LITERARY

DEVICES
Ms. Misbah Tariq
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Fatima Jinnah Women University
 METAPHOR
A metaphor directly compares two things by stating one is the other, helping convey ideas

more vividly or symbolically.

▪ Example: "The classroom was a zoo."

This metaphor suggests that the classroom is chaotic and noisy, much like a zoo,

emphasizing disorder and confusion.

▪ "Time is a thief."

This metaphor suggests that time steals moments from our lives, implying that it passes

quickly and without mercy.

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 SIMILE
▪ A simile compares two things using "like" or "as" to highlight their similarities.

• Example: "Her heart was as cold as ice."

The comparison of her heart to ice emphasizes her emotional coldness or lack of

compassion.

• "The night was as dark as coal."

This simile conveys the depth of darkness, suggesting that the night was not only

dark but impenetrably so.

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 ALLITERATION
▪ Alliteration involves repeating the same consonant sound at the beginning of

nearby words to create rhythm or draw attention to specific phrases.

• Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

The repeated "p" sound creates a playful, musical quality that makes the sentence

catchy.

• "She swiftly sailed across the sea."

The repetition of the "s" sound adds a fluid, graceful tone to the description of

sailing.

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 PERSONIFICATION
▪ Personification involves giving human traits to non-human things or abstract

concepts to make them more relatable or vivid.

• Example: "The sun smiled down on us."

The sun is personified as smiling, making it seem warm and friendly, enhancing the

positive feelings associated with the day.

• "The car’s engine roared to life."

The engine is given the human action of "roaring," creating a sense of power and

vitality.
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 IRONY
▪ Irony occurs when there is a discrepancy between appearance and reality, or between what is

expected and what actually happens.

• Example (Verbal Irony): "Oh, great! Another rainy day."

The speaker means the opposite of what they say, conveying frustration or displeasure with the
rain.

• Example (Situational Irony): A fire station burns down.

It’s ironic because fire stations are meant to prevent fires, yet it becomes the victim of one.

• Example (Dramatic Irony): In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows Juliet isn’t dead, but Romeo

believes she is, leading to tragic consequences.

The audience’s knowledge creates suspense and heightens the emotional impact of the tragedy.

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 FORESHADOWING
▪ Foreshadowing gives hints or clues about events that will happen later in the narrative,

building suspense or preparing the reader for future developments.

• Example: "She had a strange feeling that something was about to happen."

This suggests that an unexpected event or crisis is on the horizon, setting the stage for

future conflict.

• "The old house creaked as if it were holding secrets."

The creaking implies that there are hidden truths or dangers within the house, hinting at

revelations to come.

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 SYMBOLISM
▪ Symbolism uses an object, person, or event to represent something larger, often an

abstract concept or deeper meaning.

• Example: The green light in The Great Gatsby symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dreams and

the American Dream.

The green light, visible from Daisy’s house, represents Gatsby’s hopes and desires, which

remain out of reach, much like the idealized version of the American Dream.

• The white dove is a symbol of peace.

The dove represents harmony and the absence of conflict, a common symbol used in

literature and art to convey peacefulness.

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 ALLUSION
▪ An allusion is a reference to a person, event, place, or another work of literature, often

used to add depth to the narrative by invoking shared knowledge.

• Example: "She was as beautiful as Helen of Troy."

This allusion to the mythological figure Helen of Troy highlights the woman’s

extraordinary beauty.

• "He was a real Romeo with the ladies."

This refers to the character Romeo from Romeo and Juliet, implying the man is a

passionate lover, referencing his romantic character in Shakespeare's play.

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 FLASHBACK
▪ A flashback interrupts the chronological flow of the narrative to revisit a previous event,

offering background or context to current events.

• Example: "She closed her eyes, remembering the warmth of her grandmother's hug from

years ago."

The flashback gives the reader insight into the character’s past, enhancing emotional

depth in the present moment.

• The narrator recalls his childhood days spent at the beach, reflecting on how the simplicity of

those moments shaped his view of the world.

This memory helps explain the character’s current state of mind or personality.

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 HYPERBOLE
▪ Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration used to emphasize a point, often in a dramatic or

humorous way.

• Example: "I have a ton of homework."

This exaggeration emphasizes how overwhelming the homework feels, even though it’s

not literally a ton.

• "Her suitcase was so heavy, it must have weighed a thousand pounds."

The speaker is exaggerating to convey just how difficult it is to carry, emphasizing its

weight.

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 ONOMATOPOEIA
▪ Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate the sounds they represent, enhancing sensory

engagement in the text.

• Example: "The bees buzzed around the flowers."

The word "buzzed" mimics the sound of bees, helping readers hear the scene in their

minds.

• "The thunder rumbled in the distance."

"Rumbled" imitates the low, booming sound of thunder, creating a more immersive

atmosphere.

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 OXYMORON
▪ An oxymoron pairs contradictory terms together to reveal paradoxes or complex truths

about a situation.

• Example: "Jumbo shrimp."

The contrast between "jumbo" (large) and "shrimp" (small) creates an amusing

contradiction, often used to highlight the complexity or absurdity of certain things.

• "Bittersweet memories."

This oxymoron suggests that the memories are both happy and sad at the same time,

conveying the complexity of emotions tied to past experiences.

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 ANAPHORA
▪ Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive

clauses, often used for emphasis or to create a rhythmic effect.

• Example: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up. I have a dream that one

day every valley shall be exalted." — Martin Luther King Jr.

The repetition of "I have a dream" emphasizes the speaker’s vision and hope for the
future, building a sense of urgency and emotion.

• "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in

the fields and in the streets." — Winston Churchill

The repeated phrase "we shall fight" strengthens the resolve and determination of
the speaker in a time of national crisis.

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 CONSONANCE
▪ Consonance is a literary device that refers to the repetition of consonant sounds in close
proximity within a sentence or phrase. Unlike alliteration, which focuses on the repetition
of initial consonant sounds, consonance can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of
words. It’s often used to create rhythm, emphasize certain words, or enhance the overall
musical quality of a piece of writing.

▪ Example 1: The lumpy, bumpy road.

▪ The repetition of the "m" and "b" sounds creates a rhythmic flow that emphasizes the
unevenness of the road.

▪ Example 2: The pitter-patter of rain.

▪ The repetition of the "t" and "r" sounds evokes the sound of raindrops falling, adding
auditory detail to the description.

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 JUXTAPOSITION
▪ Juxtaposition places two contrasting elements side by side, often highlighting

differences to make a point or create an effect.

• "The calm before the storm."

This juxtaposition of calm and storm sets the stage for an inevitable change or

upheaval, creating tension.

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▪ Examples of Juxtaposition:

1. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." — A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

In this famous opening line, Dickens juxtaposes the ideas of the "best" and the "worst" times,
highlighting the extreme contrasts of the period he describes and setting the tone for a story
filled with social and political contradictions.

2. "Darkness and light"

These two opposites, when placed together, create a contrast that emphasizes the differences
between the two. The juxtaposition could highlight the struggle between good and evil,
knowledge and ignorance, or hope and despair.

3. "The serene beauty of the mountaintop contrasted sharply with the chaos of the storm

below."
Here, the calmness of the mountaintop is set against the tumultuous storm, emphasizing the stark
difference between peace and chaos.

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1. "The rich man in his mansion contrasted with the poor man in the street."

This juxtaposition brings attention to the social inequality and differences in lifestyle
between the two characters, creating a commentary on wealth and class.

2. "A poor man with an extravagant suit."

This creates a striking contrast between the man's appearance and his financial status,
making the disparity between his outward appearance and his reality more apparent.

3. "The cheerful child in the dark, damp alley."

The contrast between the child’s cheerfulness and the bleak, grim setting emphasizes the
child's innocence or optimism in a difficult environment.

4. "Her kindness to strangers in contrast to her coldness to family."

This juxtaposes two opposing qualities of a person, highlighting the complexity of human
nature and suggesting that people may act differently depending on the situation.

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 SATIRE
▪ Satire uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock societal norms, politics, or

individuals.

• Example: Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal suggests eating children as a solution to poverty in

Ireland.

The absurdity of the suggestion is used to criticize British exploitation and Irish poverty in a

satirical, shocking manner.

• George Orwell’s Animal Farm satirizes political systems, particularly communism, through the lives of

farm animals.

The animals' actions reflect the rise of totalitarianism, and Orwell critiques the corruption that

follows a revolution.

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 CLIFFHANGER
▪ A cliffhanger ends a chapter or section at a suspenseful moment, compelling the reader

to continue for resolution.

• Example: "Just as she opened the door, a cold gust of wind slammed it shut, and she heard

footsteps behind her."

The suspense leaves the reader eager to know who or what is behind the character.

• "He reached for the gun, but then the lights went out."

This creates an immediate sense of tension and uncertainty about what will happen next.

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 COLLOQUIALISM
▪ Colloquialism is the use of informal, everyday language that reflects regional or

cultural speech.

• Example: "Y’all" is commonly used in the southern United States as a contraction of

"you all."

This informal expression is characteristic of casual conversations in that region.

• "Gonna" instead of "going to" is a colloquial form often used in casual speech or

song lyrics, reflecting relaxed or familiar communication.

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 TONE
▪ Tone refers to the writer’s attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word

choice, syntax, and style.

• Example: "I can't believe you did that!"

The tone could be sarcastic, angry, or disappointed, depending on the context.

• "The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and all seemed right with the world."

The tone here is joyful and peaceful, evoking feelings of contentment and

happiness.

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 EUPHEMISM
▪ A euphemism is a figure of speech in which a mild or less direct word or phrase is

used to replace one that may be considered harsh, unpleasant, or inappropriate.

Euphemisms are often used to soften the impact of difficult, uncomfortable, or

sensitive topics, making them easier to discuss or more socially acceptable.

▪ Examples of Euphemism:

1. "Passed away" instead of "died"

The phrase "passed away" is often used to convey the idea of death in a more

gentle, less blunt manner.

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1. "Between jobs" instead of "unemployed"

"Between jobs" is a softer way to describe someone who is currently not working,
implying that it is a temporary situation rather than a permanent one.

2. "Senior citizen" instead of "old person"

"Senior citizen" is a more respectful term than simply calling someone "old," often
used to convey a sense of dignity and respect for age.

3. "Let go" instead of "fired"

When someone is dismissed from a job, "let go" is used as a softer term than
"fired," often to avoid the negative connotations of the latter.

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