The Online Scholar Institute

Here I have a list of ten literary devices that one can include in an essay. I hope that all readers can utilize this resource in their CXC prep / CSEC prep. The list is attached below.

Here are 10 literary devices you can use in an essay, with definitions and examples:

1. Metaphor
   • Definition: A comparison between two unlike things, without using “like” or “as.”
   • Example: “The world is a stage.” (This suggests that life is a performance, and we are all actors playing our roles.)
2. Simile
   • Definition: A comparison between two things using “like” or “as.”
   • Example: “Her smile was as bright as the sun.” (This compares the brightness of her smile to the sun.)
3. Alliteration
   • Definition: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity.
   • Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” (The repetition of the “p” sound creates a rhythmic flow.)
4. Personification
   • Definition: Giving human qualities to non-human objects or abstract concepts.
   • Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.” (The wind is given the human characteristic of whispering.)
5. Irony
   • Definition: A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.
   • Example: A fire station burning down. (The expectation is that a fire station is safe from fires, but the irony is that it caught fire.)
6. Hyperbole
   • Definition: An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally.
   • Example: “I’ve told you a million times!” (This exaggerates the number of times to emphasize frustration.)
7. Allusion
   • Definition: A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or piece of literature.
   • Example: “She’s as beautiful as Cleopatra.” (An allusion to the famous Egyptian queen to emphasize her beauty.)
8. Symbolism
   • Definition: Using an object, person, or event to represent a deeper meaning or concept.
   • Example: A dove represents peace. (The dove symbolizes peace, often used in literature and art.)
9. Oxymoron
   • Definition: A figure of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined.
   • Example: “Bittersweet” (This juxtaposes two opposites, suggesting something that is both happy and sad.)
10. Flashback
    • Definition: A scene or event from the past inserted into the narrative, often to provide background or context.
    • Example: “As she walked through the park, memories of her childhood flooded back, reminding her of the times she spent playing there.” (This flashback to childhood provides insight into her past.)

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