill.

Synecdoche vs. Metonymy

Synecdoche is related to (and commonly confused with) metonymy . While these two figures of speech are similar, they are not the same. Both metonymy and synecdoche do create a relationship in which one thing or idea stands in for another, but the specifics of these relationships are different:

• In synecdoche , the relationship is one of either part-to-whole or whole-to-part.
• In metonymy , the relationship between the two things is not part-to-whole or whole-to-part, but is rather one of being closely conceptually related. For example, the phrase "The pen is mightier than the sword" contains two metonymies: one in which "pen" stands in for writing, and another in which "sword" stands in for physical power. A pen is not a part of writing, and a sword is not part of physical power—each thing is related to the concept it evokes.

Some people actually consider synecdoche to be a subset of metonymy, since to be a part of something is, by definition, to be closely related to that thing. Other people believe that the two terms are completely distinct—that metonymy can only occur when it proposes a relationship between two things that are not part of one another, and that synecdoche can never be simultaneously metonymy. There's no definitive consensus on which of these two ways of seeing metonymy and synecdoche is correct, so you should just know that the debate exists.

Fuzziness Between Synecdoche and Metonymy

In addition, in some cases it can be difficult to distinguish whether two things are related-but-separate or are a part of one another. For example, in the phrase "he asked for her hand in marriage," a woman's hand stands in for her whole person (her suitor wants to marry her , not just her hand, and her hand is a part of her body). Yet, because exchanging rings is a traditional part of marriage, it can be argued that the woman's hand is symbolically related to marriage. So is the phrase "he asked for her hand in marriage" a synecdoche, or is it both a synecdoche and a metonymy? To be honest, there's no definitive right answer. But if you know enough to be able to explain why someone might claim it's either synecdoche, or metonymy, or both, you almost certainly know enough about synecdoche.

Synecdoche Examples

Synecdoche appears often in everyday speech, often as a part of idioms that have become so well known that few people ever stop to think about the fact that these expressions don't mean what they literally say. Synecdoche also commonly appears in all sorts of literature, from prose to poetry.

Synecdoche Examples in Idioms and Everyday Language

Synecdoche is used in many common idioms , and it has become ingrained in the way we use language in our day-to-day lives. The meaning of some of the following examples may seem so obvious or literal that you may be surprised to discover that each one is, in fact, a synecdoche:

• "Nice wheels!" A synecdoche in which "wheels" stand in for the car that they are a part of.
• "Hurry up, gray beard!" A not very polite synecdoche, in which an old man's "gray beard" stands in for his whole being.
• "What's the head count?" The person asking this question is interested not just in the number of heads, but rather in the number of people to whom the heads belong.
• "Denver won 4-2" A whole-to-part synecdoche in which the name of the entire city of Denver is used to mean one of its sports teams.
• "The brains helped me with my homework." A part-to-whole synecdoche in which smart students are referred to as "brains"—the brain being, of course, only one part of them.
• Many people use brand names to refer to generic-brand products; this is a type of synecdoche because the brand-name product is just one subset of a broader category. So if you call all facial tissues "Kleenex," call all adhesive bandages "Band-aids," or drink "Coke" whenever you're having a soft drink, you're using a synecdoche.

Synecdoche Examples in Literature

Synecdoche is frequently used in both poetry and prose.

Synecdoche in Beloved by Toni Morrison

In Toni Morrison's novel Beloved , the character Baby Suggs employs synecdoche in a sermon:

Yonder they do not love your flesh. They despise it. They don't love your eyes; they'd just as soon pick em out. No more do they love the skin on your back.

In this context, "your flesh," "your eyes," and "the skin on your back," all stand in for "you." Baby Suggs is speaking of the hostility and violence that her community of freed slaves faces from white people. By describing her people as body parts rather than as whole people, Baby Suggs also emphasizes how the white people she describes dehumanize black people.

Synecdoche in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth , an angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:

Take thy face hence.

Here, "thy face" stands in for "you." Macbeth is simply telling the servant to leave, but his use of synecdoche makes the tone of his command more harsh and insulting, showing the audience how angry he really is.

Synecdoche in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Coleridge

In " The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ," Samuel Coleridge uses synecdoche in the lines:

The western wave was all a-flame. The day was well nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun.

Here, "wave" stands in for the whole ocean (or at least the part of the ocean—larger than a wave—that is relevant to the text). So when the Ancient Mariner says "the western wave," he is referring to the ocean to the west, extending to the western horizon.

Synecdoche in "I heard a Fly buzz—when I died" by Emily Dickinson

In the second stanza of the poem, Emily Dickinson writes:

The Eyes around—had wrung them dry— And Breaths were gathering firm For that last Onset—when the King Be witnessed—in the Room—

Here, "eyes" stand in for people. Dickinson's use of synecdoche emphasizes that the people in the room are watching the speaker, but it also serves a more technical purpose. In "I heard a Fly buzz—when I died" each stanza is four lines long. The first and third lines of each stanza are eight syllables long, and the second and fourth lines are six syllables long (a metrical pattern known as common meter ). By using synecdoche, Dickinson is able to maintain the rhythm of the poem while communicating, in just a few words, that the people surrounding the speaker are watching her and have been weeping.

Why Do Writers Use Synecdoche?

Synecdoche is a versatile literary device, and writers use synecdoche for many reasons. Often synecdoches can elevate language, making a sentence or phrase sound more interesting or more poetic. Synecdoches can also help the writer create a strong voice for a character or for a narrator. In the example from Macbeth , for example, Shakespeare uses the synecdoche "Take thy face hence" rather than having Macbeth simply say "You can go now," because the former is far more revealing of Macbeth's haughty, violent character at this point in the play. Since synecdoche often appears in slang, idioms , and colloquialisms , writers also use synecdoche in dialogue to make characters sound more like real people.

The work of poets like Dickinson and Coleridge also shows how writers use synecdoche to exchange one word or phrase for another, making it a useful device for preserving rhythm and rhyme within poetic verse. Similarly, a writer could use synecdoche to enhance the sound of writing. For example, if you wanted to open a dog spa, the alliterative and synecdochic "Pampered Paws" would be a much better name than "Pampered Dogs."

Perhaps most important, synecdoche allows writers to pack a lot of meaning into just a word or two. In "I heard a fly buzz—when I died," Emily Dickson's decision to use "eyes" to represent people draws our attention to the things that their eyes are doing: weeping and watching. We can infer that these people feel powerless because, as the speaker dies, all they can do is weep and watch. The people themselves, feel, in a way, like they are nothing more than eyes. By using synecdoche, Dickinson doesn't need to tell us these details outright, which allows her to maintain the poem's sparse, fragmented style.

In any context, synecdoche is a way to layer multiple meanings onto a single word or phrase. Synecdoche helps writers make their work more complex, nuanced, and meaningful.

Other Helpful Synecdoche Resources

• The Dictionary Definition of Synecdoche : The editor's note includes information on the etymology of synecdoche (spoiler: the term comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "interpretation").
• This website gives an overview of the Four Master Tropes of rhetoric, Kenneth Burke's famous literary theory of figures of speech . Synecdoche and metonymy are two of the four devices that Burke identifies as "Master Tropes," and the page offers explanations for all four devices.
• For the film buffs out there, read The Guardian's review of the 2009 film Synecdoche, New York , which uses the idea of synecdoche to explore the part-to-whole relationship between art and reality. The film, whose title puns on the real-life town Schenectady, New York, tells the story of a theatre director whose "huge, mad, pasteboard world stands for the real world, is part of it, is superimposed on to it, and finally melts into it."

• Alliteration
• Colloquialism
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• Figure of Speech
• Onomatopoeia
• Falling Action
• Bildungsroman
• Round Character
• Climax (Plot)
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Juxtaposition
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Definition of Synecdoche

Common examples of synecdoche, examples of synecdoche as character names, famous examples of synecdoche, difference between synecdoche and metonymy, writing synecdoche, create connections, enhance expression, difference between wholes and parts in synecdoche, use of synecdoche in sentences, examples of synecdoche in literature, example 1:  the great gatsby  – f. scott fitzgerald.

It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again.

Example 2:  I heard a Fly buzz–when I died (Emily Dickinson)

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – The Stillness in the Room Was like the Stillness in the Air – Between the Heaves of Storm – The Eyes around – had wrung them dry – And Breaths were gathering firm For that last Onset – when the King Be witnessed – in the Room –

Example 3: Hamlet – William Shakespeare

‘Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.

Example 4: The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne

They were her countrywomen; and the beef and ale of their native land, with a moral diet not a whit more refined, entered largely into their composition. The bright morning sun, therefore, shone on broad shoulders and well-developed busts, and on round and ruddy cheeks, that had ripened in the far-off island, and had hardly yet grown paler or thinner in the atmosphere of New England.

But the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer—so that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time—was that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.

Example 5: Beowulf translated – Seamus Heaney

No ring-whorled prow could up then and away on the sea . Wind and water raged with storms, wave and shingle were shackled in ice until another year appeared in the yard.

He had been poorly regarded for a long time, was taken by the Geats for less than he was worth: and their lord too had never much esteemed him in the mead-hall. They firmly believed that he lacked force, that the prince was a weakling; but presently every affront to his deserving was reversed.

Synonyms of Synecdoche

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Parts of Speech Overview

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A noun is a word that denotes a person, place, or thing. In a sentence, nouns answer the questions who and what.

In the sentence above, there are two nouns, dog and ball . A noun may be concrete (something you can touch, see, etc.), like the nouns in the example above, or a noun may be abstract, as in the sentences below.

The abstract concepts of integrity and love in the sentences above are both nouns. Nouns may also be proper.

Chicago , Thanksgiving , and November are all proper nouns, and they should be capitalized. (For more information on proper nouns and when to capitalize words, see our handout on Capital Letters .)

You may also visit our handout on Count and Noncount Nouns .

Learn how to spot verbs that act as nouns. Visit our handout on Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives .

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun in a sentence.

In the sentence above, she is the pronoun. Like nouns, pronouns may be used either as subjects or as objects in a sentence.

In the example above, both she and him are pronouns; she is the subject of the sentence while him is the object. Every subject pronoun has a corresponding object form, as shown in the table below.

For more information on pronouns, go to our handout on Pronouns .

To find out what part of speech are that , which , and whom ? Visit our handout on Relative Pronouns .

Articles include a , an , and the . They precede a noun or a noun phrase in a sentence.

In example 1, the article a precedes the noun house , and a also precedes the noun phrase big porch , which consists of an adjective (big) and the noun it describes (porch). In example 2, the article the precedes the noun phrase blue sweater , in which sweater is the noun and blue, the adjective.

For more information, go to our handouts on Articles: A vs. An and How to Use Articles (a/an/the) .

An adjective is a word that modifies, or describes, a noun or pronoun. Adjectives may precede nouns, or they may appear after a form of the reflexive verb to be (am, are, is, was, etc.).

In example 1, two consecutive adjectives, red and brick , both describe the noun house. In example 2, the adjective tall appears after the reflexive verb is and describes the subject, she .

For more on adjectives, go to our handouts Adjective or Adverb and How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs .

A verb is a word that denotes action, or a state of being, in a sentence.

In example 1, rides is the verb; it describes what the subject, Beth, does. In example 2, was describes Paul’s state of being and is therefore the verb.

There may be multiple verbs in a sentence, or there may be a verb phrase consisting of a verb plus a helping verb.

In example 1, the subject she performs two actions in the sentence, turned and opened . In example 2, the verb phrase is was studying .

Some words in a sentence may look like verbs but act as something else, like a noun; these are called verbals. For more information on verbs that masquerade as other parts of speech, go to our handout on Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives .

To learn more about conjugating verbs, visit our handouts on Verb Tenses , Irregular Verbs , and Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms) .

Just as adjectives modify nouns, adverbs modify, or further describe, verbs. Adverbs may also modify adjectives. (Many, though not all, adverbs end in - ly .)

In the first example, the adverb wildly modifies the verb waved . In the second example, the adverb extremely modifies the adjective bright , which describes the noun shirt . While nouns answer the questions who and what , adverbs answer the questions how , when , why , and where .

For a more detailed discussion of adverbs, visit our handout Adjective or Adverb and become an expert.

Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that joins two independent clauses, or sentences, together.

In the examples above, both but and so are conjunctions. They join two complete sentences with the help of a comma. And, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet can all act as conjunctions.

Prepositions

Prepositions work in combination with a noun or pronoun to create phrases that modify verbs, nouns/pronouns, or adjectives. Prepositional phrases convey a spatial, temporal, or directional meaning.

There are two prepositional phrases in the example above: up the brick wall and of the house . The first prepositional phrase is an adverbial phrase, since it modifies the verb by describing where the ivy climbed. The second phrase further modifies the noun wall (the object of the first prepositional phrase) and describes which wall the ivy climbs.

For a more detailed discussion on this part of speech and its functions, click on Prepositions .

Below is a list of prepositions in the English language:

Aboard, about, above, across, after, against, along, amid, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, during, except, for, from, in, into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, out, over, past, since, through, throughout, to, toward, under, underneath, until, unto, up, upon, with, within, without.

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The 31 Literary Devices You Must Know

General Education

Need to analyze The Scarlet Letter or To Kill a Mockingbird for English class, but fumbling for the right vocabulary and concepts for literary devices? You've come to the right place. To successfully interpret and analyze literary texts, you'll first need to have a solid foundation in literary terms and their definitions.

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).

Before we get to the list of literary devices, however, we have a quick refresher on what literary devices are and how understanding them will help you analyze works of literature.

What Are Literary Devices and Why Should You Know Them?

Literary devices are techniques that writers use to create a special and pointed effect in their writing, to convey information, or to help readers understand their writing on a deeper level.

Often, literary devices are used in writing for emphasis or clarity. Authors will also use literary devices to get readers to connect more strongly with either a story as a whole or specific characters or themes.

So why is it important to know different literary devices and terms? Aside from helping you get good grades on your literary analysis homework, there are several benefits to knowing the techniques authors commonly use.

Being able to identify when different literary techniques are being used helps you understand the motivation behind the author's choices. For example, being able to identify symbols in a story can help you figure out why the author might have chosen to insert these focal points and what these might suggest in regard to her attitude toward certain characters, plot points, and events.

In addition, being able to identify literary devices can make a written work's overall meaning or purpose clearer to you. For instance, let's say you're planning to read (or re-read) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. By knowing that this particular book is a religious allegory with references to Christ (represented by the character Aslan) and Judas (represented by Edmund), it will be clearer to you why Lewis uses certain language to describe certain characters and why certain events happen the way they do.

Finally, literary techniques are important to know because they make texts more interesting and more fun to read. If you were to read a novel without knowing any literary devices, chances are you wouldn't be able to detect many of the layers of meaning interwoven into the story via different techniques.

Now that we've gone over why you should spend some time learning literary devices, let's take a look at some of the most important literary elements to know.

List of Literary Devices: 31 Literary Terms You Should Know

Below is a list of literary devices, most of which you'll often come across in both prose and poetry. We explain what each literary term is and give you an example of how it's used. This literary elements list is arranged in alphabetical order.

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.

Example: George Orwell's dystopian book Animal Farm is an allegory for the events preceding the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era in early 20th century Russia. In the story, animals on a farm practice animalism, which is essentially communism. Many characters correspond to actual historical figures: Old Major represents both the founder of communism Karl Marx and the Russian communist leader Vladimir Lenin; the farmer, Mr. Jones, is the Russian Czar; the boar Napoleon stands for Joseph Stalin; and the pig Snowball represents Leon Trotsky.

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. You'll often come across alliteration in poetry, titles of books and poems ( Jane Austen is a fan of this device, for example—just look at Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility ), and tongue twisters.

Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." In this tongue twister, the "p" sound is repeated at the beginning of all major words.

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.

Example: "Stop acting so smart—it's not like you're Einstein or something." This is an allusion to the famous real-life theoretical physicist Albert Einstein.

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. Anachronisms are often used for comedic effect.

Example: A Renaissance king who says, "That's dope, dude!" would be an anachronism, since this type of language is very modern and not actually from the Renaissance period.

Anaphora is when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences throughout a piece of writing. It's used to emphasize the repeated phrase and evoke strong feelings in the audience.

Example: A famous example of anaphora is Winston Churchill's "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech. Throughout this speech, he repeats the phrase "we shall fight" while listing numerous places where the British army will continue battling during WWII. He did this to rally both troops and the British people and to give them confidence that they would still win the war.

Anthropomorphism

An anthropomorphism occurs when something nonhuman, such as an animal, place, or inanimate object, behaves in a human-like way.

Example: Children's cartoons have many examples of anthropomorphism. For example, Mickey and Minnie Mouse can speak, wear clothes, sing, dance, drive cars, etc. Real mice can't do any of these things, but the two mouse characters behave much more like humans than mice.

Asyndeton is when the writer leaves out conjunctions (such as "and," "or," "but," and "for") in a group of words or phrases so that the meaning of the phrase or sentence is emphasized. It is often used for speeches since sentences containing asyndeton can have a powerful, memorable rhythm.

Example: Abraham Lincoln ends the Gettysburg Address with the phrase "...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth." By leaving out certain conjunctions, he ends the speech on a more powerful, melodic note.

Colloquialism

Colloquialism is the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue. Forms of colloquialism include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain't").

Example: "Hey, what's up, man?" This piece of dialogue is an example of a colloquialism, since it uses common everyday words and phrases, namely "what's up" and "man."

An epigraph is when an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a larger text (e.g., a book, chapter, etc.). An epigraph is typically written by a different writer (with credit given) and used as a way to introduce overarching themes or messages in the work. Some pieces of literature, such as Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick , incorporate multiple epigraphs throughout.

Example: At the beginning of Ernest Hemingway's book The Sun Also Rises is an epigraph that consists of a quotation from poet Gertrude Stein, which reads, "You are all a lost generation," and a passage from the Bible.

Epistrophe is similar to anaphora, but in this case, the repeated word or phrase appears at the end of successive statements. Like anaphora, it is used to evoke an emotional response from the audience.

Example: In Lyndon B. Johnson's speech, "The American Promise," he repeats the word "problem" in a use of epistrophe: "There is no Negro problem. There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There is only an American problem."

A euphemism is when a more mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of another word or phrase that is considered harsh, blunt, vulgar, or unpleasant.

Example: "I'm so sorry, but he didn't make it." The phrase "didn't make it" is a more polite and less blunt way of saying that someone has died.

A flashback is an interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before the present time or before the time at which the narration takes place. This device is often used to give the reader more background information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and so on.

Example: Most of the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a flashback from the point of view of the housekeeper, Nelly Dean, as she engages in a conversation with a visitor named Lockwood. In this story, Nelly narrates Catherine Earnshaw's and Heathcliff's childhoods, the pair's budding romance, and their tragic demise.

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is when an author indirectly hints at—through things such as dialogue, description, or characters' actions—what's to come later on in the story. This device is often used to introduce tension to a narrative.

Example: Say you're reading a fictionalized account of Amelia Earhart. Before she embarks on her (what we know to be unfortunate) plane ride, a friend says to her, "Be safe. Wouldn't want you getting lost—or worse." This line would be an example of foreshadowing because it implies that something bad ("or worse") will happen to Earhart.

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.

Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." The speaker will not literally eat an entire horse (and most likely couldn't ), but this hyperbole emphasizes how starved the speaker feels.

Imagery is when an author describes a scene, thing, or idea so that it appeals to our senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, or hearing). This device is often used to help the reader clearly visualize parts of the story by creating a strong mental picture.

Example: Here's an example of imagery taken from William Wordsworth's famous poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud":

When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden Daffodils; Beside the Lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Irony is when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types of irony in literature:

• Verbal irony: When someone says something but means the opposite (similar to sarcasm).
• Situational irony: When something happens that's the opposite of what was expected or intended to happen.
• Dramatic irony: When the audience is aware of the true intentions or outcomes, while the characters are not . As a result, certain actions and/or events take on different meanings for the audience than they do for the characters involved.
• Verbal irony: One example of this type of irony can be found in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." In this short story, a man named Montresor plans to get revenge on another man named Fortunato. As they toast, Montresor says, "And I, Fortunato—I drink to your long life." This statement is ironic because we the readers already know by this point that Montresor plans to kill Fortunato.
• Situational irony: A girl wakes up late for school and quickly rushes to get there. As soon as she arrives, though, she realizes that it's Saturday and there is no school.
• Dramatic irony: In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo commits suicide in order to be with Juliet; however, the audience (unlike poor Romeo) knows that Juliet is not actually dead—just asleep.

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.

Example: One of the most famous literary examples of juxtaposition is the opening passage from Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities :

"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, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …"

Malapropism

Malapropism happens when an incorrect word is used in place of a word that has a similar sound. This misuse of the word typically results in a statement that is both nonsensical and humorous; as a result, this device is commonly used in comedic writing.

Example: "I just can't wait to dance the flamingo!" Here, a character has accidentally called the flamenco (a type of dance) the flamingo (an animal).

Metaphor/Simile

Metaphors are when ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it's when an author compares one thing to another. The two things being described usually share something in common but are unalike in all other respects.

A simile is a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."

Both metaphors and similes are often used in writing for clarity or emphasis.

"What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." In this line from Romeo and Juliet , Romeo compares Juliet to the sun. However, because Romeo doesn't use the words "as" or "like," it is not a simile—just a metaphor.

"She is as vicious as a lion." Since this statement uses the word "as" to make a comparison between "she" and "a lion," it is a simile.

A metonym is when a related word or phrase is substituted for the actual thing to which it's referring. This device is usually used for poetic or rhetorical effect .

Example: "The pen is mightier than the sword." This statement, which was coined by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, contains two examples of metonymy: "the pen" refers to "the written word," and "the sword" refers to "military force/violence."

Mood is the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice .

Example: Here's a passage from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: "It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats -- the hobbit was fond of visitors." In this passage, Tolkien uses detailed description to set create a cozy, comforting mood. From the writing, you can see that the hobbit's home is well-cared for and designed to provide comfort.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.

Examples: Buzz, boom, chirp, creak, sizzle, zoom, etc.

An oxymoron is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. This device is often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox (see next entry for more information on paradoxes).

Examples: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc.

A paradox is a statement that appears illogical or self-contradictory but, upon investigation, might actually be true or plausible.

Note that a paradox is different from an oxymoron: a paradox is an entire phrase or sentence, whereas an oxymoron is a combination of just two words.

Example: Here's a famous paradoxical sentence: "This statement is false." If the statement is true, then it isn't actually false (as it suggests). But if it's false, then the statement is true! Thus, this statement is a paradox because it is both true and false at the same time.

Personification

Personification is when a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having human-like qualities or characteristics. (Unlike anthropomorphism where non-human figures become human-like characters, with personification, the object/figure is simply described as being human-like.) Personification is used to help the reader create a clearer mental picture of the scene or object being described.

Example: "The wind moaned, beckoning me to come outside." In this example, the wind—a nonhuman element—is being described as if it is human (it "moans" and "beckons").

Repetition is when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).

Example: When Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the score for the hit musical Hamilton, gave his speech at the 2016 Tony's, he recited a poem he'd written that included the following line:

And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.

Satire is genre of writing that criticizes something , such as a person, behavior, belief, government, or society. Satire often employs irony, humor, and hyperbole to make its point.

Example: The Onion is a satirical newspaper and digital media company. It uses satire to parody common news features such as opinion columns, editorial cartoons, and click bait headlines.

A type of monologue that's often used in dramas, a soliloquy is when a character speaks aloud to himself (and to the audience), thereby revealing his inner thoughts and feelings.

Example: In Romeo and Juliet , Juliet's speech on the balcony that begins with, "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" is a soliloquy, as she is speaking aloud to herself (remember that she doesn't realize Romeo's there listening!).

Symbolism refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to represent something else— typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal meaning.

The things used for symbolism are called "symbols," and they'll often appear multiple times throughout a text, sometimes changing in meaning as the plot progresses.

Example: In F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby , the green light that sits across from Gatsby's mansion symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams .

A synecdoche is a literary device in which part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It's similar to a metonym (see above); however, a metonym doesn't have to represent the whole—just something associated with the word used.

Example: "Help me out, I need some hands!" In this case, "hands" is being used to refer to people (the whole human, essentially).

While mood is what the audience is supposed to feel, tone is the writer or narrator's attitude towards a subject . A good writer will always want the audience to feel the mood they're trying to evoke, but the audience may not always agree with the narrator's tone, especially if the narrator is an unsympathetic character or has viewpoints that differ from those of the reader.

Example: In an essay disdaining Americans and some of the sites they visit as tourists, Rudyard Kipling begins with the line, "Today I am in the Yellowstone Park, and I wish I were dead." If you enjoy Yellowstone and/or national parks, you may not agree with the author's tone in this piece.

How to Identify and Analyze Literary Devices: 4 Tips

In order to fully interpret pieces of literature, you have to understand a lot about literary devices in the texts you read. Here are our top tips for identifying and analyzing different literary techniques:

Tip 1: Read Closely and Carefully

First off, you'll need to make sure that you're reading very carefully. Resist the temptation to skim or skip any sections of the text. If you do this, you might miss some literary devices being used and, as a result, will be unable to accurately interpret the text.

If there are any passages in the work that make you feel especially emotional, curious, intrigued, or just plain interested, check that area again for any literary devices at play.

It's also a good idea to reread any parts you thought were confusing or that you didn't totally understand on a first read-through. Doing this ensures that you have a solid grasp of the passage (and text as a whole) and will be able to analyze it appropriately.

Tip 2: Memorize Common Literary Terms

You won't be able to identify literary elements in texts if you don't know what they are or how they're used, so spend some time memorizing the literary elements list above. Knowing these (and how they look in writing) will allow you to more easily pinpoint these techniques in various types of written works.

Tip 3: Know the Author's Intended Audience

Knowing what kind of audience an author intended her work to have can help you figure out what types of literary devices might be at play.

For example, if you were trying to analyze a children's book, you'd want to be on the lookout for child-appropriate devices, such as repetition and alliteration.

Tip 4: Take Notes and Bookmark Key Passages and Pages

This is one of the most important tips to know, especially if you're reading and analyzing works for English class. As you read, take notes on the work in a notebook or on a computer. Write down any passages, paragraphs, conversations, descriptions, etc., that jump out at you or that contain a literary device you were able to identify.

You can also take notes directly in the book, if possible (but don't do this if you're borrowing a book from the library!). I recommend circling keywords and important phrases, as well as starring interesting or particularly effective passages and paragraphs.

Lastly, use sticky notes or post-its to bookmark pages that are interesting to you or that have some kind of notable literary device. This will help you go back to them later should you need to revisit some of what you've found for a paper you plan to write.

What's Next?

Looking for more in-depth explorations and examples of literary devices? Join us as we delve into imagery , personification , rhetorical devices , tone words and mood , and different points of view in literature, as well as some more poetry-specific terms like assonance and iambic pentameter .

Reading The Great Gatsby for class or even just for fun? Then you'll definitely want to check out our expert guides on the biggest themes in this classic book, from love and relationships to money and materialism .

Got questions about Arthur Miller's The Crucible ? Read our in-depth articles to learn about the most important themes in this play and get a complete rundown of all the characters .

For more information on your favorite works of literature, take a look at our collection of high-quality book guides and our guide to the 9 literary elements that appear in every story !

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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