Key literary devices and elements to use in an essay

Essay writing is one of the most common assignments that students have to deal with in school. However, not everybody knows how to go about it, but that is not a dampener to the dreams of becoming a better writer. Some students use the services of online writers because they believe that they have better essay writing techniques. In actual sense, writing an essay can be simple, only if one understands how to go about it. More so, it follows some elements that are crucial to making whatever story you are telling, fascinating. Language is another problem that most writers have. However, the best way to learn a language is to immerse you in it. Essay writing employs several literary elements that can enhance your ability to write better stories. If you engage in reading, you will learn more about the structure of stories, poems, and plays and how they become thrilling. It also enables you to analyze them properly.

In essay writing, and especially in the language of literary analysis, there are phrases and words that are applicable in making your essay writing skills better.

Literary devices

These are the common techniques used by writers to enhance the meaning of their writing. They help in driving the message of their essay home. If they are well mastered, they are crucial in the interpretation of scenes as they provide an in-depth understanding of your ideas. Literary devices are many, but it will be important to discuss a few of them to enhance your essay writing techniques. Creative writing applies these literary devices and elements to enhance the meaning of their narrative. They include:

Allegory:

The writer tries to represent an idea through a specific character, form, or event. It conveys hidden meaning using symbolic figures actions as well as imagery. In creative writing, allegory uses characters, which represents a person, place, or thing doing human activities or functions in a fictional work.

Alliteration

This is the repeated sound of the first consonant in successive words. It is also the repetition of the same kind of at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables of a specific phrase. For instance, "She sells seas shells at the seashore". This is even more focused on the poetry analysis because almost every word in a poem is written with more intention. Alliteration can also be found in novels as well. The idea is to ensure that the characters are easier to remember.

Allusion

When you allude to something, you give a different reference to a conversation, person, or an event. When allusion is used in creative essays or works of fiction, the author references myths, other classic literature or a historical event that they believe the audience has enough knowledge about to cultivate allusion. For instance, making a comparison between a place and the Garden of Eden is an allusion. The comparison, in this case, is based on the Bible.

Theme

If you have written literary analysis essays, chances of writing about themes abound. This is the underlying message in your essay, poem, novel, or a play. It is the reaction of the author or opinion of a topic, but not the topic itself.

Analogy

This is the comparison of two dissimilar ideas or objects to assist the character or the reader within the story in understanding the meaning of the main theme or idea being described. The usage of analogy has to be minimal, but if well utilized, they can make the writing more interesting. For instance, an analogy can read, "life is like a box of chocolates. No one has an idea of what they are going to get".

Antithesis

This is the emphasis on contrast existing between two things or fictional characters. For instance, you can say "Love is the ideal thing, marriage is the real thing. See the use of ‘real’ and ‘ideal’.

Metaphors

This is the direct comparison of two things that are dissimilar. It is very different from a simile in that it tries to show an object or a person is something else instead of saying it like something else.

Simile

This is a comparison of objects, people, characteristics, or events that uses ‘like’ or ‘as’. It is not a direct comparison that is used in metaphors. Suffice to say the wisdom of our forefathers resides within simile.

Symbolism

This frequently occurs in every type of literature. It can be applied in creative essays especially when the writer is trying to attribute an idea or value to an object different from its literal use or value.

Conflict

This is what makes a story worth reading. A story can have several conflicts, which are internal and external. When it comes to external conflicts, the character struggles with outside forces. External forces can also comprise of events like war. Internal conflicts are when the characters have two internal opposing sides. Sometimes the main character has to decide going against his or her values to protect someone. Sometimes the antagonists have to choose between their pride and getting their desired results that they want at the end of the story.

Foreshadowing

This occurs when the author hints about major events or plot that is bound to happen later in the story. This is meant to give the readers the Aha! Moment. Sometimes the reader might not see it coming, and in the end, he will wonder why and all the clues were there.

Tone

In most cases, what you say might not have anything substantive, but how you say it matters a lot. When it comes to creative writing, the time of a literary work uses specific words or phrases to express the author’s attitude towards a subject or even the audiences.

Imagery

Sometimes imagery is misunderstood. It can be described using descriptive words that create a picture of the scene in the minds of the readers. Imagery must appeal to all the senses. If you are describing the smell of something, you have to use imagery. Let the reader have an idea of how sweet something tastes. Create a mental picture of how lush and green the forest looks.

Personification

This technique involves giving human characteristics to somethings that do not have such traits. This is mostly used in poetry but is applicable everywhere.

Climax

This allows you to arrange your text in a manner that creates tension gradually.

Euphemism

This refers to the replacement of offensive words with a combination of words that are lighter equivalents. The opposite of this is Dysphemism that replaces neutral words with a more harsh word.

These are a few examples of literary devices you can use to induce life to your essays and other creative works. These literary devices can be tested in essay assignments, but with this on your side, you are off to a good start. Writing essays do not need to be a problem especially if you are well prepared with everything nece3ssary to make it excellent. Every time you are writing, you have to put yourself in the shoes of the audience and determine how they can react to your essay. Making your essays stronger is crucial especially to a student. The literary devices are a great addition to your arsenal as a writer.

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