Literary Devices

Literary Devices Used to convey meaning. Help us appreciate, interpret and analyse a literary work.

Theme Definition: The overall notion or repeated idea throughout a literary work. a Example: ‘Working together and embracing our differences’ is the main theme of How to Train Your Dragon. Hiccup convinces the Vikings in his village to live peacefully with the dragons and the war finally ends. How to Train Your Dragon

Symbolism Definition: When something (object, character, colour…) is used to represent an abstract idea or concept. aa Example: Candle flames often symbolise hope. Belle extinguishes Lumiere’s flame when she runs away and slams a door, symbolising that without her there is no hope of ending the enchantment. Beauty and the Beast

Dramatic Irony Definition: When the audience knows something that the characters do not. a Example: Unlike the viewers, Ray doesn’t know that his love, Evangeline, is actually a star, not a firefly! The Princess and the Frog

Foreshadowing Definition: A warning or hint of what is going to happen in the future. a Example: In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi jokingly says: “Why do I get the feeling you’ll be the death of me?” to Anakin Skywalker. This foreshadows the fact that he is later killed by him (when Anakin becomes Darth Vader). Star Wars

Mood Definition: The atmosphere of a literary work or part of it. It evokes a certain emotion/feeling from the audience. a Example: The Lord of the Rings uses music and setting to drastically shift the mood from playful to dark and foreboding. The Lord of the Rings

Conflict Definition: An incompatibility between the objectives of two or more characters or forces. a Example: Mother Gothel wants Princess Rapunzel for the magic qualities her hair possesses. The princess’ parents want her because they love their daughter. Tangled

Climax Definition: A turning point in the action or the highest point of interest/excitement. a Example: In Frozen, Hans, who Anna is set to marry, turns out to be a villain and refuses to save Anna’s life. Frozen

Poetic Justice Definition: When virtue is ultimately rewarded or villainy punished, often by an ironic twist of fate. Example: Jafar is so power hungry he fails to realise that becoming a genie will cost him his freedom. Aladdin

Deus Ex Machina Definition: An unexpected power or event saving a hopeless situation. From the Latin: ‘a god from a machine’. Often seen as the mark of a poor plot! Example: In Snow White, the Evil Queen is about to kill the dwarfs when a bolt of lightning comes out of nowhere, knocking her off the mountain. Snow White

Pathetic Fallacy Definition: A type of personification. Attributing human emotions to nature (often the weather). Example: Pride Rock (usually sunny and bright) becomes shrouded by rain and dark clouds to reflect the lions’ turmoil at being ruled by Scar and living with hyenas. The Lion King

Simile Definition: Comparing two different things using ‘like’ or ‘as’. a Example: In Frozen, Olaf says his new nose is ‘like a little baby unicorn’. Frozen

Rule of Three Definition: Combining or repeating three similar words, ideas or points. A technique to create effect and often used for persuasive writing. Example:‘One Ring to rule them all,One Ring to find them,One Ring to bring them all,And in the darkness bind them’ (J.R.R. Tolkein) The Lord of the Rings

Rhetorical Question Definition: Posing a question but without expecting an answer. It is often said to make someone think. Example:‘Did I not, as his maker, owe him all the portion of happiness that it was in my power to bestow?’ (Frankenstein by Mary Shelley). Frankenstein

Charactonym Definition: A name that suggests the distinctive traits of a fictional character. Example:Sirius Black transforms into a large dog. It is no coincidence that ‘Sirius’ is the name of the dog constellation and the dog he turns into is black. Harry Potter

Onomatopoeia Definition: A word that imitates the sound of the object it is referring to (‘splat’, ‘boing’, ‘boom’, ‘crack’…). Example:‘The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!’: here, ‘snicker-snack’ represents the sound of the blade cutting the Jabberwocky’s head off. Jabberwocky (by Lewis Carroll)

Personification Definition: Attributing human qualities/characteristics to something non-human. Example:Grandmother Willow, a tree in Pocahontas, talks to the characters. Pocahontas

Oxymoron Definition: A figure of speech combining two opposites. a Example: Love-sick over Rosaline at the start of the play, Romeo says: ‘Feather of lead, brightsmoke, coldfire, sickhealth…’ – pairs of opposites. Romeo and Juliet

Metaphor Definition: Comparing two things by saying one is the other. a Example: ‘A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair’ – Hagrid’s hair is called a mane, like an animal’s. Harry Potter

Alliteration Definition: The repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. a Example: J.K. Rowling uses alliteration in many character names. Luna Lovegood laughed… Peter Pettigrew perched… Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds (‘a long song’ – ‘o’ sound) Consonance – repetition of consonant sounds (‘struck a streak of bad luck’ – ‘k’ sound) Harry Potter

Sibilance Definition: A type of alliteration involving repetition of soft consonants (often ‘s’, ‘sh’, ‘ch’). The hissing sound created, like that of a snake, is commonly used for negative imagery. a Example: The hissing sound of ‘Severus Snape’ reflects his initial status as a cruel character. Harry Potter

Literary Devices