Aspects of literary style: literary devices

Understanding Literary Devices

Familiarise yourself with metaphors and similes, two common forms of figurative language in Latin literature.
Learn about personification, where inanimate objects or abstract ideas are given human characteristics.
Identify hyperbole, or deliberate exaggeration for effect, used frequently in narratives to emphasise a point.
Understand the concept of foreshadowing, a technique where future events are hinted at early in the story.
Recognise irony, where the intended meaning of a statement differs from its literal meaning.

Understand the use of imagery, the use of descriptive language to create visual representations of actions, objects, or ideas in the reader’s mind.
Learn about symbolism, where objects, characters, or actions represent abstract concepts.
Be aware of sensory language, which appeals to the five senses to help the reader imagine the story.

Familiarise yourself with flashbacks and flash-forwards, techniques used to shift the story’s timeline for narrative effect.
Understand climax, the most intense point in the story, often a turning point for the main character or plot.
Learn about resolution, the unraveling of the story’s complexities, and where everything comes together.

Be able to identify these devices within the context of the narrative, understanding how they contribute to the unfolding of the plot and the development of characters.
Apply your understanding of literary devices to deconstruct the meaning and intent behind passages.
Use this knowledge to enrich your interpretation and analysis of the narratives.