Definition of Self Fulfilling Prophecy A self fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that comes true because characters act on it believing it to be true. Therefore, the actions that the characters take after hearing the prediction directly cause it to happen; if the prediction had never been made, the results might have been different. The definition of self fulfilling prophecy

Definition of Caricature In literature, a caricature is a character who is given a combination of oversimplified and exaggerated characteristics and features. While the type of caricatures that are popular as street art or political cartoons only highlight physical features, caricature examples in literature can often include personality features that are oversimplified or exaggerated. Caricatures can often be used for

Definition of Double Entendre A double entendre is a figure of speech that can be understood in two different ways. Double entendre examples usually have one obvious meaning and use innuendo to suggest the second meaning, which is often sexual or otherwise indelicate nature. The second meaning is not necessarily rude, however; there is double entendre in the following hypothetical

Definition of Anapest An anapest is a metrical foot that consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. Words such as “understand” and “contradict” are examples of anapest, because both of them have three syllables where the accent is on the final syllable. Anapestic words are less common than other meters in English, such as words with three

Definition of Claim In literature, a claim is a statement that asserts something to be true. A claim can either be factual or a judgment. Claims can work on their own or in conjunction with other claims to form a larger argument. The word claim comes from the Latin word clamare, which means “to cry out, shout.” Thus, the definition

Definition of Anecdote An anecdote is a very short story that is usually interesting or amusing, and concerns real people and real incidents. Anecdotes are often humorous, but also often impart a deeper truth. They are not the same as a joke because the purpose is not just to evoke laughter. The word anecdote comes from an Ancient Greek biographer

Definition of Conceit As a literary device, a conceit uses an extended metaphor that compares two very dissimilar things. A conceit is often elaborate and controls a large section of a poem or the entire poem. Conceits are often quite unique and ingenuous, and can present striking juxtaposition and comparison of the unlike things. At times this can mean that

Definition of Jargon Jargon is a specialized set of terms and language that is used in a particular context and setting. It is especially common to find jargon in an industry, such as in law, medicine, academia, or an art or sport. People who are not a part of this industry or group may not be able to understand the

Definition of Kenning A kenning is a metaphorical compound phrase that replaces a single, concrete noun. A kenning employs figurative language to represent the simpler concept, such as using the phrase “battle-sweat” to refer to blood. Kennings are plentiful in Old Norse and Old English poetry and prose. The word kenning comes from the Old Norse verb kenna, which means

Definition of Persona A persona is a character or figurative mask that an actor, writer, or singer takes on in order to perform. Originally a technique just for theater, the concept was popularized in literature by the poets Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot. Both men had a few named personae through whom they wrote famous poems. When a writer

Definition of Argument Originally, an argument in literature was a brief prose summary of the poem or section of the poem that was to follow. Argument examples could be found in many Renaissance works as ways to orient the reader to the text and let the reader know what to expect. Renaissance arguments were generally a product of the author,

Definition of Zeugma A zeugma is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase joins together two distinct parts of a sentence. There are a few different definitions of zeugma that illustrate the ways in which this figure of speech works. The most common definition of zeugma is a word that is used once, but works in two

Definition of Inference Inference is the process of arriving at a conclusion using known evidence or premises and logically forming an opinion or interpretation. Inference is an important part of logic and reasoning, and is a key element of any syllogism. There can either be valid inferences, which are supported by the premises, or invalid inferences. An invalid or unsupported

Definition of Ballad A ballad is a narrative poem that originally was set to music. Ballads were first created in medieval France, and the word ballad comes from the French term chanson balladée, which means “dancing song.” Ballads then became popular in Great Britain, and remained so until the nineteenth century. The meaning has changed somewhat in the present day

Definition of Bathos Bathos is a sudden change of tone in a work of writing, usually from the sublime to the ridiculous. This may be done unintentionally, and creates a sappy, overly sentimental effect that is a mark of amateur writing. On the other hand, it can be done knowingly and for comedic effect, and is found in many skits

Definition of Syllogism A syllogism is a form of logical reasoning that joins two or more premises to arrive at a conclusion. For example: “All birds lay eggs. A swan is a bird. Therefore, a swan lays eggs.” Syllogisms contain a major premise and a minor premise to create the conclusion, i.e., a more general statement and a more specific

Definition of Internal Rhyme In poetry, internal rhyme is the use of rhyming words in the same line, or rhyming words in the middle of lines. Internal rhyme is the opposite of end rhyme, which involves rhyming words at the end of successive lines. Types of Internal Rhyme There are three variations on the definition of internal rhyme: Two or

Definition of Comparison As a literary device, comparison is a broad term for any act of describing the relationship between two things or more things. These things (whether people, actions, intangible concepts, places, etc) may be alike or different to any degree. Through comparison, an author may show new connections that the reader may not have thought of, or may

Definition of Soliloquy A soliloquy is a speech that a character makes in a work of drama only to him or herself. The soliloquy is presented for the audience to understand the character’s inner thoughts and feelings as though they were not being spoken at all. Generally, no other characters hear a soliloquy and if they are onstage during a

Definition of Logos In literature and rhetoric, logos is an appeal to logic. It is one of the three modes of persuasion that Aristotle defined in his Ars Poetica. The other two modes of persuasion, as delineated by Aristotle, are pathos (an appeal to the audience’s emotions) and ethos (an appeal to the ethics of the audience). Speakers and authors

Definition of Tragedy In literary terms, tragedy is a form of drama in which there is a display of human suffering and often catharsis for the audience. Tragedy, as we know it in Western culture, has its foundation in ancient Greece about 2,500 years ago. It has evolved over the millennia and had an important role in many different cultures

Definition of Anthropomorphism Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics and qualities to animals or deities. In examples of anthropomorphism, the animal or deity in question is actually behaving like a human, such as in the case of talking animals or deities involving themselves in the affairs of humans as in ancient Greek dramas. The word anthropomorphism comes from a

Definition of Half Rhyme Half rhyme employs assonance and consonance to connect words sonically that do not quite rhyme. In regular rhyme, the connected words must have the same vowel sounds and final consonant sounds, such as “bug” and “mug.” Half rhyme generally uses the same vowel sounds with different final consonants or different vowel sounds with the same final

Definition of Antihero An antihero is a main character in a story who lacks the typical heroic qualities of bravery, courage, morality, and the special ability and desire to achieve for the greater good. The antihero is thus still the protagonist of the narrative, yet is a foil to the traditional hero archetype. The word antihero comes from Greek, where

Definition of Transition In literature, a transition is used to signal a change in the story by way of a word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph. Punctuation can also, at times, signal a transition. These transitions may be anything from a change in setting or time in the narrative, to a change in perspective or point-of-view character, to changes in the

Definition of Denouement The denouement of a story occurs just after the climax and is the final moment in which there is resolution for any remaining conflicts in the plot. All the loose ends of the plot are tied up in this last scene, secrets are revealed, and there may be a sense of catharsis for the reader or audience

Definition of Hamartia Hamartia is the fatal flaw in a protagonist or hero that leads to this character’s downfall. Aristotle first used the term hamartia in his essay Poetics, the first known treatise on literary theory. Aristotle described the function of hamartia in Greek tragedy as that aspect of the protagonist, or perhaps an error that the protagonist makes, that

Definition of Couplet A couplet is a successive pair of lines in a poem. The pair of lines that comprise a couplet generally rhyme with each other and contain the same meter. Couplets are either closed, which is to say that both lines are end-stopped, or open, which is to say that there is enjambment involved and the meaning of

Definition of Sibilance Sibilance is a special case of consonance in which the repeated consonant sound is either s, sh, z, or any of the other recognized sibilant sounds. Sibilance occurs when the repetition of these specific consonants are in close proximity. Linguists define sibilant sounds as any consonant that requires pushing air past the tongue without closing the mouth

Definition of Pathos Pathos constitutes an appeal to the emotions of an audience. It is a popular technique by orators and writers alike to connect with people on an emotional level, which is often far more moving than logic or reason. For this reason, pathos is also sometimes akin to a fallacy when it is used only for the purpose

Definition of Epithet An epithet is a nickname or descriptive term that’s added to someone’s name that becomes part of common usage. For example, in the name Alexander the Great, “the Great” is an epithet. The definition of epithet has changed more recently and has come to mean something negative or derogatory; however, in general an epithet is a glorified

Definition of Ethos Ethos is a way of appealing to an audience by showing one’s credibility and ethical character. This is one of the three modes of persuasion in rhetoric, as distinguished by Aristotle, the other two being pathos and logos. In modern usage, ethos also refers to the specific guiding beliefs or ideals that can be found in an

Definition of Euphony Euphony refers to the quality of being pleasant to listen to. Euphony generally comes about through a harmonious combination of sounds and words. An author can create euphony in many different ways, such as using pleasant vowel and consonants, or by employing other literary devices, such as rhythm, rhyme, consonance, and assonance to create an overall harmonious

Definition of Catharsis When used in literature, catharsis is the the release of emotions such as pity, sadness, and fear through witnessing art. Catharsis involves the change of extreme emotion to lead to internal restoration and renewal. Catharsis was first linked to drama, especially to tragedy, by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. The theory was that, through viewing tragedy, people learned

Definition of Anadiplosis Anadiplosis is a form of repetition in which the last word of one clause or sentence is repeated as the first word of the following clause or sentence. Note that this means that every example of antimetabole contains an example of anadiplosis. Antimetabole refers to a set of sentences or clauses which repeat two words or phrases,

Definition of Cacophony Cacophony is a mixture of harsh and discordant noises. As a literary device, cacophony refers to the usage of several unharmonious or dissonant sounds in a line or passage. These unharmonious and dissonant sounds include the explosive consonants k, t, g, d, p, and b, and the hissing sounds ch, sh, and s. The word cacophony comes

Definition of Cliché A cliché is a saying, idea, or element of artistic work that is overused in a culture to the point of losing its original, more significant, meaning. Clichés often are annoying to a listener or reader in that they display a lack of originality on the part of the speaker or writer. Some clichés are also examples

Definition of Inversion As a literary device, inversion refers to the reversal of the syntactically correct order of subjects, verbs, and objects in a sentence. This type of inversion is also known as anastrophe, from the Greek for “to turn back.” In English there is a fairly strict order in which sentences are constructed, generally subject-verb-object (many other languages permit

Definition of Parody A parody is an imitation of a writer, artist, subject, or genre in such a way as to make fun of or comment on the original work. Parodies are often exaggerated in the way they imitate the original in order to produce a humorous effect. While parodies are generally intended to amuse, they are not always comedic

Definition of Idiom An idiom is a saying, phrase, or fixed expression in a culture that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. An idiom gains that meaning through repetition in a culture, and is often introduced via literature, media, famous people, or associations that originally make sense but lose their literal meaning. There are examples of idiom

Definition of Rhetoric Rhetoric is the art of using language to persuade, motivate, or inform an audience via writing or speech. This is also known as the art of discourse. The goal of rhetoric is to move the audience to action through effective arguments. While rhetoric was originally seen as most important for political discourse, scholars who study it find

Definition of Pathetic Fallacy As a literary device, pathetic fallacy refers to giving human emotions and actions to animals, plants, and other parts of nature. Examples of this type of attribution include cats that think devious thoughts, a brook that seems happy, and trees that are worried. British cultural critic John Ruskin created the definition of pathetic fallacy in the

Definition of Narrative A narrative is a sequence of connected events, whether real or fictional. The definition of narrative is the same as that of a story. There are many types of narratives, such as non-fiction (journalism, memoir, biography, etc.), prose, drama, and some forms of poetry, songs, and video games. Examples of narrative can be found everywhere in human

Definition of Synesthesia When used as a literary term, synesthesia is a figure of speech in which one sense is described using terms from another. Examples of synesthesia often are in the form of a simile, as this is an easy way to link two previously unconnected images. For example, you might say, “The silence was as thick as a

Definition of Stanza A stanza is a set of lines in a poem grouped together and set apart from other stanzas in the poem either by a double space or by different indentation. Poems may contain any number of stanzas, depending on the author’s wishes and the structure in which the poet is writing. However, there are many strict poetic

Definition of Blank Verse Blank verse is a type of poetry written in a regular meter that does not contain rhyme. Blank verse is most commonly found in the form of iambic pentameter. Many famous English writers have used blank verse in their works, such as William Shakespeare, John Milton, and William Wordsworth. Difference Between Blank Verse and Free Verse

Definition of Polysyndeton Polysyndeton is a figure of speech in which several conjunctions are used to join connected clauses in places where they are not contextually necessary. For example, consider the following sentence: “The dinner was so good; I ate the chicken, and the salad, and the turkey, and the wild rice, and the bread, and the mashed potatoes, and

Definition of Asyndeton Asyndeton refers to the omission of a conjunction such as “and” or “as” from a series of related clauses. The function of asyndeton is usually to accelerate a passage and emphasize the significance of the relation between these clauses. One famous example is Julius Caesar’s comment “Veni, vidi, vici” after a swift victory in battle, translated into

Definition of Stream of Consciousness When used as a term in literature, stream of consciousness is a narrative form in which the author writes in a way that mimics or parallels a character’s internal thoughts. Sometimes this device is also called “internal monologue,” and often the style incorporates the natural chaos of thoughts and feelings that occur in any of

Definition of Free Verse Free verse is a type of poetry that does not contain patterns of rhyme or meter. Free verse is considered an open form of poetry, as opposed to poetry written in structure or form, and tends to follow natural speech patterns and rhythms. While some rhyme and rhythm may occur in free verse poems, the poet

Definition of Antimetabole Antimetabole is a figure of speech in which words or clauses from the first half of a sentence are repeated in the second half of the sentence in reverse order. For example, John F. Kennedy’s famous instruction to the American people in his inaugural address is an antimetabole: “Ask not what your country can do for you,

Definition of Chiasmus Chiasmus employs two or more clauses which are related grammatically and conceptually, but in which the grammar and concepts are reversed. Chiasmus is a figure of speech that displays inverted parallelism. A simple chiasmus can be broken into parts labeled ABBA. For example, look at the following sentence: We ran away quickly; speedily, we fled. The parts

Definition of Litotes Litotes is a figure of speech in which a negative statement is used to affirm a positive sentiment. For example, when asked how someone is doing, that person might respond, “I’m not bad.” In fact, this means that the person is doing fine or even quite well. The extent to which the litotes means the opposite is

Definition of Climax When used as a literary term, a climax in a story occurs when there is a turning point from which there is no going back. The climax is the point of highest tension in a narrative. In a tragedy, the climax will generally reveal the protagonist’s greatest weaknesses, and the situation will go irreparably wrong. In a

Definition of Enjambment Enjambment is a term used in poetry to refer to lines that end without punctuation and without completing a sentence or clause. When a poet uses enjambment, he or she continues a sentence beyond the end of the line into a subsequent line or lines. Enjambment is also sometimes thought of as the running on of a

Definition of Rhyme Rhyme is a popular literary device in which the repetition of the same or similar sounds occurs in two or more words, usually at the end of lines in poems or songs. In a rhyme in English, the vowel sounds in the stressed syllables are matching, while the preceding consonant sound does not match. The consonants after

Definition of Understatement Understatement is way of speaking which minimizes the significance of something. When using understatement, a speaker or writer often employs restraint in describing the situation at hand and uses an expression with less emphasis or strength than would be expected. One very famous example of understatement occurred during a plane crash in 1982. After all four engines

Definition of Motif A motif is a narrative element with symbolic meaning that repeats throughout a work of literature. Motifs may come in the form of reoccurring imagery, language, structure, or contrasts. In drama, motifs may also take the form of repeated music, visual components, or physical movements. The development of motifs in a work of literature often contributes to

Definition of Pun A pun is a play on words which usually hinges on a word with more than one meaning or the substitution of a homonym that changes the meaning of the sentence for humorous or rhetorical effect. For example, here’s a well-known pun: “Corduroy pillows are making headlines.” The word “headlines” usually refers to something that is new

Definition of Prose Prose is a communicative style that sounds natural and uses grammatical structure. Prose is the opposite of verse, or poetry, which employs a rhythmic structure that does not mimic ordinary speech. There is, however, some poetry called “prose poetry” that uses elements of prose while adding in poetic techniques such as heightened emotional content, high frequency of metaphors,

Definition of Aphorism An aphorism is a short saying that expresses a truth in a memorable way. Aphorisms can sometimes be humorous, but are not necessarily so. They often have some parallelism or juxtaposition to make the point, such as in the example of Lord Acton’s famous quote “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Hippocrates, the ancient

Definition of Characterization Characterization is the act of creating and describing characters in literature. Characterization includes both descriptions of a character’s physical attributes as well as the character’s personality. The way that characters act, think, and speak also adds to their characterization. There are two subsets of the definition of characterization: direct and indirect characterization. We explore this distinction in

Definition of Rhetorical Question A rhetorical question is a question that is asked not to get an answer, but instead to emphasize a point. The word “rhetorical” signifies that the question is meant as a figure of speech. Though no answer is necessary for rhetorical questions, they are often used to elicit thought and understanding on the part of the

Definition of Synecdoche Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole, or vice versa. For example, the phrase “all hands on deck” is a demand for all of the crew to help, yet the word “hands”—just a part of the crew—stands

Definition of Satire Satire is a genre of literature that uses wit for the purpose of social criticism. Satire ridicules problems in society, government, businesses, and individuals in order to bring attention to certain follies, vices, and abuses, as well as to lead to improvements. Irony and sarcasm are often an important aspect of satire. Satirists also often use juxtaposition,

Definition of Oxymoron An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two seemingly opposing and contradictory elements are juxtaposed. In literature, oxymora, also known as oxymorons, often reveal a paradox. The word oxymoron is in itself an oxymoron. It comes from the Ancient Greek word oxumoron, a compound of the words oxus, meaning “sharp” or “keen” and moros, meaning

Definition of Conflict In literature, conflict is the result of competing desires or the presence of obstacles that need to be overcome. Conflict is necessary to propel a narrative forward; the absence of conflict amounts to the absence of story. There are three main types of conflict identified in literature: man versus man, man versus nature, and man versus self.

Definition of Plot The plot of a story consists of the events that occur during the course of that story and the way in which they are presented to the reader. The plot is also sometimes referred to as the storyline. Aristotle posited that plots must have a beginning, middle, and end, and that each event in the plot causes

Definition of Metonymy Metonymy is a figure of speech in which something is called by a new name that is related in meaning to the original thing or concept. For example, it’s common practice to refer to celebrity life and culture in the United States as “Hollywood,” as in “Hollywood is obsessed with this new diet.” The meaning of this

Definition of Paradox When used as a literary device, a paradox is the juxtaposition of a set of seemingly contradictory concepts that reveal a hidden and/or unexpected truth. The paradox may be hard or even impossible to believe, yet usually the contradiction can be reconciled if the reader thinks about the juxtaposition more deeply. In literature, paradoxes can usually be

Definition of Antithesis Antithesis is the use of contrasting concepts, words, or sentences within parallel grammatical structures. This combination of a balanced structure with opposite ideas serves to highlight the contrast between them. For example, the following famous Muhammad Ali quote is an example of antithesis: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” This is an antithesis example because

Definition of Mood As a literary device, mood is the emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader. All works of literature produce some sort of emotional and psychological effect in the audience; though every reader may respond differently to the same work of literature there is often a similar type of mood produced. For

Definition of Archetype As a literary device, an archetype is a reoccurring symbol or motif throughout literature that represents universal patterns of human nature. It can also refer to the original model on which all other things of the same kind are based. For example, the common character of a hero is an archetype in that all heroes in literature

Definition of Allegory An allegory is a work of art, such as a story or painting, in which the characters, images, and/or events act as symbols. The symbolism in an allegory can be interpreted to have a deeper meaning. An author may use allegory to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth, or political or historical situation. Allegories can be understood

Definition of Apostrophe More commonly known as a punctuation mark, apostrophe can also refer to an exclamatory figure of speech. The definition of apostrophe as a literary device is when a speaker breaks off from addressing one party and instead addresses a third party. This third party may be an individual, either present or absent in the scene. It can

Definition of Parallelism Parallelism is the usage of repeating words and forms to give pattern and rhythm to a passage in literature. Parallelism often either juxtaposes contrasting images or ideas so as to show their stark difference, or joins similar concepts to show their connection. Authors often create parallelism through the use of other literary devices, such as anaphora, epistrophe,

Definition of Anaphora Anaphora is a literary and rhetorical device in which a word or group of words is repeated at the beginning of two or more successive clauses or sentences. This technique adds emphasis and unity to the clauses. For example, look at the function of the words “if only” in the following sentence: “If only I hadn’t gone

Definition of Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are in close proximity to each other. This repetition of sounds brings attention to the lines in which it is used, and creates more aural rhythm. In poems, alliteration can also refer to repeated consonant sound in the stressed syllables of a line.

Definition of Theme As a literary device, theme is the central topic or idea explored in a text. Usually the theme of a work of literature can be stated in one word, such as “love” or “solitude.” A work of literature can, and often does, have more than one theme. The theme is generally not stated explicitly in the text,

Definition of Point of View Point of view is the perspective from which a story is narrated. Every story has a perspective, though there can be more than one type of point of view in a work of literature. The most common points of view used in novels are first person singular (“I”) and third person (“he” and “she”). However,

Definition of Tone In literature, tone is the attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work’s central theme or subject. Works of literature can have many different types of tone, such as humorous, solemn, distant, intimate, ironic, arrogant, condescending, sentimental, and so on. Any emotion that humans can feel can be an example of tone in literature. All

Definition of Personification As a literary device, personification is the projection of characteristics that normally belong only to humans onto inanimate objects, animals, deities, or forces of nature. These characteristics can include verbs of actions that only humans do or adjectives that describe a human condition. The characteristics can also be emotions, feelings, or motives given to objects incapable of

Definition of Imagery As a literary device, imagery consists of descriptive language that can function as a way for the reader to better imagine the world of the piece of literature and also add symbolism to the work. Imagery draws on the five senses, namely the details of taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. Imagery can also pertain to details

Definition of Metaphor A metaphor is a rhetorical figure of speech that compares two subjects without the use of “like” or “as.” Metaphor is often confused with simile, which compares two subjects by connecting them with “like” or “as” (for example: “She’s fit as a fiddle”). While a simile states that one thing is like another, a metaphor asserts that

Definition of Juxtaposition As a literary technique, the juxtaposition definition is to place two concepts, characters, ideas, or places near or next to each other so that the reader will compare and contrast them. This technique also may imply a link that is not necessarily real or to be trusted. The word juxtaposition comes from the Latin for “side by

Definition of Protagonist The protagonist is the main character of a work of literature, theater, or cinema. There may be more than one protagonist in a large piece of work or a work with several overlapping narratives. In some particularly sprawling works, like Tolstoy’s War and Peace, it may be nearly impossible to identify the “main” character. While the protagonist

Definition of Assonance Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound or diphthong in non-rhyming words. To qualify as assonance, the words must be close enough for the repetition of the sound to be noticeable. Assonance is a common literary technique used in poetry and prose, and is widely found in English verse. Difference Between Assonance, Consonance, and Alliteration, and

Definition of Repetition Repetition consists of repeating a word, phrase, or sentence, and is common in both poetry and prose. It is a rhetorical technique to add emphasis, unity, and/or power. Due to this definition of repetition, it is a common technique for orators to use. There have been examples of repetition throughout the course of human history, as it

Definition of Red Herring A red herring in literature is a narrative element that is used to throw off readers and lead them to false conclusions. This is an especially popular literary device to use in detective stories and thrillers. An author provides one or more red herrings intentionally to divert attention away from the true object or person of

Definition of Anagram Anagrams are a type of game with words in which the letters of a word, name, or phrase are rearranged to form different words. All of the letters from the original word(s) must be used exactly once in the new configuration to qualify as an anagram. While any such rearrangement of a word of phrase that results

Definition of Colloquialism The word “colloquialism” comes from the Latin colloquium, which means a “conference” or “conversation.” As a literary device, colloquialism refers to the usage of informal or everyday language in literature. Colloquialisms are generally geographic in nature, in that a colloquial expression often belongs to a regional or local dialect. They can be words, phrases, or aphorisms (see

Definition of Symbolism When used as a literary device, symbolism means to imbue objects with a certain meaning that is different from their original meaning or function. Other literary devices, such as metaphor, allegory, and allusion, aid in the development of symbolism. Authors use symbolism to tie certain things that may initially seem unimportant to more universal themes. The symbols

Definition of Syntax Syntax is the arrangement of words into a sentence that make sense in a given language. Syntax also refers to the rules and principles that govern sentence structure in a language, i.e., how words and phrases may be joined. Syntax therefore is not a strictly literary device, but instead is part of every utterance and written line,

Definition of Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia refers to a word that phonetically mimics or resembles the sound of the thing it describes. For example, the words we use to describe the noises that animals make are all onomatopoetic, such as a dog’s “bark,” a cat’s “meow,” or a coo’s “moo.” Interestingly, the onomatopoetic words for animal sounds change quite a bit from

Definition of Irony As a literary device, irony is a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality. This can be a difference between the surface meaning of something that is said and the underlying meaning. It can also be a difference between what might be expected to happen and what actually occurs. The definition of irony

Definition of Simile Simile is an explicit comparison between two unlike things through the use of connecting words, usually “like” or “as.” The technique of simile is known as a rhetorical analogy, as it is a device used for comparison. The other most popular rhetorical analogy is metaphor, which shares some traits and is often confused with simile. We explain

Definition of Analogy Analogy is a comparison between two things. Analogies function to describe or explain one thing by examining its similarities with another thing. The two things may be very dissimilar and the analogy forces the reader or listener to understand the connection between them. On the other hand, the analogy could provide a comparison between two very similar

Definition of Style In literature, style comprises many literary devices that an author employs to create a distinct feel for a work. These devices include, but are not limited to, point of view, symbolism, tone, imagery, diction, voice, syntax, and the method of narration. Style is a fundamental aspect of fiction, as it is naturally part of every work of

Definition of Sarcasm Sarcasm is a remark made mockingly, ironically, or in bitter contempt so as to show some foolishness on the part of the interlocutor. Sarcasm can be quite harsh and biting, or it can be said in teasing jest. Usually sarcastic statements could be construed as being genuine, because they are often appropriate to the situation on a

Definition of Sonnet A sonnet is a poetic form that has fourteen lines. It originated in Italy in the thirteenth century, and though it has generally kept some of the original rules, such as the number of lines and having a specific rhyme scheme and meter, the conventions of sonnets have changed over the centuries to some degree. There are