Literary Devices

Literary Devices: A Colorful Guide

Technique	Category	Description	Formula	Example
Pun	Wordplay	A play on words, exploiting multiple meanings.	Let X have meanings X1 and X2. Construct sentence S(X) where S(X1) ≈ S(X2).	"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."
Epigram	Wordplay	A concise, witty statement, often in verse.	Let T be a thought. Minimize words(T) while maximizing wit(T).	"I can resist everything except temptation." - Oscar Wilde
Euphemism	Wordplay	A mild or indirect word or expression.	Let H be a harsh term. Find E where meaning(E) ≈ meaning(H) and harshness(E) < harshness(H).	"Passed away" instead of "died"
Antiphrasis	Wordplay	Saying the opposite of what is meant.	Let M be intended meaning. Express ¬M to convey M.	Calling a tall person "Tiny"
Oxymoron	Wordplay	Contradictory terms appearing in conjunction.	Combine A and B where A ∧ B ≈ false, but A + B creates meaningful phrase.	"Deafening silence"
Paradoxical	Wordplay	A statement that contradicts itself but may contain a truth.	Let P be a proposition. Construct S where S ⊢ P ∧ ¬P, yet S is meaningful.	"The only constant is change."
Hyperbole	Wordplay	Extreme exaggeration for emphasis.	Let R be reality. Express R * ∞ for effect.	"I've told you a million times!"
Misdirection	Wordplay	Leading audience to expect one thing, then delivering another.	Set up expectation E, then deliver ¬E.	"I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure."
Stream of consciousness	Narrative Techniques	Continuous flow of thoughts and sensations.	Let T be thoughts. Write T1 → T2 → T3 ... Tn without logical transitions.	"...my feet are cold. Forgot to buy milk. I wonder if she called..."
Indirect discourse	Narrative Techniques	Reporting speech/thoughts without quotations.	For speech S, write narrator(S) instead of "S".	He wondered if she would ever forgive him.
Parataxis	Narrative Techniques	Placing clauses side by side without conjunctions.	Let C1, C2, ..., Cn be clauses. Write C1. C2. ... Cn.	"I came. I saw. I conquered."
Self reflexivity	Narrative Techniques	Text that refers to itself or its own artificiality.	Let T be the text. Include reference to T within T.	"The character you are reading about is fictional."
Intertextuality	Intertextual Devices	References or relations between different texts.	Let T1 be current text, T2 be another text. Include element(T2) in T1.	A modern novel referencing "Romeo and Juliet"
Metafiction	Intertextual Devices	Fiction that comments on its own fictive nature.	Let F be fiction. Write F while commenting on nature(F).	"If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino
Allusion	Intertextual Devices	Indirect reference to another work or event.	Let R be reference. Subtly include R in text without explicit mention.	"He was a real Romeo."
Reference	Intertextual Devices	Direct mention of another work, person, or event.	Let X be external entity. Explicitly mention X in text.	"As Shakespeare wrote in 'Hamlet'..."
Symbolism	Symbolic Devices	Use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.	Let C be concept. Choose object O where O represents C.	A dove representing peace
Allegory	Symbolic Devices	Extended metaphor where characters/events represent abstract ideas.	Let S be story. For each element e in S, assign abstract meaning m(e).	Animal Farm representing the Russian Revolution
Motif	Symbolic Devices	Recurring element with symbolic significance.	Let E be element. Repeat E throughout text where E implies deeper meaning.	The green light in "The Great Gatsby"
Simile	Comparative Devices	Explicit comparison using "like" or "as".	Compare A to B using "like" or "as": A is like/as B.	"Life is like a box of chocolates."
Conceit	Comparative Devices	Extended metaphor with complex logic.	Let A be subject, B be comparison. Develop A ≈ B over extended text.	John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning"
Analogy	Comparative Devices	Comparison of two things to explain or clarify.	If A:B :: C:D, explain A using relationship of C to D.	"The brain is like a computer."
Metaphor	Comparative Devices	Implicit comparison without "like" or "as".	State A is B, where A ≠ B but shares qualities.	"All the world's a stage."
Zeugma	Comparative Devices	Using a word in two different senses.	Let V have meanings V1, V2. Use V with objects O1, O2 where V(O1) ≠ V(O2).	"He lost his coat and his temper."
Anthropomorphism	Personification Devices	Giving human traits to non-human things.	For non-human X, assign human trait H to X.	"The wind whispered through the trees."
Personification	Personification Devices	Attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas.	For abstract concept C, assign human action/quality H to C.	"Justice is blind."
Irony	Irony and Humor	Expression of meaning opposite to the literal meaning.	Say S to mean ¬S, where context implies ¬S.	Saying "Great weather!" during a storm
Parody	Irony and Humor	Imitation of style for comic effect or criticism.	Let S be style. Exaggerate characteristics of S for humor/critique.	"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies"
Satire	Irony and Humor	Use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize.	Let T be target. Create humorous scenario H where flaws(T) are emphasized.	"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
Juxtaposition	Juxtaposition Devices	Placing contrasting ideas close together.	Place A near B in text, where A and B have contrasting qualities.	"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Synecdoche	Additional Devices	Using part to represent whole or vice versa.	Let W be whole, P be part. Use P to refer to W or W to refer to P.	"All hands on deck" (hands representing people)
Metonymy	Additional Devices	Using associated thing to represent another.	Let A be associated with B. Use A to refer to B.	"The pen is mightier than the sword"
Onomatopoeia	Additional Devices	Words that phonetically imitate the sound they describe.	Choose word W where sound(W) ≈ sound it represents.	"The bees buzzed."