There are many literary devices that can be used in an essay. These devices can be used singly or combined to add style and depth to writing. Here are some of the most common literary devices that can be used in an essay:
1. Simile – A simile is a figure of speech that makes an explicit comparison between two different things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. For example, ‘time flies like an arrow’ is a simile because it compares time and arrows using the words ‘like’ and ‘as’.
2. Metaphor – A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing as another thing in order to give additional meaning to the sentence. For example, saying that life is a journey implies that it has a beginning, middle and end and there will be obstacles to overcome along the way.
3. Personification – Personification is a literary device that gives human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. This adds a sense of drama and emotion to writing. For example, the saying ‘the cold hand of death reached out for him’ personifies death by giving it arms and hands.
4. Hyperbole – Hyperbole is a type of figurative language that uses exaggeration to create a strong effect. This device can be used alone or as part of other literary devices such as metaphor or simile. For example, ‘he ran like the wind’ uses hyperbole to exaggerate how fast someone is running by comparing them to something that moves even faster than wind (such as train or racecar).
5. Alliteration – Alliteration occurs when two or more words begin with the same letter or letters in sequence. This device adds emphasis and musical quality to writing. For example, ‘rich red rose’ uses alliteration on the letter ‘r’ to emphasise how rich and red rose are at the same time.
Here are some tips for writing literary devices in an essay:
1. Start with a strong thesis statement that clearly explains your main argument.
2. Use effective transitions between paragraphs to guide the reader through your essay.
3. Use powerful language to convey your argument to the reader.
4. Use literary devices such as metaphors and imagery to enhance your argument.
5. Use sources from reliable sources to back up your thesis statement.
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