A literary device is any specific aspect of literature, or a particular work, which we can recognize, identify,
interpret and/or analyze. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary
devices.
● Literary elements are aspects of a whole text. They are not “used” by authors; the reader derives
what they are from reading the text. Literary elements can be seen in all works of academic
literature. (Example: every story has a theme, a setting, a conflict, in order to be discussed
legitimately, literary elements must be specifically identified for each individual text by the reader.)
● Literary techniques are specific, deliberate constructions of language which an author uses to
convey meaning. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every
text.
LITERARY ELEMENTS
Theme: The main idea or message conveyed by the piece of literature. A theme is stated as a complete
sentence and is a universal lesson that can be applied to the real world; an idea expressed as a single word
or fragmentary phrase is a motif.
Antagonist: Counterpart to the main character and source of a story’s main conflict. The person may not be
“bad” or “evil” by any conventional moral standard, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way.
Characterization: The author’s means of conveying to the reader a character’s personality, life history,
values, physical attributes, etc.
Climax: The turning point in a story, the highest level of conflict between the protagonist and their obstacle.
Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story.
Point-of-view: The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader
experiences the story. May be third-person (no narrator; omniscient or limited) or first-person (narrated by
a character in the story who either merely observes or directly participates). Point- of-view is a commonly
misused term; it does not refer to the author’s (or characters’) feelings, opinions, perspectives, biases, etc.
Protagonist: The main character in a story, the one with whom the reader is meant to identify. The person
is not necessarily “good” by any conventional moral standard, but he/she is the person in whose plight the
reader is most invested.
Setting: The time and place where a story occurs. The setting can be specific (e.g., New York City in 1930)
or ambiguous (e.g., a large urban city during economic hard times).
LITERARY TECHNIQUES
Allusion is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from
outside the text. Many allusions make reference to previous works of literature or art.
A flashback is an interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before
the present time or before the time at which the narration takes place. This device is often used to give the
reader more background information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and is the
basis of non-linear plot structure.
Foreshadowing is when an author indirectly hints at—through things such as dialogue, description, or
characters' actions—what's to come later on in the story.
Imagery is when an author describes a scene, thing, or idea so that it appeals to our senses (taste, smell,
sight, touch, or hearing). This device is often used to help the reader clearly visualize parts of the story by
creating a strong mental picture.
Juxtaposition is the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas,
characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the
characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.
Metaphors are when ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it's when an
author compares one thing to another. The two things being described usually share something in common
but are unalike in all other respects.
● A simile is a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to
another thing using the words "as" or "like."
● Both metaphors and similes are often used in writing for clarity or emphasis.
Personification is when a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having
human-like qualities or characteristics. (Unlike anthropomorphism where non-human figures become
human-like characters, with personification, the object/figure is simply described as being human-like.)
Personification is used to help the reader create a clearer mental picture of the scene or object being
described.
Repetition is the repeating of a word or phrase.
Symbolism refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to
represent something else—typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal
meaning. The things used for symbolism are called "symbols," and they'll often appear multiple times
throughout a text, sometimes changing in meaning as the plot progresses.
