Literary Devices
In the context of personal storytelling, literary devices convey meaning, evoke emotion, and offer viewpoints beyond the simple description of what the storyteller experienced, thought, or felt.
Whether comparing concepts, looking forward / backwards in time, or utilizing a unique style, these devices allow the audience to grasp your narrative in a deeper and more nuanced way. They can even shift the audience’s perspective on an important point you’re trying to make.
As you craft your personal story and incorporate the literary elements and literary techniques available to you, review these literary devices to see if one or more of them can improve the impact of your writing.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two different things, stating that one thing is the same as another thing. In personal storytelling, metaphors may create emotional feelings, emphasize a physical attribute, or bridge gaps in understanding between the speaker and the audience.
“My childhood home was my fortress, protecting me from the chaos of the outside world.”
“Divorce was an earthquake that shattered the foundation of everything I thought I knew about love.”
Simile
Similes compares two different things using “like” or “as” between the two items. In personal storytelling, similes often help audiences better understand one object by comparing it to something else with a similar auditory, visual, tactile, or psychological attribute.
“My grandmother’s hands were like weathered maps, telling stories based on decades of hard work.”
“He realized moving to a new city was as confusing as watching a foreign movie without subtitles.”
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive or closely positioned words, creating rhythm and emphasis in speech. When writing personal stories, alliteration often makes phrases more memorable and impactful, helping key moments stay in listeners’ minds.
“Building my business required boundless belief in an uncertain future.”
“College offered countless chances to challenge my comfortable assumptions.”
Personification
Personification gives human characteristics, emotions, or actions to non-human objects, concepts, or abstract ideas. In personal storytelling, personification allows audiences to connect with abstract concepts like fear, opportunity, relief, or time by giving them personality and agency.
“The old house seemed to sigh with relief when we finally decided to renovate it.”
“The city embraced me like an old friend when I moved there after college.”
Hyperbole
Hyperbole utilizes deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect, but it’s not meant to be taken literally. In personal storytelling, hyperbole amplifies emotions or experiences to help audiences understand their intensity and significance, by presenting them as larger than life.
“My toddler had the energy of a small tornado destroying everything in his path.”
“That presentation felt like it lasted an eternity, though it was only ten minutes.”
Irony
Irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality, appearance and truth, or intention and outcome. Used in personal storytelling, irony reveals life’s unexpected turns and the gap between our plans and actual experiences. It is so common in life that audiences connect with irony.
“I spent years avoiding public speaking, only to discover my calling as a motivational speaker.”
“I thought I was teaching my children about resilience, but they were actually teaching me.”
Oxymoron
An oxymoron combines two contradictory or opposing terms to create a new meaning that captures complexity or paradox. In personal storytelling, they are particularly useful for describing complex feelings, relationships, or situations that contain inherent contradictions.
“My teenager’s room existed in a state of organized chaos that somehow made perfect sense to him.”
“Our family dinner conversations were always controlled mayhem; loud, messy, and absolutely perfect.”
Paradox
A paradox presents a seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth upon reflection. In a personal story, paradoxes reveal counterintuitive lessons and the complex nature of growth and change, showing us that wisdom often emerges from apparent contradictions.
“I had to leave home to finally understand just how important family was to me.”
“I had to lose nearly everything I owned in order to discover what truly mattered to me.”
Analogy
An analogy draws an extended comparison between two different situations or concepts to explain or illuminate a point. In telling personal stories, analogies help audiences understand unfamiliar experiences by comparing them to familiar ones, often exploring multiple points of similarity.
“Learning to parent was like being handed the keys to a vehicle I’d never seen before, with no manual, in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language.”
Sarcasm
Sarcasm uses irony, often with a bitter or mocking tone, to convey the opposite of what’s literally stated. In personal storytelling, sarcasm can add humor, reveal character, or highlight absurd situations, especially when dealing with heavy or complex topics.
“My teenage self was absolutely convinced that staying up until 3 AM studying for an exam was a brilliant time management strategy.”
As you think about how to handle difficult topics within your story, see if there are one or more literary devices that can add meaning and/or clarity to your story. Below are additional possibilities to consider.