Exploring Literary Devices: Symbolism, Motifs, Onomatopoeia, Imagery, and Mood
5 Literary Terms You Should Know
Literary devices are tools used by writers to convey ideas and create imagery in the reader’s mind. They include metaphors, similes and other figurative language as well as plot devices such as foreshadowing and flashbacks.
Motifs are objects, images or ideas that occur repeatedly throughout a story to add meaning and resonance. For example, trains are an omnipresent motif in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina.
1. Symbolism
Symbolism uses concrete images to convey ideas that would be difficult to communicate with abstract language. This literary device is sometimes confusing for readers, but it can add emotion to a story and even allow authors to convey themes they aren’t comfortable discussing openly.
A symbol may be a specific object, character attribute, weather condition or even a color. For example, when a character wears a piece of sea glass that was given to him by his mother, it’s likely the author is using the object to symbolize the son’s relationship with his mother and his grief over her death.
Symbolism can also be a way to add layers of meaning to a story by personifying objects that aren’t normally considered human, such as the sheep who blindly follow the pig dictators on Animal Farm.
2. Motifs
If you’ve ever gotten that feeling of deja vu while reading a story, it might be because a certain recurring motif keeps showing up. Think of them like purposeful breadcrumbs that lead the reader to a bigger picture.
Motifs are the recurring characters, objects, ideas, and symbols that can reinforce a particular theme in a story. Unlike symbolism, they are not as explicit and often go unnoticed.
For example, Lemony Snicket uses the acronym VFD (Voluntary Feline Domestication) as a recurring motif throughout A Series of Unfortunate Events to convey that the Baudelaire children are in danger. The recurrence of this motif makes it stand out to the attentive reader. Motifs work best when they are subtle and underline your theme in a way that readers can understand on an intuitive level without having to be explicitly told.
3. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a literary device that uses words that sound like the noise they describe. This can be a playful or serious aspect of writing, depending on the situation and the sounds involved.
For example, when a character in a story slips on a slide and whoops or bumps, the author might use onomatopoeia like “whoop,” “bump,” or “swoosh.” These words help readers imagine what the character is hearing and experiencing.
Sometimes writers will invent their own onomatopoeic words to convey a particular sound, such as the word “tattarrattat” that James Joyce coined for knocking on a door in Ulysses. Other times, onomatopoeia can be used to highlight the rhythm of a piece.
For example, the rhythm of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells” evokes a sense of the cacophonous and chaotic nature of jazz music.
4. Imagery
Imagery is a way for writers to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. It can be used to describe a character or scenery, and it helps readers connect with characters in a more personal way.
Visual imagery is the most common type of imagery, and it refers to how something looks. It can include color, shapes, sizes, patterns, and more. Pablo Neruda is famous for using visual imagery in his poetry.
This type of imagery typically involves figurative language, but it doesn’t have to. For example, the line “The apples rumbled into the cellar bin like a stampede of buffalo” uses visual imagery while still being completely literal.
5. Mood
Mood is one of the most commonly discussed literary techniques. It is closely related to tone, but they are two different things. Mood focuses on the overall feeling of a piece of writing, while tone is more about an author’s attitude.
Mood can be created with a variety of different literary devices, such as slant rhyme, onomatopoeia, and imagery. It can also be evoked through the use of certain narrative styles, like soliloquy or dialogue. Mood is also a big part of setting, which creates the physical environment of a story through detailed descriptions and sensory details. Mood can even be used to set the time period of a story, like in historical fiction or a fantasy novel. This will help readers to feel immersed in the story’s world.
5 Literary Terms You Should Know Literary devices are tools used by writers to convey ideas and create imagery in the reader’s mind. They include metaphors, similes and other figurative language as well as plot devices such as foreshadowing and flashbacks. Motifs are objects, images or ideas that occur repeatedly throughout a story to add meaning and resonance. For example, trains are an omnipresent motif in Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. 1. Symbolism Symbolism uses concrete images to convey ideas that would be difficult to communicate with abstract language. This literary device is sometimes confusing for readers, but it can add emotion to a story and even allow authors to convey themes they aren’t comfortable discussing openly. A symbol may be a specific object, character attribute, weather condition or even a color. For example, when a character wears a piece of sea glass that was given to him by his mother, it’s likely the author is using the object to symbolize the son’s relationship with his mother and his grief over her death. Symbolism can also be a way to add layers of meaning to a story by personifying objects that aren’t normally considered human, such as the sheep who blindly follow the pig dictators on Animal Farm. 2. Motifs If you’ve ever gotten that feeling of deja vu while reading a story, it might be because a certain recurring motif keeps showing up. Think of them like purposeful breadcrumbs that lead the reader to a bigger picture. Motifs are the recurring characters, objects, ideas, and symbols that can reinforce a particular theme in a story. Unlike symbolism, they are not as explicit and often go unnoticed. For example, Lemony Snicket uses the acronym VFD (Voluntary Feline Domestication) as a recurring motif throughout A Series of Unfortunate Events to convey that the Baudelaire children are in danger. The recurrence of this motif makes it stand out to the attentive reader. Motifs work best when they are subtle and underline your theme in a way that readers can understand on an intuitive level without having to be explicitly told. 3. Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is a literary device that uses words that sound like the noise they describe. This can be a playful or serious aspect of writing, depending on the situation and the sounds involved. For example, when a character in a story slips on a slide and whoops or bumps, the author might use onomatopoeia like “whoop,” “bump,” or “swoosh.” These words help readers imagine what the character is hearing and experiencing. Sometimes writers will invent their own onomatopoeic words to convey a particular sound, such as the word “tattarrattat” that James Joyce coined for knocking on a door in Ulysses. Other times, onomatopoeia can be used to highlight the rhythm of a piece. For example, the rhythm of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells” evokes a sense of the cacophonous and chaotic nature of jazz music. 4. Imagery Imagery is a way for writers to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. It can be used to describe a character or scenery, and it helps readers connect with characters in a more personal way. Visual imagery is the most common type of imagery, and it refers to how something looks. It can include color, shapes, sizes, patterns, and more. Pablo Neruda is famous for using visual imagery in his poetry. This type of imagery typically involves figurative language, but it doesn’t have to. For example, the line “The apples rumbled into the cellar bin like a stampede of buffalo” uses visual imagery while still being completely literal. 5. Mood Mood is one of the most commonly discussed literary techniques. It is closely related to tone, but they are two different things. Mood focuses on the overall feeling of a piece of writing, while tone is more about an author’s attitude. Mood can be created with a variety of different literary devices, such as slant rhyme, onomatopoeia, and imagery. It can also be evoked through the use of certain narrative styles, like soliloquy or dialogue. Mood is also a big part of setting, which creates the physical environment of a story through detailed descriptions and sensory details. Mood can even be used to set the time period of a story, like in historical fiction or a fantasy novel. This will help readers to feel immersed in the story’s world. Go Home
