Lesson 2

DIFFERENT
LITERARY
ELEMENTS
M R S . M IC H EL LE B. M A G C A LA S
LITERARY
ELEMENTS
Literary elements are information that you have
been encountering since your elementary days.
These are elements that help the author to
express their thoughts, ideas, feelings and
emotions in the most aesthetic ways and
sometimes also used to conceal and to lighten
up the choice of words.
Here are the main reasons to use literary devices in your writing

1. Include special effects in writing. Some portion of appearing, and not

telling, through your story includes the utilization of literary devices and
different strategies in your narration.
2. Establish connection with your audience. You can bring the reader into
your story, and urge them to connect with the content. Literary devices can
stimulate the reader’s mind, and giving them a deeper reading experience.
3. Interests hooks the reader. Without literary devices, there is a huge
possibility that the story will be dull and boring. By incorporating literary
techniques in your writing, you add vivid color and interests to your words,
and avoid being a dull.
Here are the main reasons to use literary
devices in your writing
4. Use abstract information. More common in fiction stories, literary devices
can help the author convey abstract concepts or information to the reader.
They can help communicate the work’s overall meaning or theme, without
the writer having to directly state the purpose.
5. Establish clear and vivid pictures with your words. Literary devices like
imagery can help to create visual pictures or imageries in the reader’s
imagination.
Some common reasons why authors
use literary devices
1. Illustrate the storyline;
2. Clarify certain points or concepts;
3. Convey abstract information;
4. Draw attention to important pieces of the story or topic;
5. Engage and captivate readers;
6. Encourage readers to interact with the story a little deeper; and
7. Enhance the reader’s experience.
COMMON LITERARY
ELEMENTS
Literary Elements Definition Example

Allusion A literary device that refers to external Don't act like a Romeo in front of
people, events, or things. These are people her.” – “Romeo” is a reference to
who are not part of the story itself Shakespeare's Romeo, a
passionate lover of Juliet, in
“Romeo and Juliet”.

Alliteration Alliteration is a device where an initial I saw thousands of bats,

consonant sounds is being repeated in the screeching and screaming which
words of a phrase or a sentence. seemed like they saw hunters and
tried to fly in different directions.

Anaphora Anaphora is a repetition of the same word or It was the best of times, it was
phrase at the beginning of successive the worst of times during the
sentences. times of challenges like this
pandemic time.
COMMON LITERARY
ELEMENTS
Literary Elements Definition Example

Flashbacks It is an interjected scene that takes the In a story about a girl who is
narrative back in time from the current point afraid of heights, there is a
in the story. flashback to a time when she fell
off of the top of a playground as a
young child.

Foreshadowing A clue at what will happen next, or at some It was a cold stormy night that
point, in the story. would introduce her to eternal
darkness, forever changing the
course of her life

Hyperbole Extreme exaggeration of a real event or I’m so hungry, I can eat a

situation. whole cow.
COMMON LITERARY
ELEMENTS
Literary Elements Definition Example

Imagery A literary device that appeals to the As I unveiled the beige curtain of my
reader’s physical senses. cottage’s window, I witnessed a
picturesque view of Caramoan. It was
intensively heaven

Juxtaposition When a writer places two contrasting In the classic movie The Godfather, when
concepts, people, or events directly baptism scenes were juxtaposed with
sideby-side in a sentence or murder scenes.
paragraph.

Metaphor An implicit comparison between two Your brother is an angel for me.
or more things.
COMMON LITERARY
ELEMENTS
Literary Elements Definition Example

Simile An explicit comparison between two My love for you is like this river flow. It
or more things using the words "like" won’t stop.
or "as."

Personification When a writer gives inanimate Leaves dance with the wind
objects or inhuman beings (like
animals) human characteristics or
attributes.

Onomatopoeiae A word or phrase that conveys the Kring… Kring…Kring…

sound of something. The telephone rings.
COMMON LITERARY
ELEMENTS
Literary Elements Definition Example

Assonance Repetition of vowel sounds in every When we had our vacation, the teachers
word in a line or a sentence. reached the beach concert of The Meech
Band

Consonance Repetition of consonant sounds The female, more than my thumb, are
within the words in a line or a shimmering in their
sentence.

Paradox A sentence or a phrase that Keep your friends close,

appears contradictory, but and your enemies closer.
implies some kind truth.
Read and analyze the statements below. Identify the literary
element used in each item.

1. The dark, dark liver – love it, love it and the beat and beating heart, love that too. More than
eyes or feet. More than lungs that have yet to draw free air. More than your life-holding womb
and your life-giving private parts, hear me now, love your heart (from The Beloved by Toni
Morrison).
2. Along the roads, laurels, viburnum and alder, great ferns and wildflowers delighted the
traveler's eye through much of the year (from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson).
3. The salty taste of soy sauce complements the slightly sweet and meaty taste of Dim sums
fillings. The size of Dim sum is just right to make you crave for more which will be good if it’ll be
used in a business. (from Dim Sum, A Taste That Gets Into Your Heart by Cristina Kyla Villagen).
4. 'Cause baby, you're a firework C'mon, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Aah, aah, aah"As you shoot across the sky (from Firework by Katy Perry)