Literary Device

1. Alliteration:  the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

2. Hyperbole:  an expression of exaggeration.
"I nearly died laughing."

3. Idioms:  expressions that have a meaning apart from the meanings of the individual words.
"It's raining cats and dogs."

4. Metaphor:  a figure of speech that compares two unlike things, without the use of like  or as.
"Her hair is silk." 

5. Mood: the overall feeling the poem creates.
Mood, or tone, for example, can be playful, sad, lonely, angry or joyful.

6. Onomatopoeia: words that imitate sounds.
"Boom. Gurgle. Plink. Woof"

7. Personification: assigning human qualities to non-human things.
"The tropical storm slept for two days."

8. Puns:  words with a humorous double meaning, a "play on words."
"A dog not only has a fur coat but also pants."

9. Rhyme:  The basic definition is two words that sound alike.
Rhyme is perhaps the most recognizable convention of poetry.
Rhyme helps to unify a poem.
 Katie took a trip to the beach.
She brought two books, and a peach.

10. Rhyme Scheme:  A rhyme scheme is a regular pattern of rhyme, one that is consistent throughout the extent of the poem.
See how to show a rhyme scheme below: There once was a big brown cat a That liked to eat a lot of mice.
He got all round and fat a Because they tasted so nice.

11. Similes: figures of speech that compares two unlike things, using the words like  or as.
"His feet were as big as boats." 

12. Symbolism:  using an object to represent an idea. A symbol means what it is and also something more.
 Example: Lions often symbolize royalty.

A. Figurative Devices for Comparison

1. Simile: "Simile" actually means likeness (almost saying "similar"). It shows similarity between two people/objects that are different in nature but have a common feature. The markers for such comparison are “as” or “like”. It is the conscious and imaginative comparison made between two things so that the reader can understand the characteristic or attribute of the thing being described.
E.g Ali is as gentle as a dove

2. Metaphor: This is direct comparison (without the use of “as” or “like”) for the sake of emphasis.
E.g 1. Abba is a dove
2. Muhammad is lionhearted.

3. Personification: Object is made to sound like a „person‟ or given human characteristics. Conversely, When an animal is given human characteristics, the techniques used is not personification but anthropomorphism.
E.g 1.The sun is smiling.
2.The bench screamed when Anita sat on it.
3.The roof complained bitterly when it rained.

B. Figures of Speech Expressing Contrast

1. Oxymoron: Two opposite words are juxtaposed together for an intended effect.
E.g 1. Sweet sour.
2. Open secret.
3. Young old man.
4. Living dead.
5. Dark light.

2. Antithesis: This refers to the juxtaposition of two opposite expressions. Antithesis, unlike an oxymoron, has a longer expression.
E.g 1. Many are called; few are chosen.
2. Man proposes; God disposes.
3. To err is human; to forgive is divine.

3. Irony: This refers to an expression or a situation where the writer is saying the opposite of what is going on.
E.g 1. Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink
2. The cat was chased by the rat.
3.Your sister would be happy that you broke her plate.

4. Sarcasm: Is a remark that expresses the opposite of what has been stated. It is meant to criticize or hurt the person to whom it is directed
E.g Your English teacher looks at your scant and badly written essay and says: “You have obviously given a lot of time to this".

5. Epigram: This is a short witty saying expressing an idea in a clever and musing way.
E.g 1. Attack is the best form of defense.
2. The more you look, the less you see.

6. Paradox: A statement that appears to contradict itself, but upon further rumination, either reveals a deeper meaning or actually makes sense. Two contradictory ideas are juxtaposed in a way that is insightful.
E.g 1.All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.
2. I must be cruel to be kind

C. Figures of Speech expressing Sounds effects/Sound Devices

1. Assonance: Similarity in the vowel sounds of words that are close together, i.e The repetition of initial vowel sounds in sequence.
It can also be defined as the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds with changes in the intervening consonants.
E.g 1 .Joan rows the old boat.
2. These three thieves.
3. 'Born' and 'warm'

2. Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in sequence.
E.g 1. On the bald streets break the blank day.
2. Harry has a house in the hill.
3. Friday of french fries and fish.

3. Rhyme: This occurs when similar sound patterns are found at the end of the lines.
E.g A train in the rain.

4. Onomatopoeia: The use or creation of a word that imitate, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes.
E.g 1. meow
2. buzz of a bee

D. Figurative Devices Overstating and Understating Ideas

1. Hyperbole: hyper refers to over- exaggerated expression made for effect. Writers use it to shock or amuse the readers.
E.g Jamil responded with a thousand thanks.

2. Litotes: This is an understatement, and the reversed form of hyperbole. An affirmative proposition is stated by negating its opposite.
E.g 1. This food is not bad.
2. I am not ungrateful.

3. Euphemism: This expression is used to replace one that is too harsh or unpleasant in order to reduce the impact of some information.
E.g 1. Comfort station (public toilet).
2. Physically substantial (fat)

E. Figurative Devices using Parts for whole or attributes/things to replace Names:

1. Synecdoche: It is the figurative term used when a part is meant to represent a whole.
E.g 1. We have the best brains in this class.
2. My father has eight hungry mouths to feed.

2. Metonymy: Things are not called by their true names but by the names of tings or attributes closely associated with them.
E.g 1. The pen is mightier than the sword.
2. The pupil has greater power