Figures of Speech and Literary Devices

Writers use figures of speech and literary devices to make their writing more interesting, more concise, more musical, and more emotional. Some of the more commonly used forms of figures of speech and literary devices are mentioned here.

Anecdote

Anecdotes are brief, often humorous, stories about a person’s feelings and thoughts about a specific situation. Writers use anecdotes to make their writing feel more personal and to interject some humour.

Metaphor

Metaphors are comparisons between two things. The words “like” or “as” are not used. Writers use metaphors to create a detailed image for the reader. Readers are able to get vivid mental images without having to read a long description.

The passenger train snaked its way through the Rocky mountains.