literary devices

 

Many literary devices have had a key role in the history of storytelling.  As storytelling evolved and merged among generations and cultures, so did their literary devices.

 

The literary devices, or literary terms,  would include everything needed to create the work of art.  Some artistic devices are required for it to even be considered art in the first place, and are so fundamental that they are often used instinctually or without conscious effort. Others, on the other hand, are far more intentional and work to improve the piece’s overall effectiveness, creativity, or meaning.

 

Literary devices are the structures used by writers to tell the story or deliver the poem.  Literary devices are used in conjunction with one another to convey messages and meanings intended by the author for the reader to understand.  They can be as simple or complex as the author likes.  Some require great craft and creativity to employ, while others are basic and can be utilized by youngest of writers.  Some are essential to a story, meaning a story cannot function without them, while others are used specifically to beautify or add levels of meaning.  When used properly, literary devices allow the readers to comprehend, appreciate, interpret, and analyze the writing.

 

Literary Devices are divided into TWO categories:

Literary Elements and Literary Techniques

 

literary elements

 

In thinking of a piece of art, literary elements would include all of the physical supplies needed to build or create the artwork.  This might include canvas, brushes, and paint for a painting, or clay, modeling tools, and wire for a sculpture.  Without these supplies, a piece of art does not function properly.  Clay is needed for a clay sculpture as paint is required for a painting.  The artist will creatively select the type of clay, tools, paint, brushes, and canvas to best meet his or her needs in regards to the message, meaning, or purpose of the artwork; however, the essential elements must be used.

 

Literary elements are the universal building blocks of a literary piece – a writer cannot create a literary work without them.  Narrative stories require different literary elements than poetry (and elements will also vary depending on the structure of the poem); however, each set of elements can range in both effectiveness and creativity.

 

For the sake of elementary age students, the most common literary elements for a narrative story are:
 

Plot

Structure

Theme

Characterization

Setting

Tone and Mood

Point of View

 

Regardless of the intentionality and creativity used in employing these elements, their presence is required for a piece of writing to function as a story.

 

literary techniques

 

If literary elements are the necessary tools and supplies needed to create a painting or sculpture, then literary techniques are the talent and creative techniques utilized by the artist to add things like complexity, depth, intrigue, and emphasis.  While artistic techniques aren’t necessary to create a work of art in its basic form, they are certainly valuable and can be necessary if the author has any purpose or goal for the piece of art.

 

Literary techniques, when used intentionally and effectively, can improve writing both artistically and functionally, allowing the reader to better comprehend, connect with, and appreciate a story.  While they are not needed for a story to be a story, unlike literary elements, they can be crucial to the complexity and depth of a story.

 

Figurative language, for example, includes specific literary techniques that present words or phrases in such a way that they deviate from their literal meanings for the purpose of adding depth through layers of meaning.  While all figurative language devices are literary techniques, not all literary techniques are figurative language!  Flashback and foreshadowing, for example, are literary techniques that are not considered figurative language, while simile and metaphor, on the other hand, are.

 

Here are some of the most common literary techniques found in children’s literature:

​