reedsy (/) Join us

ContentsBlog (/) > Perfecting your Craft (https://blog.reedsy.com/category/perfecting-craft/) –

(https://blog reedsy
 Posted com/literary-devices/)
on January 8, 2019

35+ Literary Devices and Terms That

Everyone Should Know
 reedsy (/) Join us

×
Contents Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
Whether you're a writer, reader, student, or all of the above, it's important to
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
know how literary devices work. For writers, strong device usage can elevate
prose from meager to magni cent. For readers, they can provide a greater
understanding of the text. And for students, knowing a few literary devices might
just be the key to an A+ English paper!

Of course, literary devices can also be confusing — especially because many of the
terms sound alike, but mean different things. To help you distinguish your
anaphora from your anastrophe, we've compiled this thorough list of 35+ literary
devices you need to know. If you've ever come across a certain textual
phenomenon and thought "I wonder if there's a term for that?" you're bound to
nd it somewhere in this post.

However, for those who are totally new to literary deviceland, let's rst go over
the de nition of literary devices and how they're typically used in writing.
(Alternatively, for those who'd rather listen than read, check out the video below!)

What are literary devices?

Literary devices are techniques that writers use to express their ideas and
enhance their writing. Literary devices highlight important concepts in a text,
strengthen the narrative, and help readers connect to the characters and themes.
 These devices serve a wide range of purposes in literature. Some might work on
reedsy (/)
an intellectual level, while others have a more emotional effect. They may also
Join us

work subtly to improve the ow and pacing (https://blog.reedsy.com/pacing-in- ×

Contents
Write. Edit. Format.
writing/) of yourAll for free.No matter what, if you're looking to inject something
writing.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
special into your prose, literary devices are a great place to start.

Of course, for readers, literary devices can be dif cult to identify. But here's a
good rule of thumb: if you're reading a book and you nd the author using
language or narrative structure in an unusual way, there's probably a literary
device at work. Indeed, some devices show up so frequently, you may not even
register them as you're reading!

Here are 10 of the most common literary devices:

Simile (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#simile)
Metaphor (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#metaphor)
Imagery (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#imagery)
Symbolism (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#symbolism)
Flashbacks (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/# ashback)
Foreshadowing (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#foreshadowing)
Motif (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#motif)
Allegory (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#allegory)
Juxtaposition (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#juxtaposition)
Point of view (https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/#point-of-view)

What are the 10 most common literary devices? Find out here!
(https://twitter.com/share?
text=What+are+the+10+most+common+literary+devices%3F+Find+out+here
%21&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://blog.reedsy.com/litera
ry-devices/)
Click To Tweet (https://twitter.com/share?
text=What+are+the+10+most+common+literary+devices%3F+Find+out+here%21&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://blog.reedsy.co

You've probably heard of most (if not all) of the devices above. Again, they vary in
terms of what they do: some of them relate to word usage and description, while
others relate to how scenes play out. Some may be characteristic of speci c
genres — for example, you'll often see ashbacks and foreshadowing in
psychological thrillers (https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/psychological-
thrillers) — while others, like similes and metaphors, can be found in just about
any text.

We'll also note that some literary devices double as rhetorical devices, which are
used to convey meaning and/or persuade readers on a certain point. The
difference is that literary devices can be used to enhance writing in many
different ways, not all of which involve trying to convince readers of something.

Basically, literary devices are artistic; rhetorical devices are informative and
persuasive. That said, there can still be quite a bit of overlap between the two.
Click here to learn more about rhetorical devices.
(https://blog.reedsy.com/rhetorical-devices/)

Now for the pièce de résistance: our full list of literary devices everyone should
know.

List of literary devices

Allegory
 An allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract
reedsy (/)
ideas and themes (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-the-theme-of-a-book/). In
Join us

an allegorical story, things represent more than they appear to on the surface. ×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
Many children's fables, such as The Tortoise and the Hare, are simple allegories
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
about morality — but allegories can also be dark, complex, and controversial.

Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell. This dystopian novella is one of modern
literature’s best-known allegories. A commentary on the events leading up to
Stalin's rise and the formation of the Soviet Union, the pigs at the heart of the
novel represent gures such as Stalin, Trotsky, and Molotov.

Alliteration
Alliteration describes a series of words in quick succession that all start with the
same letter or sound. It lends a pleasing cadence to prose and poetry both. And if
you have any doubts about the impact of alliteration, consider the following
unforgettable titles (https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-choose-book-titles/):
Love’s Labour’s Lost, Sense and Sensibility, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Example: “Peter Piper picked a pot of pickled peppers.”

Allusion
An allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something. You
probably allude to things all the time in everyday speech, without even noticing.

Example: “This list of literary devices will turn me into a bona de Mark Twain
(https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/mark-twain-books).”

Anachronism
Anachronism is when something happens or is attributed to a different era than
when it actually existed. This is usually a mistake, such as an author writing a
period piece and accidentally using language that’s too modern. However, it can
also be intentionally used as a literary device, if the author wants to comment on a
theme like time or society.

Example: Cassius in Julius Caesar says that “the clock has stricken three," even
though mechanical clocks had not been invented in 44 A.D. Of course, it’s
debatable whether Shakespeare did this on purpose to signify something else.
Indeed, there are many famous anachronisms in Shakespeare, such as the
University of Halle-Wittenberg in Hamlet and the dollar as currency in Macbeth.

Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a series of
clauses or sentences. It’s often seen in poetry and speeches, intended to provoke a
emotional response in its audience.

Example: Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. “I have a dream that
one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed … and I
have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves
and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of
brotherhood … I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their
character.”

Similar term: repetition

 Anastrophe
reedsy (/) Join us
Anastrophe is a gure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is
×
Contents reversed. So a typical verb-subject-adjective sentence such as “Are you ready?”
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
becomes
(https://blog reedsyacom/literary-devices/)
Yoda-esque adjective-verb-subject question: “Ready, are you?” Or a
standard adjective-noun pairing like “tall mountain” becomes “mountain tall.”

Example: “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing.”
— The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Anthropomorphism
To anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non-human thing
such as objects, animals, or the weather. But unlike personi cation, in which this
is done through gurative description, anthropomorphism is literal: a sun with a
smiling face, for example, or talking dogs in a cartoon.

Examples: In Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Mrs. Potts the teapot, Cogsworth the
clock, and Lumière the candlestick are all household objects that act and behave
like humans (which, of course, they were when they weren’t under a spell).

Similar term: personi cation

The household items in "Beauty and the Beast" have been anthropomorphized. (Image: Buena Vista)

Aphorism
An aphorism is a universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to-the-point way.
Aphorisms are typically witty and memorable, often becoming adages or proverbs
as people repeat them over and over.

Example: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” — Alexander Pope

Chiasmus
Chiasmus is when two or more parallel clauses are inverted. “Why would I do
that?” you may be wondering. Well, a chiasmus might sound confusing and
unnecessary in theory, but it's much more convincing in practice — and in fact,
you've likely already come across it before.

Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your
country.” — John F. Kennedy

Colloquialism
 Colloquialism is the use of casual and informal language in writing, which can also
reedsy (/)
include slang. Writers use colloquialisms to provide context to settings and
Join us

characters, and to make their writing sound more authentic. Imagine reading a YA ×
Contents
Write.
novelEdit.
thatFormat. All for free.
takes place in modern America, and the characters speak to each other
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
like this:

“Good morning, Sue. I hope that you slept well and are prepared for this morning’s
science exam.”

It’s not realistic. Colloquialisms help create believable dialogue

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-dialogue/):

“Hey Sue, what’d you get up to last night? This science test is gonna suck.”

Example: Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh takes place in Scotland, a fact made

undeniably obvious by the dialect: “Thing is, as ye git aulder, this character-
de ciency gig becomes mair sapping. Thir wis a time ah used tae say tae aw the
teachers, bosses, dole punters, poll-tax guys, magistrates, when they telt me ah
was de cient: ’Hi, cool it, gadge, ah’m jist me, jist intae a different sort ay gig fae
youse but, ken?’”

Euphemism
A euphemism is an indirect, “polite” way of describing something too
inappropriate or awkward to address directly. However, most people will still
understand the truth about what's happening.

Example: When an elderly person is forced to retire, some might say they’re being
“put out to pasture.”

Flashback
Flashbacks to previous events split up present-day scenes in a story, usually to
build suspense (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-suspense/) toward a big reveal.
Flashbacks are also an interesting way to present exposition for your story,
gradually revealing to the reader what happened in the past.

Example: Every other chapter in the rst part of Gone Girl is a ashback, with
Amy’s old diary entries describing her relationship with her husband before she
disappeared.

Similar term: foreshadowing

Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is when the author hints at events yet to come in a story. Similar
to ashbacks (and often used in conjunction with them), this technique is also
used to create tension or suspense — giving readers just enough breadcrumbs to
keep them hungry for more. Want to become an expert in foreshadowing? Check
out our post on the subject (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-foreshadowing/),
which is full of examples.
 Example: One popular method of foreshadowing is through partial reveals — the
reedsy (/)
narrator leaves out key facts to prompt readers’ curiosity. Jeffrey Eugenides does
Join us

this in The Virgin Suicides: “On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn ×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
at suicide – it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese, the two
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and
the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a
rope.”

Similar term: ashback

Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that emphasizes the signi cance of the
statement’s actual meaning. When a friend says, "Oh my god, I haven't seen you in
a million years," that's hyperbole.

Example: “At that time Bogotá was a remote, lugubrious city where an insomniac
rain had been falling since the beginning of the 16th century.” — Living to Tell the
Tale by Gabriel García Márquez

Hypophora
Hypophora is much like a rhetorical question, wherein someone asks a question
that doesn't require an answer. However, in hypophora, the person raises a
question and answers it immediately themselves (hence the pre x hypo, meaning
'under' or 'before'). It’s often used when characters are reasoning something aloud.

Example: “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I
always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it.” — Daisy in The
Great Gatsby

Musing Daisy Buchanan has a habit of hypophora. (Image: Warner Bros)

Imagery
Imagery appeals to readers’ senses through highly descriptive language. It’s
crucial for any writer hoping to follow the rule of "show, don’t tell,"
(https://blog.reedsy.com/show-dont-tell/) as strong imagery truly paints a
picture of the scene at hand.

Example: “In the hard-packed dirt of the midway, after the glaring lights are out
and the people have gone to bed, you will nd a veritable treasure of popcorn
fragments, frozen custard dribblings, candied apples abandoned by tired children,
sugar uff crystals, salted almonds, popsicles, partially gnawed ice cream cones
and wooden sticks of lollipops.” — Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Irony
Irony creates contrast between how things seem and how they really are. There
are three types of literary irony (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-irony/):
dramatic (when readers know what will happen before characters do), situational
 (when readers expect a certain outcome, only to be surprised by a turn of events),
reedsy (/)
and verbal (when the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of what was
Join us

said). ×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
Example: This opening scene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8MqjoFvy4)
from Orson Welles’ A Touch of Evil is a great example of how dramatic irony can
create tension.

Isocolon
If you’re a neat freak who likes things just so, isocolon is the literary device for
you. This is when two or more phrases or clauses have similar structure, rhythm,
and even length — such that, when stacked up on top of each other, they would
line up perfectly. Isocolon often crops up in brand slogans and famous sayings; the
quick, balanced rhythm makes the phrase catchier and more memorable.

Example: Veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”)

Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition places two or more dissimilar characters, themes, concepts, etc.
side by side, and the profound contrast highlights their differences. Why is
juxtaposition such an effective literary device? Well, because sometimes the best
way for us to understand something is by understanding what it’s not.

Example: In the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

(https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/charles-dickens-books) uses juxtaposition
to emphasize the societal disparity that led to the French Revolution: “It was the
best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the
season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…”

Similar terms: oxymoron, paradox

Litotes
Litotes (pronounced lie-toe-teez) is the signature literary device of the double
negative. Writers use litotes to express certain sentiments through their
opposites, by saying that that opposite is not the case. Don’t worry, it makes more
sense with the examples. 😉
Examples: “You won’t be sorry” (meaning you’ll be happy); “you’re not wrong”
(meaning you’re right); “I didn’t not like it” (meaning I did)

Malapropism
If Shakespeare is the king of metaphors, Michael Scott is the king of malapropisms
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YId_6G-YLpQ). A malapropism is when
similar-sounding words replace their appropriate counterparts, typically to comic
effect — one of the most commonly cited is “dance a amingo,” rather than a
“ amenco.” Malapropisms are often employed in dialogue when a character ubs
up their speech.

Example: “I am not to be truf ed with.”

 reedsy (/) Join us

×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)

His last name is Christ. He has the power of ight. He can heal leopards. (Image: NBC)

Metaphor
A metaphor compares two similar things by saying that one of them is the other.
As you'd likely expect, when it comes to literary devices, this one is a heavy hitter.
And if a standard metaphor doesn't do the trick, a writer can always try an
extended metaphor (https://blog.reedsy.com/extended-metaphors/): a metaphor
that expands on the initial comparison through more elaborate parallels.

Example: Metaphors are literature’s bread and butter (metaphor intended) — good
luck nding a novel that is free of them. Here’s one from Frances Hardinge’s A Face
Like Glass: “Wishes are thorns, he told himself sharply. They do us no good, just
stick into our skin and hurt us.”

Similar term: simile

One metaphor example not enough? Check out this post

(https://blog.reedsy.com/metaphor-examples/), which has 97 of ‘em!

Metonymy
Metonymy is like symbolism, but even more so. A metonym doesn’t just symbolize
something else, it comes to serve as a synonym for that thing or things — typically,
a single object embodies an entire institution.

Examples: “The crown” representing the monarchy, “Washington” representing

the U.S. government

Similar term: synecdoche

Motif
Whatever form a motif takes, it recurs throughout the novel and helps develop
the theme of the narrative. This might be a symbol, concept, or image. Check out
this post (https://blog.reedsy.com/what-is-a-motif/) for a helpful guide to
motifs!

Example: In Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, trains are an omnipresent motif that
symbolize transition, derailment, and ultimately violent death and destruction.

Similar term: symbol

Onomatopoeia
Amusingly, onomatopoeia (itself a dif cult-to-pronounce word) refers to words
that sound like the thing they’re referring to. Well-known instances of
onomatopoeia include whiz, buzz, snap, grunt, etc.

Example: The excellent children's book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. “Farmer
Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears: Click, clack, moo.
Click, clack, moo. Clickety, clack, moo.”
 Oxymoron
reedsy (/) Join us
An oxymoron comes from two contradictory words that describe one thing. While
×
Contents juxtaposition contrasts two story elements, oxymorons are about the actual words
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
youreedsy
(https://blog are using.
com/literary-devices/)

Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow.” — Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. (Find
100 more examples of oxymorons here (https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-
good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814).)

Similar terms: juxtaposition, paradox

For Romeo and Juliet, parting is — oxymoronically — such sweet sorrow. (Image: 20th Century Fox)

Paradox
Paradox derives from the Greek word paradoxon, which means “beyond belief.” It’s
a statement that asks people to think outside the box by providing seemingly
illogical — and yet actually true — premises.

Example: In George Orwell’s 1984, the slogan of the totalitarian government is

built on paradoxes: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”
While we might read these statements as obviously contradictory, in the context
of Orwell’s novel, these blatantly corrupt sentiments have become an accepted
truth.

Similar terms: oxymoron, juxtaposition

Personi cation
Personi cation uses human traits to describe non-human things. Again, while the
aforementioned anthropomorphism actually applies these traits to non-human
things, personi cation means the behavior of the thing does not actually change.
It's personhood in gurative language only.

Example: “Just before it was dark, as they passed a great island of Sargasso weed
that heaved and swung in the light sea as though the ocean were making love with
something under a yellow blanket, his small line was taken by a dolphin.” — The
Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Similar term: anthropomorphism

Point of view
Point of view is, of course, the mode of narration in a story. There are many POVs
an author can choose, and each one will have a different impact on the reading
experience. To learn more about rst, second, and third person POV, check out
our comprehensive guide on the subject (https://blog.reedsy.com/point-of-
view/).

Example: Second person POV is uncommon because it directly addresses the

reader — not an easy narrative style to pull off. One popular novel that manages to
employ this perspective successfully is Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney:
 “You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the
reedsy (/)
morning. But here you are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely
Join us

unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy.” ×

Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
Polysyndeton
Instead of using a single conjunction in a lengthy statements, polysyndeton uses
several in succession for a dramatic effect. This one is de nitely for authors
looking to add a bit of artistic air to their writing, or who are hoping to portray a
particular (usually naïve) sort of voice.

Example: “Luster came away from the ower tree and we went along the fence
and they stopped and we stopped and I looked through the fence while Luster was
hunting in the grass.” — The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Repetition
Repetition, repetition, repetition… where would we be without it? Though too
much repetition is rarely a good thing, occasional repetition can be used quite
effectively (https://blog.reedsy.com/repetition-examples/) to drill home a point,
or to create a certain atmosphere. For example, horror writers often use
repetition to make the reader feel trapped and scared.

Example: In The Shining, Jack Torrance types over and over again on his pages, 
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” In this case, obsessive repetition
demonstrates the character’s unraveling mind.

Similar term: anaphora

Not exactly what you want to see on your husband's desk. (Image: Warner Bros)

Satire
Writers use satire to make fun of some aspect of human nature or society —
usually through exaggeration, ridicule, or irony. There are countless ways to
satirize something; most of the time, you know it when you read it.

Example: The famous adventure novel (https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-

adventure-books) Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift is a classic example of
satire, poking fun at “travelers' tales,” the government, and indeed human nature
itself.

Simile
A simile draws resemblance between two things by saying “Thing A is like Thing
B,” or “Thing A is as [adjective] as Thing B.” Unlike a metaphor, a similar does not
posit that these things are the same, only that they are alike. As a result, it is
probably the most common literary device in writing — you can almost always
recognize a simile through the use of “like” or “as.”

Example: There are two similes in this description from Circe by Madeline Miller:
“The ships were golden and huge as leviathans, their rails carved from ivory and
horn. They were towed by grinning dolphins or else crewed by fty black-haired
 nereids, faces silver as moonlight.”
reedsy (/) Join us

Similar term: metaphor ×

Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
Soliloquy
Soliloquy involves a character speaking their thoughts aloud, usually at length
(and often in a Shakespeare play). The character in question may be alone or in the
company of others, but they’re not speaking for the bene t of other people; the
purpose of a soliloquy is for a character to re ect independently.

Example: Hamlet’s “to be or not to be”

(https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/56965/speech-to-be-or-not-to-be-
that-is-the-question) speech, in which he ruminates on the nature of life and
death, is a classic dramatic soliloquy.

Symbolism
Authors turn to tangible symbols to represent abstract concepts and ideas in their
stories  Symbols typically derive from objects or non-human — for instance, a
dove might represent peace, or raven might represent death.

Example: In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg
(actually a faded optometrist's billboard) to represent God and his judgment of the
Jazz Age.

Similar term: motif

Synecdoche
Synecdoche is the usage of a part to represent the whole. That is, rather than an
object or title that’s merely associated with the larger concept (as in metonymy),
synecdoche must actually be attached in some way: either to the name, or to the
larger whole itself.

Examples: “Stanford won the game” (Stanford referring to the full title of the
Stanford football team) or “Nice wheels you got there” (wheels referring to the
entire car)

Similar term: metonymy

35+ literary devices to lend resonance to your writing #amwriting

(https://twitter.com/share?
text=35%2B+literary+devices+to+lend+resonance+to+your+writing+%23am
writing&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://blog.reedsy.com/li
terary-devices/)
Click To Tweet (https://twitter.com/share?
text=35%2B+literary+devices+to+lend+resonance+to+your+writing+%23amwriting&via=ReedsyHQ&related=ReedsyHQ&url=https://blog.reedsy

Readers and writers alike can get a lot out of understanding literary devices and
how they're used. Again, readers can use them to gain insight into the author’s
intended meaning behind their work, while writers can use literary devices to
better connect with readers. But whatever your motivation for learning them, you
certainly won't be sorry you did! (Not least because you'll recognize the device I
just used in that sentence. 😏)
 Which literary devices are your favorites? Share any thoughts, questions, or
reedsy (/)
soliloquies in the comments below!
Join us

×
← How to Write a Comic Book: A Beginner's Guide (https://blog.reedsy.com/write-a-
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
comic-book-rachel-gluckstern/)
(https://blog Devices — And How to Use Them → (https://blog.reedsy.com/rhetorical-
reedsy com/literary-devices/)
30 Rhetorical
devices/)

reedsylearning (/learning)

Novel Writing 101.

A free 10 day publishing course.

(https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/courses/writing/novel-writing-101/)
Are you ready to unleash the novel inside you? Learn the basics of writing great
ction: create compelling characters, build intricate worlds, and ne-tune your
pacing and prose.

Enroll now (https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/courses/writing/novel-writing-1

5 Leave a Reply

Join the discussion...

2 3 0   5

  Subscribe   newest oldest

Ron B. Saunders

Paraprosdokians are also delightful literary devices for creating surprise or intrigue. They cause a reader to
rethink a concept or traditional expectation. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian))

Reply 11 months ago

ManhattanMinx

That's pore, not pour. Shame.....

Reply 11 months ago | View Replies (3)

 reedsy (/) Join us
Continue reading
×
Contents Recommended posts from the Reedsy Blog
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)

(https://blog.reedsy.com/novel-writing-software/)

The Best Novel Writing Software of 2020

(https://blog.reedsy.com/novel-writing-software/)
So, you’ve just started writing a novel — which means you’re guring things out as you go.
You probably have a ock of Google Docs to wrangle, you’re always scribbling on napkins, and
you have …

Read article (https://blog.reedsy.com/novel-writing-software/)

(https://blog.reedsy.com/character-development/)
 reedsy (/) Join us

×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)
Character Development: How to Write Characters Your Readers Won't
Forget (https://blog.reedsy.com/character-development/)
For any novel to truly connect with readers, the author needs to pay close attention to
character development. Even if you’re writing an action-packed, plot-driven book where the
characters are robots, it’s the human element …

Read article (https://blog.reedsy.com/character-development/)

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-non ction-book/)

How to Write a Non ction Book in 9 Steps

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-non ction-book/)
Just about everyone has thought of writing a book at some point — even if you don’t consider
yourself a “writer,” you probably have an inkling of a book somewhere in your head. But
whether …

Read article (https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-non ction-book/)

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-book/)
 reedsy (/) Join us

×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)

How to Write a Book in 15 Steps: An Author's Guide

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-book/)
For many people, writing a book has been a lifelong dream, yet one that’s always seemed just
out of reach. Indeed, as we reveal in our publishing podcast Bestseller, roughly 80% of
Americans have wanted …

Read article (https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-book/)

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-memoir/)

How to Write a Memoir: Tell Your Amazing Story in 8 Steps

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-memoir/)
Learning how to write a memoir is like studying to be an archeologist. Not only do you have to
dig deep and sift through the sands for fragments on the past, you then have to …

Read article (https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-write-a-memoir/)

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-end-a-story/)
 reedsy (/) Join us

×
Contents
Write. Edit. Format. All for free.
(https://blog reedsy com/literary-devices/)

How to End a Story: Top Tips to Nail the Perfect Ending

(https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-end-a-story/)
Whether you have the nal scenes of your book worked out from the moment you put pen to
paper or it comes to you somewhere along the way, there’s one thing every writer needs to …

Read article (https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-end-a-story/)

Join a community of over 300,000 authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to
discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

First name

Enter your email

Join now for free

reedsy (https:/
(https:/
/twitter.com/reedsyhq)
(https:/
/www.facebook.com/wearereedsy/)
/www.linkedin.com/company/reedsy)
Reedsy Ltd. © 2020