List of literary devices 31 literary terms you should know allegory an allegory is a story that is used to represent a more general message about real life historical issues alliteration alliteration is a series of words or phrases that all or almost all start with the same sound these . List of literary devices allegory an allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes alliteration alliteration describes a series of words in quick succession that all start with the same letter or sound allusion an allusion is a passing or . View full list of literary devices ad hominem adage allegory alliteration allusion ambiguity anachronism anagram analogy anapest anaphora anecdote antagonist antecedent antimetabole antithesis aphorism aposiopesis apostrophe archaism archetype argument assonance biography cacophony cadence caricature catharsis characterization cliche climax colloquialism comparison conflict. Our huge list of literary devices 1 alliteration some super sentences supply stunning samples of alliteration such as this one in other words an 2 anthropomorphism anthropomorphism is when a writer gives a non human animal or object human like qualities in 3 dramatic irony that is