Literary Techniques

1. Simile
This is a method of comparison of one thing with another thing of a
different kind.
Eg : as brave as a lion
fight like a tiger
as black as coal

2. Metaphor
Here, one thing is regarded as representative or symbolic of something

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else.

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Eg : He is a Shakespeare in the English class.

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He was a roaring lion in anger.

3. Personification

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Human thoughts, actions and perceptions are directly attributed to

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inanimate objects or abstract ideas.

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Eg : My alarm yells at me in the morning.

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Lightening danced across the sky.

4. Onomatopoeia

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Sounds are spelled out as words.
Eg : Bang , beep, splash, hahaa

5. Oxymoron
Here the given terms contradict to each other.
Eg : bittersweet, pretty ugly, only choice, same difference

6. Hyperbole / Exaggeration
Overstatement ; gives an emphasis
Eg : as tall as a house
He is faster than the wind
 7. Paradox
This is where a situation is created, which cannot possibly exist, because
different elements of it cancel each other out.
Eg : Deep down, you’re really shallow.

8. Repetition
A specific word, phrase or structure is repeated several times, to
emphasize a particular idea.
Eg : Deep down, you’re really shallow.

9. Allusion

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When the author or poet makes an indirect reference to some idea,

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figure, place, event or other texts that are outside the text. This way the

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writer intends to not mention the name directly of what is being

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referred to.
Eg : Don’t act like a Romeo for her.

10. Symbolism

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Use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic

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meanings that are different from their literal sense.

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Eg : owl is a symbol of wisdom
rose is a symbol of love

11. Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds within a group of words.
Eg : Betty Botter bought some butter.
I need not your needs, they are needless to me.

12. Euphemism
Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an
agreeable name.
Eg : He has fallen asleep. (i.e., he is dead)
You are telling me a fairy tale. (i.e., a lie)
 13. Imagery
Imagery is the author’s use of language that appeals to the five senses
in order to help the readers imagine exactly what is being described.
1. Visual imagery : describes what we see
Eg: • color: burnt red, bright orange, dull yellow
• shapes: squares, circular, tabular, rectangular
• size : tiny, small, large
• pattern : polka-dotted, striped, straight, zig-zagged
2. Auditory imagery : describes what we hear

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Eg: • enjoyable sounds : beautiful music, bird song

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• noises : bang of a gun, sound of glass breaking

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• lack of noise : a peaceful calm or eerie silence

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3. Olfactory imagery : describes what we smell
Eg: • fragrance : perfumes, blooming flowers

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• Odors : rotting trash, body odor

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4. Gustatory imagery : describes what we taste

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Eg: • sweetness : candies, cookies, desserts

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• sourness : lemons, limes etc.

5. Tactile imagery : describes what we touch

Eg: • temperature : cold, heat
• texture : rough, smooth, ragged
• touch : holding hands, feel of a soft cloth
• movement : swimming in cold water, kicking a ball
14. Irony
A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.
1. Verbal irony : What is said is different than what is done.
Eg: To say that you’re doing great, when you actually don’t.
2. Situational irony : Something happens that we wouldn’t expect
to happen.
Eg: a fire station burns down

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3. Dramatic irony : The readers know something that the

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characters do not.

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Eg: In the movie Home Alone, we know that Kevin has

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planted traps all over the house even though the thieves do not.

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