Need Help Understanding English Literary Devices

Hey, juniors! I've been working on my college essay, and I'd like to make my writing more, well, sophisticated. Emphasis on sounding natural, of course. But, for the life of me, I can't seem to get English literary devices down! Anyone have any helpful resources?

It's great that you're looking to add depth to your essay through literary devices! They can truly elevate your writing when used judiciously. I'll share some brief explanations of common literary devices and their purposes here.

1. Metaphor and Simile: These are both used to compare two things, but in different ways. A metaphor asserts that one thing "is" another, while a simile says one thing "is like" or "as" another. For example, metaphor: "Life is a roller-coaster." Simile: "Life is like a roller-coaster."

2. Hyperbole: It's an exaggeration used to make a point, like "I've told you a million times."

3. Imagery: It's when descriptive language is used to help readers visualize, hear, taste, touch, or smell the scenarios or objects being described.

4. Irony: This is when words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meaning, often for humor or emphasis.

5. Personification: It's when non-human objects are given human traits, like "The wind howled in the night."

6. Alliteration: This occurs when there are two or more words close to one another in a sentence that start with the same letter or sound, such as "She sells seashells by the seashore."

7. Assonance: It's when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound, but start with different consonant sounds, like "Men sell the wedding bells."

8. Onomatopoeia: This is when words sound like what they mean, such as "buzz," "pop," or "hiss."

9. Symbolism: This is using an object or action that means something more than its literal interpretation.

In your college essay, you might specifically find metaphors, imagery, and symbolism helpful. These tools can allow you to express complex ideas in a compelling and succinct manner. However, remember to use these devices sparingly and only when they serve the story you're telling. Overuse can detract from the narrative and make the essay feel forced or unnatural.

As for resources, you might find Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) helpful—it has guides on these literary devices. Also, CollegeVine's "How to Write the Common Application Essays" might be a good guide for specifically using these devices in your college essays. Good luck with your writing!