Objective

This section allows you to view literary terms, their definitions, and examples of each. As a practice activity, you will then test your skills at correctly identifying basic terms through an interactive crossword puzzle.

Now that you are aware of a variety of literary genres, your next step is to gain an understanding of how writers and poets use literary devices in their work. These devices are referred to by particular literary terms. By understanding the concepts these literary terms refer to, you and your students will gain a more thorough understanding of literature.

When undertaking literary analysis, a working knowledge of literary devices is important (if not crucial). For example, having an understanding of symbolism allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of meaning in a story or poem. A symbol can represent an idea or convey an atmosphere or mood; a symbol can be used stylistically; or it can be used to compress a complex idea into a single image. In understanding how symbolism operates, the reader is also likely to be able to identify other literary devices such as allegory or metaphor, and glean even deeper meaning from literary texts.

The following link provides descriptions of 31 literary devices and delves a little deeper into how a knowledge of literary terms and devices enriches the study of literature.

https://blog.prepscholar.com/list-of-literary-devices-techniques