Literary Devices: Definitions and Examples

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A is for alliteration (al-lit-er-a-tion). What is alliteration?

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is repeating the same or similar SOUNDS at the beginnings of words.
Example: She Sells Seashells by the Sea Shore.

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A is for allusion (al-lu-sion)

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is a casual reference to something, usually a work of popular culture. Example: Finishing his memoir was his white whale. This is an allusion to the whale in the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

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A is for analogy (a-nal-o-gy)

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s a comparison between two similar things, typically using figurative language. Metaphors and similes—more on them later—are usually considered to be types of analogies. Sometimes, analogies are considered to be a unique device that is a comparison that explains itself; basically, a complex metaphor or long simile.
Example: Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to get.

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A is for Anaphora (a-naph-o-ra)

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is the repetition of a word or words at the start of phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Example: I came, I saw, I conquered.

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A is for Anecdote  (an-ec-dote)

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An anecdote is a brief story about something that happened to the speaker, or to someone else, that is usually something funny or interesting. Sometimes they are hypothetical. Example: Five years ago, I went to the store and met some clowns. Those clowns gave me the advice I am sharing with you now.

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A is for Antithesis (an-tith-e-sis)

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is using parallel sentences or clauses to make a contrast.
Example: No pain, no gain.

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A is for Aphorism (aph-o-rism)

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is a short sentence that presents truth or opinion, usually in a witty or clever manner.
Example: A penny saved is a penny earned.

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A is for Apostrophe (a-pos-tro-phe)
Options: occurs when a writer or speaker directly addresses an absent person, a concept, or an inanimate object. Example: You have made a fool out of me for the last time, washing machine!

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occurs when a writer or speaker directly addresses an absent person, a concept, or an inanimate object. Example: You have made a fool out of me for the last time, washing machine!

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A is for Assonance (as-so-nance)

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is the repetition of the same vowel sound with different consonants.
Example: She and Lee see the bees in the tree.

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A is for Asyndeton (uh-syn-de-ton)

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is the removal of conjunctions from a sentence. Example: Get in, cause a distraction, get out. More examples of asyndeton