What are literary devices?
Writers are like chefs. They have special ingredients that make their writing tasty and memorable. These ingredients are called literary devices. A literary device is a technique that writers use to create pictures in your mind, build feelings, add humour, create suspense or share deeper meaning.
When you learn to spot literary devices, reading becomes more interesting, because you notice how the author is working their magic. And when you use them in your own writing, your stories and poems come alive.
Devices that compare
Simile
A simile compares two different things using like or as.
The kitten was as light as a feather.
He ran like the wind.
Metaphor
A metaphor compares two different things by saying one thing is another.
The classroom was a beehive of activity.
Her smile was sunshine.
Personification
Personification gives human qualities or actions to animals, objects or ideas.
The wind whispered through the trees.
The old car groaned up the hill.
The sun smiled down on the picnic.
Why use it? It makes non-human things feel alive and relatable.
Devices that exaggerate or understate
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration. It is not meant to be taken literally.
I’ve told you a million times!
My backpack weighs a ton.
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
Why use it? For humour or to show strong feelings.
Understatement
The opposite of hyperbole: making something seem less important than it is.
After running a marathon: “I’m a little tired.”
Devices that use sound
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it describes.
buzz, hiss, crash, splash, sizzle, boom, meow, tick-tock, zoom
The bacon sizzled in the pan while the clock went tick-tock.
Alliteration
Repeating the same beginning sound in nearby words.
Sally’s silly snake slithered slowly.
Rhyme and rhythm
Words that end with the same sound (cat/hat) and patterns of beats make poems musical.
Repetition
Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis.
I will never, never, never give up.
Devices that paint pictures
Imagery
Imagery uses words that appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
The crunchy red leaves crackled under my boots, and the air smelled of woodsmoke and cinnamon.
Why use it? Imagery helps readers experience the scene.
Devices that shape the story
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing gives hints about what will happen later.
As Mia stepped onto the frozen pond, she heard a faint crack beneath her feet, but she kept going.
The crack hints that something bad might happen.
Why use it? It builds suspense and makes readers want to keep reading.
Flashback
A flashback interrupts the story to show something from the past.
As Leo held the medal, he remembered the first day of practice, when he couldn’t even swim one length of the pool.
Why use it? It explains a character’s feelings or background.
Suspense
Building tension so readers wonder what will happen. Short sentences, cliffhanger chapter endings and foreshadowing all create suspense.
Devices with deeper meaning
Symbolism
Symbolism uses an object, colour or character to represent a bigger idea.
- A dove often symbolizes peace.
- A red rose can symbolize love.
- A storm in a story might symbolize a character’s anger or trouble.
- Light often symbolizes hope; darkness can symbolize fear.
Idiom
A phrase whose meaning is different from its words.
It’s raining cats and dogs. (It’s raining hard.)
Break a leg! (Good luck!)
Irony
When something happens that is the opposite of what is expected.
A fire station burns down.
Literary devices cheat sheet
| Device | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| simile | compares with like/as | as cold as ice |
| metaphor | says one thing is another | Time is money. |
| personification | gives human qualities | The flowers danced. |
| hyperbole | exaggerates | I waited forever. |
| onomatopoeia | imitates sound | The bees buzzed. |
| alliteration | repeats beginning sounds | big brown bear |
| imagery | appeals to senses | warm, gooey cookies |
| foreshadowing | hints at the future | Little did she know… |
| flashback | shows the past | She remembered… |
| symbolism | object stands for an idea | a dove for peace |
How to analyze a literary device
When you find a device, use this three-step method:
- Name it. This is personification.
- Explain it. The author says the wind “howled,” which is something a wolf or person does.
- Explain the effect. This makes the storm seem wild and scary.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up simile and metaphor. Look for like or as.
- Only naming the device. Always explain why the author used it.
- Calling every coincidence ironic. Irony is the opposite of what is expected.
- Overusing devices in your writing. A few strong ones work better than many weak ones.
Try it yourself
Name the device.
- The thunder grumbled angrily.
- Crack! The bat hit the ball.
- This homework will take a hundred years!
- She remembered the summer she first learned to ride a bike.
- The dark clouds gathered as the hero set off on his journey. (What might this hint at?)
Answers: 1. Personification. 2. Onomatopoeia. 3. Hyperbole. 4. Flashback. 5. Foreshadowing (trouble ahead).
Study tip
Make a “device detective” bookmark with the cheat sheet above. Each time you find a device while reading, add a tally mark next to it. At the end of the book, see which devices the author used most.
Quick recap
- Literary devices are techniques that make writing vivid and meaningful.
- Comparison devices: simile, metaphor, personification.
- Sound devices: onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme, repetition.
- Story devices: foreshadowing, flashback, suspense, symbolism.
- Name the device, explain it and explain its effect.