Literary Devices

Alliteration And Anaphora
Alliteration
This is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in close succession.
Examples:
The daily diary of the American dream. (Wall Street Journal Slogan)
Youll never put a better bit of butter on your knife. (Country Life Butter Advertising Slogan)
Anaphora
This is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences or verses.
Examples:
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we
shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island,
whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing
grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never
surrender. (Winston Churchill, speech to the House of Commons, June 4, 1940)
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons
of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a
dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice,
sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I
have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged
by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character (Martin Luther King, Jr. I Have a
Dream speech, August 28, 1963)
Antithesis And Apostrophe
Antithesis
This literary device is one in which an opposition or contrast of ideas/words/phrases are expressed.
Examples:
Ill be damned if I do it, damned if I dont.
When there is need for silence, you speak, and when there is need for speech, you are silent.
Apostrophe
This figure of speech is one in which an absent or nonexistent person or thing is personified, and
addressed as if present and capable of understanding.
Examples:
Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own.
( Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, Blue Moon)
The clouds became angry, and started crying. What are you crying for? I asked.
Assonance And Euphemism
Assonance
This is the similarity in sound of internal vowels in neighbouring words.
Examples:
It beats as it sweeps as it cleans. (Hoover Vacuum Cleaners- Slogan)
I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless. ( Thin Lizzy, With Love)
Euphemism
The use of a mild or less direct word in place of one that is harsh (aka sugar-coating).
Examples:
Did you see Yendi and Frankensteins sister come out of Old Navy?
Her father went to be with the angels last month.

Hyperbole And Irony
Hyperbole
This is the use of an exaggeration for emphasis.
Examples:
On visiting Tivoli Gardens in Kingston Jamaica, after the onslaught between criminal elements and
security forces, the state of the infrastructure far exceeded video clips of images in Iraq.
On reading the candidates speech, it was so well written; it reminded me of Dr. Martin Luther
Kings, I Have a Dream, Speech.
Irony
The two most used types of irony are verbal and situational.
Verbal Irony
This case exists when the meaning of a word in a given context, is opposite to the literal meaning.
Examples:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. ( Julius Caesar, by William
Shakespeare)
Sarah and Jessie were sitting under an apple tree having brunch, when they realised Sarah was
sitting in an ants nest. Jessie while helping Sarah to brush off the insects remarked, Arent you the
lucky one!
Situational Irony
This occurs, when the actual outcome, is contrary to the expected outcome.
Examples:
The fire station is on fire.
Someone choked to death on a life saver.

Metaphor And Oxymoron
Metaphor
This is a comparison made between two things, without the use of the words as or like.
Examples:
That Jessie James is a snake.
She is a rainbow.
Oxymoron
This exists when contradicting words are used together (one is used to modify the other).
Examples:
Expressions like: original copy; found missing; terribly pleased; small crowd; clearly misunderstood;
pretty ugly; great depression
Did you respond to Maries question? John asked. Yes, Joe replied. I told her it was a definite
maybe.
Paradox And Personification
Paradox
This is a self-contradicting statement or position.
Examples:
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. (George Orwell, 1984)
You can save money by spending it.
Personification
This is the giving of human qualities and or abilities to inanimate objects.
Examples:
Fear knocked on the door.
This camera hates me; every time I use it, it acts up.
Pun And Simile
Pun
This is a play on words, particularly words that have more than one meaning in the context used.
Examples:
The police reportedly found a peep hole in one of the rooms; we contacted the local office, and they
said they were looking into it.
An archaeologist is a person whose career lies in ruins.
Simile
This is a comparison made between people/things using as or like.

Examples:
The character in the movie is as agile as a monkey.
John is the student representative; he is as bright as the sun.

Literary Devices

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Alliteration And Anaphora

Ill be damned if I do it, damned if I dont.

This is the similarity in sound of internal vowels in neighbouring words.

It beats as it sweeps as it cleans. (Hoover Vacuum Cleaners- Slogan)

Her father went to be with the angels last month.

This is the use of an exaggeration for emphasis.

The fire station is on fire.

Someone choked to death on a life saver.

That Jessie James is a snake.

This is a self-contradicting statement or position.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. (George Orwell, 1984)

You can save money by spending it.

This is the giving of human qualities and or abilities to inanimate objects.

Fear knocked on the door.

An archaeologist is a person whose career lies in ruins.

This is a comparison made between people/things using as or like.

The character in the movie is as agile as a monkey.

John is the student representative; he is as bright as the sun.

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