Decoding Literary Devices in Literature

Hey, I'm kinda confused sifting through all the literary devices we've been learning in my English class. Does anyone have a good way to remember or identify these literary devices when reading literature?

Absolutely, it can be overwhelming at first with the sheer amount of literary devices available to authors and the nuances each of these add to a piece of literature. But rest assured, with practice and patience, recognition will come more easily.

The first strategy is to break down the devices into broad categories. Take note of literary devices related to sound like alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia. You can associate these with auditory effects for easier recall. Another group could be figure of speech, which encompasses similes, metaphors, hyperboles. You can associate these with how writers express their ideas in non-literal ways.

When you read, practice active engagement. This means consciously looking for these devices as you read, rather than simply immersing yourself in the story. Actively question the author's word choice, sentence structure, and the images or ideas they are trying to convey.

Consider the context too. Some devices are used in specific genres more often. Anaphora, for instance, is common in speeches and persuasive writing, while alliteration or rhyme might be seen more in poetry.

It can be helpful to practice on simpler texts or children's literature where devices like similes, personification or alliteration are often used explicitly. You might recognize phrases such as 'as slow as a snail' (simile), or 'the sun smiled down on us' (personification).

Also, it might be useful to note that the same phrase can function as different devices depending on the context. For example, 'it is raining cats and dogs' can be seen as a hyperbole because it exaggerates the intensity of the rain. At the same time, as it uses an unusual image to describe the situation, it can also be considered a metaphor.

Creating flashcards with the name of the device on one side and a definition and example on the other can also be a good study tool. Review these periodically and test yourself by identifying the devices in your current reading assignments.

Remember, familiarity with these devices will occur over time, so don't stress if you don't catch every single one right away. Just keep practicing. The more you read and the more you expose yourself to different writing styles and genres, the better you'll get at identifying these devices. Happy reading!