Word

Function

Alliteration

It creates a musical effect in the text that enhances the pleasure of reading a
literary piece. It makes reading and recitation of the poems attractive and
appealing; thus, making them easier to learn by heart. Furthermore, it
renders flow and beauty to a piece of writing.
In the marketing industry, as what we have already discussed, alliteration
makes the brand names interesting and easier to remember. This literary
device is helpful in attracting customers and enhancing sales.

Consonance

The use of consonance provides the structure of poetry with a rhyming

effect. The writer normally employs the tool of consonance for the purpose
of reiterating the significance of an idea or theme. Further, the use of the
device makes the structure of poetry or prose appealing for the reader. The
poet generally makes use of consonance in an attempt to underscore the
emotions behind their words that simple words cannot convey.
Furthermore, the use of consonance adds a lyrical feeling to the poetry that
otherwise cannot be added. The significance of the use of consonance in
poetry is enhanced by the fact that it is often used to make the imagery
employed clearer. It acts as a tool that enables the poet to formulate a fine
and powerful structure for his poetry and create a background for the
themes underlying the poetry.

Assonance

Writers use it as a tool to enhance a musical effect in the text by using it for
creating internal rhyme, which consequently enhances the pleasure of
reading a literary piece. In addition, it helps writers to develop a particular
mood in the text that corresponds with its subject matter.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia, on the other hand, helps the readers to hear the sounds the
words they reflect. Hence, the reader cannot help but enter the world
created by the poet with the aid of these words. The beauty of
onomatopoeic words lies in the fact that they are bound to have an effect on
the readers senses whether they are understood or not. Moreover, a simple
plain expression does not have the same emphatic effect that conveys an
idea powerfully to the readers. The use of onomatopoeic words helps create
emphasis.

End Rhyme

If they use it throughout the entire poem, then it creates a beautiful rhyming
pattern, giving musical quality to the poem, because it adds flow in a perfect
rhythmic way. It serves as a strong mnemonic device that facilitates
memorization. In addition, its regular use marks off the ending of the lines,
thus elucidating metrical structure for the audience. Songwriters also make
use of it frequently to make their lyrics sound appealing and often it
becomes easier for the audience to remember.

Rhyme Scheme

Rhyme scheme is an integral part of the constitution of a poem like meter,

length of phrase and rhythm. In fact, rhyme scheme, like other writing tools,
is used to create balance and relieve tension, manage flow, rhythm and
highlight important ideas. Its basic function is to form units of sound and
suggest units of sense. It also communicates the idea in a more effective
way.

Internal rhyme

The sound repetition due to internal rhyme makes a poem or story unified. It
is employed to heighten the poems effects and this internal rhyme can take
place in the same line or two separate alternating lines. Also, it adds to the
meanings of words and enhances musical effects of the poem.

Slant rhyme

Half-rhymes help a poet create an unusual range of words to give a variety

of rhyming effects, particularly when they are used with other poetic devices
and rhyming schemes. They help poets avoid using the typical sing-song
chiming effects of full rhymes and give them creative freedom. Furthermore,
half-rhymes have provided a subtle discordant note (which does not give
absolute harmony), that offers variation in tone while reading and creates
good impact on the readers. When they are used with other poetic devices,
they give shocking effects to the reader about the actual rhyme scheme.

Personification

It adds vividness to expressions as we always look at the world from a

human perspective. Writers and poets rely on personification to bring
inanimate things to life, so that their nature and actions are understood in a
better way. Because it is easier for us to relate to something that is human
or that possesses human traits. Its use encourages us to develop a
perspective that is new as well as creative.

Imagery

The function of imagery in literature is to generate a vibrant and graphic

presentation of a scene that appeals to as many of the readers senses as
possible. It aids the readers imagination to envision the characters and
scenes in the literary piece clearly. Apart from the above mentioned function,
images , which are drawn by using figures of speech like metaphor, simile,
personification, onomatopoeia etc. serve the function of beautifying a piece
of literature.

Metaphor

Using appropriate metaphors appeals directly to the senses of listeners or

readers, sharpening their imaginations to comprehend what is being
communicated to them. Moreover, it gives a life-like quality to our
conversations and to the characters of the fiction or poetry. Metaphors are
also ways of thinking, offering the listeners and the readers fresh ways of
examining ideas and viewing the world.

Extended
Metaphor

Extended metaphor provides the writer with an opportunity to make a larger

comparison between two things or notions. The device of extended
metaphor is usually employed in prose and poetry to project a specific
impression regarding things or notions in the readers mind. Further, the tool
serves to project the comparison intensely in the readers mind, than is the
case when simple metaphors or similes are used.

Conceit

Because conceits make unusual and unlikely comparisons between two

things, it allows readers to look at things in a new way. Similes and
metaphor may explain things vibrantly but they tend to become boring at
times because of their predictable nature. Conceits, on the other hand,
surprise and shock the readers by making farfetched comparisons. Hence,
conceit is used as a tool in literature to develop interest in readers.

Simile

Using similes attracts the attention and appeals directly to the senses of
listeners or readers encouraging their imagination to comprehend what is

being communicated. In addition, it inspires life-like quality in our daily talks

and in the characters of fiction or poetry. Simile allows readers to relate the
feelings of a writer or a poet to their personal experiences. Therefore, the
use of similes makes it easier for the readers to understand the subject
matter of a literary text, which may have been otherwise too demanding to
be comprehended. Like metaphors, similes also offer variety in our ways of
thinking and offers new perspectives of viewing the world.

Symbolism

Symbolism gives a writer freedom to add double levels of meanings to his

work: a literal one that is self-evident and the symbolic one whose meaning
is far more profound than the literal one. The symbolism, therefore, gives
universality to the characters and the themes of a piece of literature.
Symbolism in literature evokes interest in readers as they find an opportunity
to get an insight of the writers mind on how he views the world and how he
thinks of common objects and actions, having broader implications.

Allusion

The use of allusions enables writers or poets to simplify complex ideas and
emotions. The readers comprehend the complex ideas by comparing the
emotions of the writer or poet to the references given by them. Furthermore,
the references to Greek Mythology give a dreamlike and magical touch to
the works of art. Similarly, biblical allusions appeal to the readers with
religious backgrounds.

Hyperbole

In our daily conversation, we use hyperbole to emphasize for an amusing

effect. However, in literature it has very serious implications. By using
hyperbole, a writer or a poet makes common human feelings remarkable
and intense to such an extent that they do not remain ordinary. In literature,
usage of hyperbole develops contrasts. When one thing is described with an
over-statement and the other thing is presented normally, a striking contrast
is developed. This technique is employed to catch the readers attention.

Understatement An understatement is a tool that helps to develop other figures of speech

such as irony and sarcasm by deliberately decreasing the severity of a
situation when an intense response is expected by the listeners or the
readers.