It's important to understand how literary devices work, whether you're a writer, reader, student, or all of the above. Strong device use can elevate prose from mediocre to magnificent for writers. They can help readers gain a better understanding of the text. Knowing a few literary devices may just be the key to an A+ English paper for students!
But first, some of you may be wondering: what exactly is a literary device? So, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, let's define literary devices and discuss how they are commonly used in writing.
39 Literary Devices Every Writer Should Know (Infographic)
What exactly are literary devices?
A literary device is a technique used by writers to express ideas, convey meaning, and highlight important themes in a piece of writing. A metaphor, for example, is a well-known literary device.
Of course, literary devices can be difficult for readers to identify. But here's a good rule of thumb: if you're reading a book and the author uses language or narrative structure in an unusual way, it's likely that a literary device is at work. Indeed, some devices appear so frequently that you may not even notice them while reading!
Here is an infographic of 39 Literary Devices that every writer should know.
