Literary Devices
What Is the Climax of a Story?Every story has a climax. Without a climax, a narrative isn’t really a story—it’s just a series of events. The climax, the...May 31, 2024
What Is Slang? Definition and ExamplesThe English language is full of weird words. But that’s not the only idiosyncrasy that can confuse people, even for those whom...May 3, 2024
What Is an Epithet? Definition and ExamplesThe notoriously reclusive author of Catcher in the Rye is a man of many names. To loyal literary fans, he’s J. D. Salinger. On...May 2, 2024
What Is an Extended Metaphor? Examples of This Literary DeviceYou may understand what metaphors (and similes) are, but what about extended metaphors? We hear and read them all the time, but...December 27, 2023
Onomatopoeia: Definition & Usage ExamplesHow do you write a sound? We know that a ball against a racket makes a thwack, that a bird tweets, and that thunder goes boom,...December 8, 2023
What Is a Malapropism? Definition and ExamplesChances are you’ve used a malapropism at some point in your life, whether you substituted song lyrics you misheard, inserted your...December 7, 2023
Understatement: Definition and ExamplesAn understatement is a figure of speech in which the writer intentionally downplays or minimizes the significance or intensity of...November 28, 2023
What Is a Zeugma? Definition and ExamplesThe English language is great at recycling words. For example, think about the verb “to lose.” One can lose a pair of car keys,...November 23, 2023
What Is a Foil in Literature?Superheroes need supervillains, idealists need realists, brilliant and eccentric scientists need humble lab assistants. This...November 3, 2023
What Does “Antagonist” Mean in Literature?Every story needs an antihero, right? After all, without that bad person, there’s nothing standing between the hero and their...October 19, 2023