Literary devices are a writer’s sharpest tool to evoke emotion and aesthetic pleasure in their writing, making it more eloquent and effective. It adds richness to the text, introduces layers beneath it and can convey a lot about the writer’s faculties too. In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the most commonly used literary devices.

When we hear the words ‘literary devices’ strung together, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is the 7th-grade English class when our teachers would ask us to identify these devices in poems. In the English language, there are more than a hundred literary devices. We shall be looking at – Metaphor, Epigraph, Allusion, Irony, Personification, Hyperbole, Repetition and Synecdoche. 

[This article on Using Analogies: Metaphor and Similes in Indian Writing will enrich your writing] 

Literary devices can be employed in poems and fictional works. They are techniques that writers use to leave a profound emotional impact on the reader. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is not just symbolic of Jay Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, but also has reinvented itself multiple times in pop culture as a symbol for permission. Here, F. Scott Fitzgerald used it as a metaphor to portray his character’s feelings. 

History of Literary Devices 

The use of literary devices dates back to ancient Greek and Roman literature. Homer and Virgil have been known to employ these techniques to enhance their messages in their poems. The Odyssey, for instance, is rich with extended metaphors and dramatic irony, all of which serve to deepen the narrative and elevate the heroic journey of Odysseus. Similarly, Virgil’s Aeneid employs similes, allegory, and symbolism to not only glorify Rome’s origins but also reflect on duty, fate, and divine intervention. These early epics laid the groundwork for literary traditions across cultures. 

Even the Indian epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata employ several literary devices. Foreshadowing is one such device that can be seen in both these epics. For instance, in the Ramayana, the exile of Lord Rama is foretold through ominous signs, and the prophetic boon granted to Kaikeyi sets the stage for the epic’s central conflict. In the Mahabharata, the repeated warnings to Duryodhana about the consequences of his stubbornness, or Krishna’s cryptic insights about the outcomes of the war, serve as powerful examples of foreshadowing. From Greek literature to the modern age, literary devices have come a long way.  

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Why literary devices matter 

Literary devices are not just employed to enhance the artistic pleasure of the reader, but they also showcase a writer’s ability to think cleverly and creatively.  Some devices are so striking, they linger in the mind long after the text is read, turning a simple idea into something profound and memorable. In this way, literary devices transform language into an experience.

Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used literary devices! 

1. Metaphor

The phrase ‘that’s just the tip of the iceberg’ relays information that this is just a small part of a complex situation. This is an example of a metaphor. Metaphors are all too common in the texts surrounding us; sometimes, we don’t even notice them. It allows you to capture and compare two experiences sitting at different spectrums, and by combining them, you can reveal a deeper truth. Writers with this device can connect two seemingly distant experiences, bridging emotion and intellect. With just a few words, a metaphor can evoke imagery, trigger associations, and communicate abstract truths that might otherwise be difficult to express.

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of metaphors – 

Take George Orwell’s text 1984, in which the character ‘Big Brother’ becomes a metaphor for state control and authoritarian surveillance. Again, this metaphor extends a lot and finds itself in pop-culture references, too. The phrase, ‘Big Brother is watching,’ has extended far beyond the novel and is often found in pop-culture references. Moreover, it has also inspired reality show concepts, illustrating how a single metaphor can influence both political discourse and entertainment.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost is a poem that explores the question of the end of the world. It does so by not just exploring these natural elements in their form but also by using them metaphorically. Fire stands in for intense desire or passion, while ice represents hatred or emotional coldness. Through this metaphor, Frost moves beyond the apocalypse to explore the destructive extremes of human emotion.

2. Epigraph

Have you ever noticed how certain texts begin with a borrowed quotation from another artist’s work? It is called an epigraph. This literary device is used when an author chooses to open their work with a reference – often a line, poem, or excerpt from someone else’s writing. An epigraph helps set the tone, establish the theme, or offer insight into the mood of the piece that follows. It positions the author’s work within a broader artistic or philosophical context of the one that is mentioned.

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of epigraphs – 

T.S. Eliot is one such artist who has proactively used epigraphs. His poem ‘The Hollow Men’ begins with an epigraph of Joseph Conrad’s work ‘Heart of Darkness’. Joseph Conrad’s work is seminal in post-colonial landscapes, and the character who has been referenced – Mr. Kurtz is symbolic of human greed and moral decay, which is also the central theme in T.S. Eliot’s work. This epigraph establishes the mood and tone of the poem. 

Another famous epigraph is in Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley. She takes from John Milton’s work ‘Paradise Lost’ – “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay / To mould me Man?”. It represents the central debate of the novel which is the relationship between a creator and their creation. 

3. Allusion

In this device, references or associations are made indirectly to other established works. Here, there is an assumption on the writer’s part about the reader’s existing knowledge base. This device also helps in keeping other works of art alive and can communicate a lot in fewer words. 

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of Allusions – 

In Amrita Pritam’s poem ‘To Waris Shah’ written during the Partition of India, she invokes the spirit of Waris Shah, the celebrated Punjabi poet. By alluding to him, Amrita Pritam is not only mourning the violence around her but also calling upon a literary ancestor to bear witness and respond to the suffering of Punjab.

T.S. Eliot in his famous poem ‘The Waste Land’ alludes to more than thirty writers. He had a reputation for being an intellectual. In the ending part of the poem, Sanskrit allusions are referred to in the form of words such as Datta that means to give, Dayadhvam that means to sympathize and Damyata that means to control which are taken from an Upanishad. Moreover, the very last words of this poem are “Shanti, Shanti, Shanti” which are Sanskrit words meaning peace.

4. Irony

Is Irony a cruel mistress? This device employs two contradictory ideas to reveal a deeper underlying truth. This is a very powerful literary device because it sings and immediately hooks the reader in. It is also more often than not misunderstood but when used well, irony can expose hypocrisy, deliver wit, and or highlight absurdity. 

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of Irony – 

Shakespeare prominently uses dramatic irony in his play Macbeth. This occurs when the audience is aware of the irony in the situation, however the character is not. For instance, Macbeth’s speech “So fair and foul a day I’ve not seen” echoes of what the witches say “Foul is fair, fair is foul.” The audience then already gets an idea about Macbeth’s downfall. 

The last leaf by O. Henry offers a painful irony. In the story, Johnny had a belief that she will die when the last leaf outside her window’s tree falls. However, it is the character of Behrman who had painted the leaf who dies instead. It’s the reversal of expectations wherein the irony of this story lies. 

5. Personification

This literary device allows non – human entities to have human qualities to create a vivid and more descriptive work. Through this device, non – human entities can partake in dialogue which adds a lot of imagination to the text.

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of personification – 

William Wordsworth’s poem “I wandered lonely as a cloud” is a classic example of this device. A cloud, factually cannot feel lonely but the writer imagines it to be. 

Similarly, the poem Fog by Carl August Sandburg gives ‘fog’ the qualities of a stray animal; “The fog comes on little cat feet” and “sits looking over” which gives it weight and substance. 

6. Hyperbole

It is a literary device where extensive exaggeration is done deliberately, to portray or bring emphasis to a point. It can be used as a humorous tool as well as to inform the weight of an emotional experience. This device is prominently used in classical epics.

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of hyperbole – 

Homer’s works are filled with hyperboles. He writes his heroes with such immense bravery, heroism and near-superhuman prowess that their feats feel larger than life. These exaggerations elevate them from mere mortals to legends. 

Similarly, even in Ramayana, Lord Rama has been described as tall as the mountains and as bright as the sun. It is also one of the reasons why it became a folklore because the writing of the character was extremely impactful. 

7. Repetition

Well, as the name suggests, it is a repetition of a certain word or a phrase to bring it to the reader’s attention or to create momentum and rhythm.

Here are two examples to ingrain a deeper understanding of repetition – 

The poem Wild Geese by Mary Oliver utilises repetition to emphasise her point of unlearning behaviour that society trains you in. Her constant use of “You do not have to” breaks the shackles of societal understanding. The repetition in the poem also feels like a conversation 

Another example of repetition is ‘Do not go gentle into that goodnight’ by Dylan Thomas. Here, the line, “rage, rage, against the dying of the light,” is so ferocious, and the repetition helps it gain momentum. 

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Techniques to create literary devices

If you’re a beginner, start with simple literary devices like simile or alliteration. One important thing to remember is like the old adage that goes “To write better, you need to read a lot.” Similarly, to create literary devices effectively, you must first learn to recognise them in other works. Each time you write, ask yourself: “How can I say this more creatively?”

As a writer, you have immense freedom to experiment with language, tone, and imagery.

Let’s take this simple sentence as an example – She was angry.

Now, how many different versions of literary devices can you apply?  

Conclusion 

Literary devices are the way writers adorn their works of art. It is universal in nature, as it’s present in every language. So, speaking metaphorically, then, if language is an alive being, literary devices would be its personalities. It has also moved beyond literature and can be seen in songwriting as well.