Most literary device lists feel like homework.
You wanted a toolbox. You got a textbook.
Over-explained. Under-useful. Half the examples pulled from books no one’s read since powdered wigs were a thing.
This is the fix.
A working list of 107 literary devices. The ones writers actually use. The ones readers actually feel (even if they don’t know what to call them).
No fluff, no filler, and no English degree required.
Let’s get started.
We'll begin with the obvious question…
What are Literary Devices?
Literary devices are tools.
They shape how stories are told, how arguments are made, and how meaning gets layered beneath the surface. They help you control tone, sharpen structure, and sneak extra impact into places readers don’t consciously look.
A metaphor isn’t just a metaphor. It’s a shortcut to insight.
Foreshadowing isn’t just plot setup. It’s tension baked into the page.
Used well, literary devices don’t call attention to themselves. They work behind the curtain, amplifying emotion, clarity, or momentum without waving a flag.
They’re not required…
But if you want your writing to hit harder with fewer words, they’re how you get there.
107 Common Literary Devices: The Definitive List for Writers
Here’s how this guide works…
Each entry in this list gives you three things:
- A clear, plain-English definition
- An example (usually) pulled from literature, film, or culture
- A tip for how to use the device in your own writing
And because this guide is so long, I'm going to keep my writing concise. That means no clutter or purple language. Just a working understanding you can apply the next time you sit down to write.
Keep it bookmarked, skim it when you’re stuck, and let it help you find the thing your sentence is missing.
1. Metaphor
A metaphor says something is something else. Not like it. Not similar to it. It’s a full identity swap.
You’re redefining, not describing.
Example of Metaphor
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
— As You Like It, William Shakespeare
Shakespeare isn’t suggesting. He’s declaring. That’s the core of a metaphor.
How to Use Metaphor in Your Writing
The best metaphors do more than decorate. They reframe.
Use one strong image to shift how the reader sees your idea. Then move on.
Overuse will make your writing feel heavy-handed (or that it was written by AI, not a human).
2. Simile
A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as.” It’s useful when you want to connect ideas without blending them too much.
Example of Simile
“She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat.”
— The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett
That simile slices straight through. No frills, just clarity.
How to Use Simile in Your Writing
Aim for similes that are sharp and unexpected. Skip anything you’ve seen on a bumper sticker.
If it doesn’t make the reader see something new, it’s not pulling its weight.
3. Irony
Irony shows a contrast between what’s expected and what actually happens. Or what’s said versus what’s meant.
It comes in different flavors, but the point is always to reveal tension.
Example of Irony
In Oedipus Rex, the king vows to punish his father’s killer, not knowing it’s him. The audience sees the truth. He doesn’t. That’s dramatic irony.
How to Use Irony in Your Writing
Use irony to add friction. It lets your reader sit with contradiction.
Just don’t confuse irony with sarcasm. One builds depth. The other gets old fast.
4. Alliteration
Alliteration happens when several nearby words begin with the same sound.
Used well, it creates flow. Used poorly, it clogs your sentence like bad plumbing.
Example of Alliteration
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes…”
— Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
That repetition of the F sound isn't random. It builds rhythm and drives the line forward.
How to Use Alliteration in Your Writing
Best used sparingly and with purpose.
One strong phrase can add polish or punch. But too much, and your writing starts sounding like a tongue-twister with something to prove.
5. Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is the art of hinting. You slip a small clue into the story that later turns out to matter. The reader might not notice it right away, but when the moment lands, it clicks.
Example of Foreshadowing
In Of Mice and Men, Lennie’s love of soft things (and his inability to control his strength) signals exactly where the story is going.
How to Use Foreshadowing in Your Writing
Don’t underline it. Just plant it. Let the moment breathe.
The real magic is in the payoff, not the setup.
6. Personification
Personification gives human behavior to nonhuman things. Storms shout. Shadows creep. Doors sulk.
Example of Personification
“The sea was angry that day, my friends.”
— George from Seinfeld
Silly on the surface, but it works. The ocean takes on a mood.
How to Use Personification in Your Writing
Use it to create tone or atmosphere. But don’t overdo it. If every object in your scene starts acting like a person, the story loses gravity.
7. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration. Not to confuse the reader, but to hammer something home. It’s how we say more than we mean without lying.
Example of Hyperbole
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
You’re not headed to the stables. You’re just making a point.
How to Use Hyperbole in Your Writing
Drop it into dialogue or narration when intensity matters. But don’t crowd your page with it. When everything is larger than life, nothing feels urgent.
8. Symbolism
Symbolism turns one thing into a stand-in for something else. A rose can mean love. A mirror can reflect truth or self-deception. The object stays the same, but the meaning evolves.
Example of Symbolism
In The Great Gatsby, the green light across the bay becomes a stand-in for Gatsby’s dream… and the futility of chasing it.
How to Use Symbolism in Your Writing
Let the symbol earn its place. Don’t label it. Don’t explain it. Just let the reader notice it again and again until it starts to carry weight on its own.
9. Imagery
Imagery taps into the senses. It’s the texture of the world on the page — what it looks like, sounds like, smells like.
It doesn’t just tell you what’s there. It lets you feel it.
Example of Imagery
“The sky was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”
— Neuromancer, William Gibson
That’s not a sky you glance at. That’s a mood you sit in.
How to Use Imagery in Your Writing
Be specific. Generic imagery adds nothing. You don’t want something to smell “bad.” You want it to smell like warm milk and moldy carpet.
10. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia means a word that mimics a sound. Snap. Pop. Whirr. It’s language doing sound effects without needing a speaker.
Example of Onomatopoeia
“Quoth the Raven ‘Nevermore.’”
— The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe
The word “nevermore” isn’t onomatopoeia, but the sound of the raven’s croak absolutely is.
How to Use Onomatopoeia in Your Writing
Use it when the sound matters more than the description. Great for action, tension, or texture. Just don’t lean on it too hard or your prose starts reading like a comic book fight scene.
11. Allegory
An allegory tells one story on the surface while delivering another underneath. Every element carries double meaning. The plot moves forward, but the real message runs deeper.
Example of Allegory
Animal Farm by George Orwell isn’t about livestock management. It’s a critique of Soviet-era power and corruption.
How to Use Allegory in Your Writing
Start with the message. Then build a story that masks it just enough to let the reader discover it on their own. If you have to explain it, the allegory didn’t land.
12. Oxymoron
An oxymoron combines two terms that seem to cancel each other out. But together, they unlock a layered meaning. It’s contradiction that reveals something real.
Example of Oxymoron
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
— Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
Sorrow is sweet? Somehow, yes. Because love complicates everything.
How to Use Oxymoron in Your Writing
Use it to highlight emotional complexity. But don’t toss in contradictions just to sound clever. It only works when the pairing reflects actual tension.
13. Satire
Satire uses humor to point out flaws, failures, or absurdities in people or systems. It’s not just funny. It has a target.
Example of Satire
The Daily Show pretends to be the news in order to criticize how the real news operates.
How to Use Satire in Your Writing
Be intentional. Know what you’re criticizing and why. Satire works best when it makes the audience laugh first and think second.
14. Flashback
A flashback pulls the reader out of the current timeline to reveal something from the past. It explains without dumping. It adds depth without slowing momentum (if done right).
Example of Flashback
In Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim relives World War II events out of order, forcing the reader to piece things together as he does.
How to Use Flashback in Your Writing
Make the shift clear. Drop readers in, then bring them back without confusion. Flashbacks work best when they reveal something the present moment can’t.
15. Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition places two things side by side to highlight contrast.
Example of Juxtaposition
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
— A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
Two extremes. One sentence. That friction fuels the whole book.
How to Use Juxtaposition in Your Writing
Don’t explain the contrast. Let readers feel it. The placement does the work if you trust it.
16. Paradox
A paradox is a statement that seems impossible until it makes sense. It forces the reader to pause and reconcile conflicting truths.
Example of Paradox
“I must be cruel only to be kind.”
— Hamlet, William Shakespeare
At first glance, it’s nonsense. But inside the character’s mind, it adds up.
How to Use Paradox in Your Writing
Use it to surface complexity. Ideal for internal conflict or philosophical weight. But skip it if you’re not sure what it means yourself.
17. Tone
Tone is the attitude behind your words. It’s how something feels, even when it’s not directly stated. Warm. Cold. Snarky. Sincere. The tone shapes the experience.
Example of Tone
Catch-22 balances humor with horror, jumping from absurdity to tragedy without warning. That tension becomes the book’s signature.
How to Use Tone in Your Writing
Start by asking how you want the reader to feel. Then tune your language, pacing, and detail to match. Inconsistency kills tone faster than anything else.
18. Motif
A motif is a repeated image, idea, or phrase that reinforces a theme. Unlike a symbol, it doesn’t carry deep meaning on its own. It builds power through recurrence.
Example of Motif
In Macbeth, blood appears again and again, echoing guilt and violence as the story escalates.
How to Use Motif in Your Writing
Pick something small but flexible. Let it echo in key moments. If it shows up too often, it starts to lose impact.
19. Idiom
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning isn’t obvious from the words themselves. It’s cultural shorthand… widely understood but not logically defined.
Example of Idiom
“Kick the bucket” means someone died. No buckets were harmed in the making of that sentence.
How to Use Idiom in Your Writing
Use idioms when you want natural, informal dialogue. But don’t stack them. Too many, and your writing starts to sound like a sitcom script.
20. Euphemism
A euphemism softens something uncomfortable. It swaps direct language for something a little easier to swallow.
Example of Euphemism
“She passed away” is a gentler way to say “She died.”
The fact doesn’t change. Just the framing.
How to Use Euphemism in Your Writing
Use it when your character wants to dodge reality. It works for politeness, shame, or emotional distance. But don’t use it to avoid clarity unless that’s the point.
21. Archetype
An archetype is a universal character, pattern, or image that shows up across cultures and stories. The hero. The mentor. The trickster. They’re familiar for a reason.
Example of Archetype
Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird is the wise mentor. Calm, principled, and unwavering.
How to Use Archetype in Your Writing
Start with the classic mold, then give it a twist. Familiarity makes the character recognizable. Variation makes them worth reading.
22. Anaphora
Anaphora repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines, clauses, or sentences. It adds rhythm and reinforces an idea.
Example of Anaphora
“I have a dream…”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
The repetition gives the speech structure and power.
How to Use Anaphora in Your Writing
Use it to build momentum. Especially effective in speeches, essays, or emotionally charged scenes. But stop before it feels like an echo chamber.
23. Mood
Mood is the emotional texture of a scene. It’s the atmosphere the reader walks into, shaped by setting, language, and pacing.
Example of Mood
In Wuthering Heights, the stormy weather and isolated moors create a brooding, oppressive mood.
How to Use Mood in Your Writing
Every detail should work together to support the feeling you want. Pick verbs, metaphors, and setting cues that pull in the same direction.
24. Flashforward
A flashforward jumps ahead in time to reveal something that hasn’t happened yet. It plants a destination in the reader’s mind.
Example of Flashforward
In Breaking Bad, a pink teddy bear floating in a pool appears long before its meaning is revealed. It sets the tone early and lingers in the background.
How to Use Flashforward in Your Writing
Use it to raise questions. A strong flashforward makes readers wonder how the present will lead to that future. Just be sure the payoff delivers.
25. Colloquialism
Colloquialisms are informal words or phrases used in everyday conversation. They reflect region, culture, or background.
Example of Colloquialism
“Fixin’ to” is a Southern U.S. way of saying “about to.”
It’s relaxed and regional, not stiff or formal.
How to Use Colloquialism in Your Writing
Use it to make dialogue sound natural. A few well-placed terms can do more than a full character description. But clarity still matters, so don’t overdo it.
26. Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. It creates flow and rhythm without needing to rhyme.
Example of Assonance
“Do not go gentle into that good night…”
— Dylan Thomas
The long “o” sounds stretch out the line, echoing the poem’s tone.
How to Use Assonance in Your Writing
Use it to smooth the edges of a sentence or line. It works best when it adds sound without calling attention to itself.
27. Synecdoche
Synecdoche is when a part represents the whole, or the whole stands in for a part. It’s a shortcut that keeps language vivid and tight.
Example of Synecdoche
“She’s got a new set of wheels” means she has a new car. The wheels are just one part, but they stand in for the rest.
How to Use Synecdoche in Your Writing
Use it to add character and voice, especially in dialogue. It keeps things casual and conversational.
28. Epiphany
An epiphany is a sudden realization that changes a character’s understanding. It’s the mental light switch that flips everything around.
Example of Epiphany
Scrooge’s vision of his neglected grave in A Christmas Carol shakes him into transformation.
How to Use Epiphany in Your Writing
It only works if you build to it. The moment should feel earned, not dropped in out of nowhere. Give the reader just enough to see it coming.
29. Antithesis
Antithesis sets two opposing ideas in parallel structure. The contrast makes each idea sharper, stronger, and easier to remember.
Example of Antithesis
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
— A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
Two extremes, locked in one sentence.
How to Use Antithesis in Your Writing
Use it to deliver contrast with impact. It’s great for thesis statements, openings, or dramatic turns. Just keep it clean. No extra fluff between the parts.
30. Verisimilitude
Verisimilitude is the quality of making fiction feel real. No, it isn't true or accurate. But if you have internal consistency and attention to detail, it keeps the reader convinced.
Example of Verisimilitude
The Lord of the Rings feels real because of the invented languages, maps, and history. The world obeys its own rules.
How to Use Verisimilitude in Your Writing
Focus on consistency. If your world follows its own logic and your characters act like real people, readers will believe almost anything.
31. Climax
The climax is the moment of highest tension in a story. It’s where something finally breaks. A decision gets made, a secret gets revealed, or a confrontation comes to a head.
Example of Climax
In The Hunger Games, Katniss threatens to eat the berries rather than kill Peeta. That choice forces the Capitol to react.
How to Use Climax in Your Writing
Make sure it feels earned. Build pressure until the moment can’t be avoided. When it finally hits, it should feel inevitable.
32. Polysyndeton
Polysyndeton uses repeated conjunctions to create rhythm and emphasis. The sentence starts to feel crowded, but intentionally so.
Example of Polysyndeton
“They ran and jumped and shouted and laughed.”
Each “and” adds weight, slowing the pace while increasing energy.
How to Use Polysyndeton in Your Writing
Use it to mimic overwhelm, excitement, or obsession. Just avoid dragging it out longer than the moment deserves.
33. Enjambment
Enjambment is when a line of poetry continues without pause into the next line. The thought carries on without punctuation.
Example of Enjambment
“I think I had never seen
A verse as lovely as a tree.”
The first line leaves the reader hanging, which pulls them into the next.
How to Use Enjambment in Your Writing
Use it to maintain flow and urgency. It works best when the line break feels like part of the story rather than a forced stop.
34. Litotes
Litotes is understatement through double negatives. You say what something is by saying what it isn’t.
Example of Litotes
“She’s not unlike her mother.”
That’s a roundabout way of saying they’re similar, but with some emotional distance.
How to Use Litotes in Your Writing
Use it when a character is being cautious, ironic, or quietly expressive. Just be sure the sentence still says something clear.
35. Stream of Consciousness
Stream of consciousness captures a character’s raw, unfiltered thoughts. There’s no outline or punctuation guiding it, just mental motion.
Example of Stream of Consciousness
In Mrs. Dalloway, the narration flows from thought to thought without obvious transitions or structure.
How to Use Stream of Consciousness in Your Writing
Let emotion guide the flow. The logic should feel personal, not polished. But always give the reader a thread to follow.
36. Red Herring
A red herring is a clue meant to mislead. It draws attention away from what’s really happening and sets up a false trail.
Example of Red Herring
In The Hound of the Baskervilles, the reader is led to suspect the obvious villain before the true answer is revealed.
How to Use Red Herring in Your Writing
Make it believable. A weak red herring feels cheap. A strong one deepens the mystery while still playing fair.
37. Parody
Parody imitates another work or genre in a way that makes fun of it. The goal is not just to reference. It’s to mimic and expose.
Example of Parody
Don Quixote pokes fun at romantic adventure tales by taking their tropes to absurd extremes.
How to Use Parody in Your Writing
Know the thing you’re mocking. A strong parody feels accurate, even while it’s being ridiculous.
38. Repetition
Repetition is the reuse of words, phrases, or structures to emphasize an idea or feeling. It adds rhythm and clarity when done well.
Example of Repetition
“Never shall I forget…”
— Elie Wiesel, Night
Each use reinforces the weight of the memory.
How to Use Repetition in Your Writing
Use it to drive home meaning or emotion. Just vary the placement and spacing so it doesn’t feel mechanical.
39. Metonymy
Metonymy swaps a word for something closely related to it. It’s not a metaphor, but a shortcut built on association.
Example of Metonymy
“The crown will decide.” The crown refers to the monarch, not the object itself.
How to Use Metonymy in Your Writing
Use it to tighten up your sentences or add a formal tone. It’s great in political or ceremonial contexts, but can work in everyday speech too.
40. Deus Ex Machina
Deus ex machina is when a sudden, unexpected event solves a problem that seemed unsolvable. It often feels unearned.
Example of Deus Ex Machina
At the end of Lord of the Flies, a naval officer arrives just before Ralph is killed. The boys are rescued, but the arrival wasn’t set up.
How to Use Deus Ex Machina in Your Writing
Avoid it unless you’re making a point about randomness or fate. Readers want endings that feel connected to everything that came before.
41. Internal Rhyme
Internal rhyme places rhyming words within the same line of poetry or sentence. It creates subtle musicality without relying on end-of-line rhyme.
Example of Internal Rhyme
“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…”
— Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven
“Dreary” and “weary” rhyme inside the same sentence.
How to Use Internal Rhyme in Your Writing
Use it to add bounce to your lines without sounding like a nursery rhyme. Best used sparingly. It should enhance the sentence, not distract from it.
42. Ellipsis
An ellipsis is a set of three dots used to indicate a pause, hesitation, or omitted words. It can trail off thought or compress a quote.
Example of Ellipsis
“I was thinking… maybe we shouldn’t go.”
That pause tells you everything the character isn’t saying out loud.
How to Use Ellipsis in Your Writing
Use it in dialogue to show uncertainty or trailing thought. In nonfiction, use it to cut fluff from quotes. But don’t overuse it. Too many ellipses make everything feel vague.
43. Connotation
Connotation refers to the emotional or cultural meaning a word carries beyond its literal definition. Words come loaded with baggage, whether you put it there or not.
Example of Connotation
“Childlike” and “childish” both relate to children, but one sounds innocent and the other sounds annoying.
How to Use Connotation in Your Writing
Choose words for their emotional weight, not just their dictionary meaning. The right word hits the reader in the gut, not the glossary.
44. Bildungsroman
A bildungsroman is a coming-of-age story. The plot tracks a character’s growth from youth to adulthood, usually through struggle or self-discovery.
Example of Bildungsroman
Jane Eyre follows its title character from a difficult childhood to emotional and moral maturity.
How to Use Bildungsroman in Your Writing
Let your protagonist evolve gradually. Growth doesn’t happen in a straight line. The setbacks should shape the lesson, not just delay it.
45. Anachronism
An anachronism is something placed in the wrong time period. It can be accidental or intentional, and it's often used for humor, style, or commentary.
Example of Anachronism
In Hamilton, characters from the 1700s sing in modern rap and hip-hop styles. The contrast is part of the appeal.
How to Use Anachronism in Your Writing
Use it on purpose, or not at all. If you’re writing historical fiction, an accidental anachronism pulls readers out. But used with intention, it can make something old feel new.
46. Allusion
An allusion is a brief reference to a person, place, event, or work of art. You’re not retelling the story, just nodding toward it.
Example of Allusion
“Chocolate was her Achilles’ heel.”
You’re invoking Greek mythology to make a point without explaining the whole myth.
How to Use Allusion in Your Writing
Allusions work best when the reader gets the reference without being pulled out of the moment. Choose widely known touchpoints, or be prepared to lose a few people.
47. Cacophony
Cacophony is the use of harsh, jarring sounds in writing. It’s the opposite of smooth or lyrical. It creates friction on purpose.
Example of Cacophony
“He grunted and scratched at the crusted, blackened bark.”
You can almost hear it. It’s messy and rough, and that’s the goal.
How to Use Cacophony in Your Writing
Use it when a moment calls for discomfort, chaos, or confrontation. The sound should match the scene. Don’t force it where it doesn’t belong.
48. Euphony
Euphony is the use of smooth, pleasant, and harmonious sounds. It’s soft on the ear, and often found in lyrical or romantic writing.
Example of Euphony
“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness…”
— John Keats
You can hear the calm and warmth in every syllable.
How to Use Euphony in Your Writing
Use it to create peace, beauty, or stillness. Ideal for reflection or romanticism. Best when it blends naturally, not when it’s reaching for beauty.
49. In Media Res
In media res means starting a story in the middle of the action. No slow intro. No background. Just action.
Example of In Media Res
The Odyssey opens with Odysseus already years into his journey. The rest of the story unfolds from there.
How to Use In Media Res in Your Writing
Drop the reader into something active, then fill in the blanks later. The key is to make sure they care before you start explaining.
50. Frame Story
A frame story is a story within a story. One narrative sets up or contains another, often with a narrator who’s not part of the core plot.
Example of Frame Story
In The Princess Bride, the grandfather reads the main story to his sick grandson. That outer layer changes how we see the inner one.
How to Use Frame Story in Your Writing
Use it to add context, commentary, or contrast. But keep both layers strong. If the frame is weak, it just feels like padding.
51. Pathos
Pathos appeals to the reader’s emotions. It tugs at the heart, stirs up empathy, and makes the stakes feel personal.
Example of Pathos
In Of Mice and Men, George’s final act with Lennie hits hard not because of the action, but because of the emotional weight behind it.
How to Use Pathos in Your Writing
Use it when you want the reader to care deeply. Show vulnerability, not just hardship. People respond to feeling more than facts.
52. Logos
Logos is an appeal to logic and reason. It shows the reader that the argument makes sense with evidence, structure, or clean cause and effect.
Example of Logos
In most nonfiction essays, you’ll see claims followed by supporting data or a logical chain of reasoning. That’s logos at work.
How to Use Logos in Your Writing
Keep it clear, not cold. Use logic to earn trust, but combine it with tone and story so your writing still feels human.
53. Ethos
Ethos appeals to credibility. It tells the reader, “You can trust me,” whether through tone, experience, or presentation.
Example of Ethos
A doctor writing about health automatically carries authority. If they write with clarity and professionalism, the ethos grows even stronger.
How to Use Ethos in Your Writing
Establish your credibility early. If you’re not an expert, use tone, transparency, and careful sourcing to earn the reader’s confidence.
54. Archetypal Symbol
An archetypal symbol is a recurring image or motif across cultures that carries consistent meaning (like water representing renewal or fire symbolizing destruction).
Example of Archetypal Symbol
The snake often symbolizes temptation, danger, or rebirth, depending on the context.
How to Use Archetypal Symbol in Your Writing
Use it when you want to tap into deeper, often unconscious associations. The symbol should support your story, not distract from it.
55. Catharsis
Catharsis is the emotional release a reader or character feels after intense buildup. It’s the pressure valve opening the purge.
Example of Catharsis
In Romeo and Juliet, the final tragedy clears the emotional tension that’s been building the entire play.
How to Use Catharsis in Your Writing
Build slowly, then release it in a moment that feels earned. If the release happens too fast, it won’t land.
56. Parallelism
Parallelism is when sentences or phrases follow a similar structure. It creates balance, rhythm, and clarity.
Example of Parallelism
“Give me liberty, or give me death.”
Two parts. Same structure. Same weight.
How to Use Parallelism in Your Writing
Use it to create impact and flow. It’s especially effective in speeches, repetition, and contrast. Keep the patterns clean and intentional.
57. Soliloquy
A soliloquy is a character speaking their thoughts aloud, usually alone on stage or isolated from other characters. The reader sees what no one else can.
Example of Soliloquy
“To be, or not to be…”
— Hamlet, William Shakespeare
He’s not talking to anyone. He’s working it out in his own mind.
How to Use Soliloquy in Your Writing
Use it to show inner conflict or transformation. Let the character speak freely (even if they contradict themselves).
58. Refrain
A refrain is a repeated line or phrase, often in poetry or song, used to create rhythm and reinforce meaning.
Example of Refrain
In Poe’s The Raven, the word “Nevermore” returns again and again, each time with more weight.
How to Use Refrain in Your Writing
Repeat with purpose. Each return should add something like urgency, dread, or emphasis. Repetition without variation loses power fast.
59. Invective
Invective is harsh, direct, often insulting language aimed at criticizing or attacking. It’s not subtle. It’s a verbal slap.
Example of Invective
In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift uses polite language to deliver a biting, satirical attack on British policy. The politeness is part of the sting.
How to Use Invective in Your Writing
Use it sparingly and intentionally. It can be powerful when aimed at injustice, hypocrisy, or failure, but overuse sounds like a rant.
60. Parable
A parable is a short, simple story that delivers a moral or spiritual lesson. Unlike allegory, it usually has one clear message.
Example of Parable
The story of the Good Samaritan teaches compassion through action, not explanation.
How to Use Parable in Your Writing
Keep it tight. A good parable doesn’t overexplain. It lets the action do the talking and leaves the reader to draw the lesson.
61. Rhetorical Question
A rhetorical question is asked for effect, not an actual answer. The point isn’t information, it’s emphasis or reflection.
Example of Rhetorical Question
“What’s in a name?”
— Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
Juliet isn’t looking for clarification. She’s making a statement.
How to Use Rhetorical Question in Your Writing
Use it when the question points toward an idea, not an answer. It’s best in essays, speeches, or moments of inner conflict.
62. Malapropism
Malapropism is when a word is used incorrectly in place of a similar-sounding one. It usually creates unintentional comedy or confusion.
Example of Malapropism
“I might fade into Bolivian.”
— Mike Tyson
He meant oblivion. The mistake is what makes it memorable.
How to Use Malapropism in Your Writing
It works well in dialogue to show personality or status. Just make sure the error sounds natural because forced mistakes don’t land.
63. Prologue
A prologue is an opening section that gives background before the main story begins. It sets the stage, introduces context, or teases what’s coming.
Example of Prologue
In Romeo and Juliet, a sonnet outlines the entire plot before the first scene.
How to Use Prologue in Your Writing
Keep it short and relevant. A strong prologue gives the reader a foothold. A weak one gets skipped.
64. Epilogue
An epilogue is a closing section that comes after the main story (contrary to a prologue, which comes before). It shows what happens next, often tying up loose ends or flashing forward in time.
Example of Epilogue
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, we jump ahead to see the characters sending their own children to Hogwarts.
How to Use Epilogue in Your Writing
Use it when the story needs a softer landing. Let it answer a question the final chapter raised but didn’t resolve.
65. Anadiplosis
Anadiplosis is when a sentence ends with a word or phrase that the next sentence immediately picks up. It links thoughts and builds rhythm.
Example of Anadiplosis
“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
— Star Wars, Yoda
Each sentence feeds the next.
How to Use Anadiplosis in Your Writing
Use it to escalate or echo an idea. Great for building tension or reinforcing a chain of logic.
66. Chiasmus
Chiasmus is when two clauses mirror each other in structure but reverse the order of words or ideas.
Example of Chiasmus
“Ask not what your country can do for you… ask what you can do for your country.”
— John F. Kennedy
Same pieces, flipped. It sticks because of the structure.
How to Use Chiasmus in Your Writing
Use it sparingly, especially in speeches or essays. When done well, it makes a sentence feel complete. When overused, it starts to feel like a gimmick.
67. Foil
A foil is a character who contrasts with another (often the protagonist) to highlight qualities in both.
Example of Foil
In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the two characters are literal opposites. One reveals the dark side of the other.
How to Use Foil in Your Writing
Use a foil to expose traits, not just to fill space. The contrast should say something deeper about your main character.
68. Slang
Slang is informal language used by specific groups or generations. It’s casual, time-sensitive, and usually context-heavy.
Example of Slang
Words like “lit,” “ghosted,” or “vibe” carry meaning that changes fast and isn’t always universal.
How to Use Slang in Your Writing
Use it in dialogue or close narration to capture voice. Be aware that slang dates quickly (what works now might feel cringey in a few years). Just ask anyone who unironically said “YOLO” at some point.
69. Aphorism
An aphorism is a short, punchy statement that reveals a truth or principle. Think wisdom in one sentence.
Example of Aphorism
“Actions speak louder than words.”
The phrase is quick, but the idea has weight.
How to Use Aphorism in Your Writing
Use it when a character, narrator, or speaker needs to sound wise, blunt, or both. It lands best when it fits the tone of the moment.
70. Allegorical Character
An allegorical character exists to represent an idea, quality, or moral trait. They’re not just people… they’re symbols in motion.
Example of Allegorical Character
In Everyman, characters like Good Deeds and Knowledge aren’t subtle. They are their names.
How to Use Allegorical Character in Your Writing
Use them in stories that prioritize meaning over realism. They work best in fables, parables, or stylized fiction where metaphor drives the plot.
71. Anticlimax
An anticlimax builds up to something big… then pulls the rug out. The tension fizzles. The result is either disappointment or comedy.
Example of Anticlimax
“In moments of crisis, I size up the situation in a flash and decide what to do. Then I go take a nap.”
— From The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
It sets up something heroic. The punchline deflates it.
How to Use Anticlimax in Your Writing
Use it for humor or satire, but don’t waste your best buildup unless the letdown is the point. Readers don’t forgive a weak payoff unless it makes them laugh.
72. Metalepsis
Metalepsis blends one figure of speech with another in a layered or unusual way. It jumps from one metaphor to another, often skipping the link between them.
Example of Metalepsis
“I’ve got to catch the worm tomorrow. You know what they say… early bird.”
You’re not just referencing the bird. You’re dragging in the whole saying sideways.
How to Use Metalepsis in Your Writing
Use it to sound clever or absurd, depending on tone. It’s niche and playful, so save it for moments where voice matters more than clarity.
73. Paronomasia
Paronomasia is a fancy term for punning by using words that sound alike for wordplay, humor, or double meaning.
Example of Paronomasia
“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”
You smile, even if you groan a little.
How to Use Paronomasia in Your Writing
Use it sparingly. One well-timed pun can lighten the tone. Too many, and it feels like a dad joke convention.
74. Diacope
Diacope repeats a word or phrase with a brief interruption. It creates a rhythm that makes the sentence hit harder.
Example of Diacope
“Bond. James Bond.”
Short. Deliberate. Memorable.
How to Use Diacope in Your Writing
Use it to introduce characters, build tension, or punch up a phrase. It’s effective because it sounds final (even when the line isn’t over yet).
75. Epithet
An epithet is a descriptive label or phrase used to define a person or thing. It can be flattering, insulting, or symbolic.
Example of Epithet
In Homer’s epics, you get “rosy-fingered dawn” and “swift-footed Achilles.” The names do more than describe, they tell you what matters.
How to Use Epithet in Your Writing
Use it to signal identity or status. Repeated epithets can become part of a character’s voice or legacy.
76. Anacoluthon
Anacoluthon is when a sentence breaks off or shifts direction midstream. The grammar doesn’t match on purpose.
Example of Anacoluthon
“If you think I’m going to… well, just forget it.”
The sentence wants to go one way, then cuts itself off.
How to Use Anacoluthon in Your Writing
Use it in dialogue or stream-of-consciousness writing. It captures how people actually think, which isn’t always tidy.
77. Amplification
Amplification expands on a word or phrase to drive the point deeper. It’s repetition with detail.
Example of Amplification
“This isn’t just a car. It’s a machine, a beast, a roaring metal predator.”
Each phrase makes the idea louder.
How to Use Amplification in Your Writing
Use it when you want to slow down and spotlight a thought. Don’t just repeat. Escalate.
78. Asyndeton
Asyndeton omits conjunctions in a list or series. It speeds things up, makes it feel more urgent or dramatic.
Example of Asyndeton
“I came, I saw, I conquered.”
No “and.” No delay. Just action.
How to Use Asyndeton in Your Writing
Use it to tighten pacing or deliver a punch. It works best when the rhythm feels sharp and intentional.
79. Appositive
An appositive renames or adds information to a noun. It’s a way to slip in more detail without adding a full sentence.
Example of Appositive
“Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, rarely gave interviews.”
The appositive gives context in a clean, compact way.
How to Use Appositive in Your Writing
Use it to add clarity or depth without breaking flow. Just don’t overpack a sentence with too many extra details.
80. Bathos
Bathos is the sudden shift from serious to silly. It drops from the sublime to the ridiculous, on purpose or not.
Example of Bathos
“He died doing what he loved: fighting for justice, defending the innocent, and eating waffles.”
The last item kills the mood, and that’s the joke.
How to Use Bathos in Your Writing
Use it to subvert expectations or deflate drama. Done well, it creates contrast. Done badly, it ruins tension.
81. Tautology
Tautology says the same thing twice in different words. It’s often unintentional, but sometimes used for emphasis or rhythm.
Example of Tautology
“It was a free gift.”
Gifts are already free.
How to Use Tautology in Your Writing
Avoid it unless the repetition adds tone or style. Used poorly, it feels lazy. Used well, it can sound deliberate or ironic.
82. Double Entendre
A double entendre is a phrase with two meanings: one innocent, one suggestive or hidden. It creates layered humor or innuendo.
Example of Double Entendre
“She’s been known to make a few risqué puns, but only after dark.”
You see what’s happening there, even if no one spells it out.
How to Use Double Entendre in Your Writing
Use it when subtlety is funnier than being direct. It works best in comedy or flirtation. Too much, and it just sounds like a setup for bad jokes.
83. Elliptical Construction
An elliptical construction omits part of a sentence because the meaning is clear from context.
Example of Elliptical Construction
“She can play the guitar, and he the drums.”
The verb “can play” is implied in the second part.
How to Use Elliptical Construction in Your Writing
Use it to tighten structure and avoid repetition. Just make sure the missing words are obvious to the reader.
84. Aposiopesis
Aposiopesis is when a sentence is deliberately left unfinished. The thought breaks off — usually because the character is overcome with emotion or trying not to say more.
Example of Aposiopesis
“If you do that one more time, I swear I’ll…”
The silence says more than the threat.
How to Use Aposiopesis in Your Writing
Use it in dialogue to show restraint, hesitation, or rising emotion. It works best when what’s not said matters more than what is.
85. Mot juste
Mot juste means “the exact right word.” It’s not a figure of speech — it’s the idea that precision matters more than flourish.
Example of Mot juste
You could say “he moved quickly,” or you could say “he darted.” One is generic. One is sharp.
How to Use Mot juste in Your Writing
Choose clarity over cleverness. The right word removes the need for extras. If the word is perfect, it doesn’t need backup.
86. Zeugma
Zeugma links one verb with two objects in a way that creates surprise or contrast.
Example of Zeugma
“She broke his car and his heart.”
The verb “broke” applies to both, but in very different ways.
How to Use Zeugma in Your Writing
Use it when you want a sentence to pivot or punch. It works well in essays, fiction, or even headlines. Just make sure the twist is intentional, not confusing.
87. Climax (as rhetorical device)
In rhetoric, climax means arranging words or ideas in rising order of importance. Each step builds on the last.
Example of Climax
“Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!”
Each line escalates until the final reveal.
How to Use Climax in Your Writing
Use it to build intensity. It works best when the final element lands with surprise, power, or humor.
88. Hypophora
Hypophora is when a writer asks a question, then immediately answers it. It sounds like a conversation, even when it’s one-sided.
Example of Hypophora
“What makes a good story? Characters you care about, stakes that matter, and pacing that doesn’t drag.”
The question sets the frame. The answer delivers value.
How to Use Hypophora in Your Writing
Use it to guide the reader’s thought process. It works well in persuasive writing, intros, or transitions.
89. Anadiplosis (rhetorical device)
Anadiplosis repeats the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next. It creates flow and connection.
Example of Anadiplosis
“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
Each line picks up where the last left off.
How to Use Anadiplosis in Your Writing
Use it to reinforce cause and effect, or to build tension. Best when the repetition feels natural, not forced.
90. Epizeuxis
Epizeuxis is the immediate repetition of a word for emphasis. No filler. Just the same word, back to back.
Example of Epizeuxis
“Alone, alone, all all alone,
Alone on a wide wide sea.”
— Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The repetition creates rhythm, emotion, and isolation.
How to Use Epizeuxis in Your Writing
Use it to heighten feeling. Best saved for intense moments — a cry, a chant, a sudden realization.
91. Irony (cosmic)
Cosmic irony happens when fate or the universe seems to toy with a character. It’s not just bad luck. It feels personal.
Example of Cosmic Irony
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus tries to avoid his fate by leaving home. That choice leads him right to it.
How to Use Cosmic Irony in Your Writing
Use it when your theme revolves around destiny, powerlessness, or cruel twists. It works best in tragedy, but it can also add dark humor.
92. Negative Capability
Negative capability is the idea that a writer can sit with uncertainty or contradiction without trying to fix it. It’s about resisting the urge to explain everything.
Example of Negative Capability
Keats praised Shakespeare for letting Hamlet remain ambiguous (no single answer, just tension).
How to Use Negative Capability in Your Writing
Let complexity breathe. Not every loose end needs a bow. Sometimes the question is more powerful than the answer.
93. Synesthesia
Synesthesia blends sensory experiences. It describes one sense using terms from another (like hearing a color or tasting a shape).
Example of Synesthesia
“She spoke in honeyed tones.”
You can’t literally hear honey, but you feel what it means.
How to Use Synesthesia in Your Writing
Use it to heighten description or create a dreamlike effect. Just don’t overdo it. One layered image is usually enough.
94. Anagnorisis
Anagnorisis is a moment of critical discovery. The character realizes something big… about themselves, the situation, or the truth.
Example of Anagnorisis
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus discovers he has fulfilled the prophecy he tried to escape. It changes everything.
How to Use Anagnorisis in Your Writing
Let the moment land hard. Don’t rush it. Build slowly so the realization hits the character and the reader at the same time.
95. Peripeteia
Peripeteia is a sudden reversal of fortune. A character’s situation flips (often immediately after they thought they were winning).
Example of Peripeteia
In Macbeth, the title character secures the throne but quickly spirals into paranoia and downfall.
How to Use Peripeteia in Your Writing
Use it to change direction fast. It works best when the reader sees it coming just a beat before the character does.
96. Trope
A trope is a recurring idea, theme, or device. It’s not always a cliché, but if it’s overused without originality, it can become one.
Example of Trope
The “chosen one” story arc shows up everywhere from Harry Potter to The Matrix.
How to Use Trope in Your Writing
Use them intentionally. Tropes become fresh again when they’re subverted, deepened, or used with self-awareness.
97. Cratylic Naming
Cratylic naming gives characters names that reflect their traits. It’s not subtle… and it’s not supposed to be.
Example of Cratylic Naming
In Lord of the Flies, Piggy is overweight and teased. His name sets the tone before he says a word.
How to Use Cratylic Naming in Your Writing
Use it when tone allows for it. It fits satire, allegory, and children’s books best. In realism, it can feel heavy-handed unless played for irony.
98. Metafiction
Metafiction is fiction that knows it’s fiction. It breaks the fourth wall, comments on storytelling, or plays with structure.
Example of Metafiction
In Slaughterhouse-Five, the narrator reminds you he’s writing the book as he tells the story.
How to Use Metafiction in Your Writing
Use it when the medium is part of the message. It works best when you want the reader thinking about storytelling itself.
99. Portmanteau
A portmanteau blends two words into one. It’s part invention, part compression. Often used for humor, branding, or pop culture shorthand.
Example of Portmanteau
“Brunch” combines breakfast and lunch.
You’ve said it a hundred times without realizing it was a literary device.
How to Use Portmanteau in Your Writing
Use it for voice or playfulness. A clever one feels effortless. A forced one never sticks.
100. Spoonerism
A spoonerism swaps the first sounds of two words, usually by accident, and often for comic effect.
Example of Spoonerism
“Better Nate than lever.”
You meant “better late than never.” The twist is what makes it land.
How to Use Spoonerism in Your Writing
Use it in dialogue or humor. It shows nervousness, distraction, or surprise. One is funny. Two is pushing it.
101. Aptronym
An aptronym is a name that perfectly fits a person’s job or nature. Like a real-life cratylic name.
Example of Aptronym
Usain Bolt, Olympic sprinter.
The name works harder than most metaphors.
How to Use Aptronym in Your Writing
Use it when you want a name to carry weight. But avoid being too obvious unless the tone invites it.
102. Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism gives full human traits to nonhuman characters (animals, objects, or forces) not just emotions, but full personalities.
Example of Anthropomorphism
In Animal Farm, the animals talk, plan revolutions, and lead governments.
They don’t just act human. They are human in every way but form.
How to Use Anthropomorphism in Your Writing
Use it in fables, satire, or allegory. Keep it consistent. If your animals are human-like, make sure they act that way from start to finish.
103. Anagram
An anagram rearranges the letters of a word or phrase to create a new one (sometimes as a puzzle, sometimes as a name with hidden meaning).
Example of Anagram
“Tom Marvolo Riddle” becomes “I am Lord Voldemort.”
It’s not subtle, but it works.
How to Use Anagram in Your Writing
Use it in mysteries, fantasy, or character backstories. Keep it readable. No one wants to stop and decode mid-chapter.
104. Circumlocution
Circumlocution means talking around something. Instead of saying it directly, you dance around the point.
Example of Circumlocution
“Passed away” instead of “died.”
“Let go” instead of “fired.”
It’s soft, roundabout, and usually intentional.
How to Use Circumlocution in Your Writing
Use it to show discomfort, bureaucracy, or avoidance. It works in dialogue when a character doesn’t want to face the truth.
105. Wordplay
Wordplay includes puns, double meanings, clever phrasing, or twisted expressions.
Example of Wordplay
“I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.”
Simple, groan-worthy, and memorable.
How to Use Wordplay in Your Writing
Use it when tone allows. A clever turn of phrase can wake up a slow sentence. But overuse feels like trying too hard.
106. Idiograph
An idiograph is a culturally loaded word that carries emotional or ideological weight — like “freedom,” “justice,” or “family.”
Example of Idiograph
In political speeches, “liberty” gets used not as a legal term, but as a signal of shared values.
How to Use Idiograph in Your Writing
Use it when you want to tap into group identity. But don’t use it as a crutch. Empty slogans are easy to spot.
107. Tricolon
A tricolon lists three parallel elements. It’s a rhythm trick. Things in threes just hit harder.
Just be sure to use it sparingly since “beats of three” is common in AI-generated writing, so if you use it too much, people will think AI wrote everything.
Example of Tricolon
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Three beats. Clean and complete.
How to Use Tricolon in Your Writing
Use it for impact, especially in speeches or conclusions. Keep the pieces balanced so the rhythm feels natural.
Literary Devices FAQs
Still have questions?
These might help… or at least make you feel slightly smarter while you avoid writing for five more minutes. 🙂
What’s the difference between a literary device and a figure of speech?
All figures of speech are literary devices, but not all literary devices are figures of speech. It’s like saying all thumbs are fingers, but not all fingers are thumbs. (It's not the end of the world if you mix them up, though. Many do.)
Do I need to memorize all 100+ literary devices?
Absolutely not. That’s what Ctrl+F is for. Learn the ones that help your writing feel more like you. The rest can sit quietly in the toolbox until needed.
Isn’t using too many literary devices just showing off?
Only if you’re doing it to look smart instead of telling the story. The best devices feel invisible. They make the writing smoother, not louder.
Can I use literary devices in nonfiction?
Yes, and you should. Metaphor, tone, repetition, contrast… they all work in essays, blog posts, memoirs, even emails. (Especially emails.)
Are clichés considered literary devices?
Technically, yes. Practically, no. A cliché is what happens when a once-powerful device gets repeated until it becomes background noise. Use them carefully, or better yet, rewrite them.
How do I know which literary device to use?
Start with the effect you want. Tension? Use foreshadowing. Emphasis? Try repetition. Humor? Maybe irony or understatement. The goal comes first. The device follows.
Do I have to call it a “deus ex machina” or can I just say “cheap ending”?
You can say “cheap ending.” But knowing the term helps you spot the difference between lazy storytelling and intentional structure. Also, it sounds cool.
What’s the most overused literary device?
Metaphor. Not because it’s bad, but because most writers use it as a crutch. One sharp metaphor is better than three lukewarm ones.
Can I invent my own literary devices?
Absolutely. Language is clay. If you create a pattern that works — a structure, a rhythm, a technique — and it moves people, you’ve made a device. Name it later.
What’s the one device every writer should master?
Tone. You can fake plot. You can wing structure. But if the tone is off, none of it lands. Get that right, and readers will forgive a lot.
Are there any downsides to using literary devices?
Yes, actually. I alluded to it earlier, but in the age of AI (where it feels like 90% of the Internet is using ChatGPT, Claude, or the like to do 100% of their writing), you run the risk of “sounding like AI” if you frequently use common literary devices like metaphor and tricolon.
That's because AI was training on classic copywriting techniques, and copywriters regularly use literary devices to make their words punchier and more persuasive.
So while a few years ago using these techniques made you sound like a heck of a good writer, today those same techniques run the risk of making you sound like everyone else with an AI chatbot.
That doesn't mean you should avoid literary devices completely, but it does mean you have to be careful.
Which Literary Device is Your Favorite (and Which Will You Use in Your Next Piece)?
Some devices feel like home. Others feel like a stretch.
That’s normal.
The point isn’t to master all 107. It’s to recognize which ones fit your voice, your rhythm, and your kind of writing… then sharpen those until they feel like instinct.
So here’s your move:
Pick one new device you’ve never used intentionally. Try it. Tinker with it. See what it does to a sentence you’ve already written.
Then pick one you already lean on too hard… and let it sit out for a while.
That’s how you grow.
(And if you start to “sound like AI,” just dial back on the literary devices a bit.)
Good luck.
- Kindle Direct Publishing
