Literary Techniques
Literary techniques play a crucial role in enhancing personal stories by adding depth, meaning, emotion, and clarity. Each technique serves a unique purpose, allowing storytellers to convey their experiences in a more engaging and impactful way.
While there is no definitive list of literary techniques — if you do some research you’ll find a variety of opinions on the topic — the ones listed below have special relevance with regards to telling personal stories.
None of these techniques are required, so feel free to utilize the ones that best serve a particular narrative. That said, do spend some time thinking about each of them, and consider how they may add impact to your story.
Imagery
Imagery involves using descriptive language to create visual images in the minds of an audience. Characters, settings, and experiences come alive when described in detail. It asks those listening or reading to step into the shoes of the narrator and vividly relive the event.
Flashback
Telling a personal story, by definition, is about past events, but flashbacks can still be incorporated if your narrative is structured in a non-linear sequence. Using in medias res, which means to begin a story in the middle, storytellers can then flashback to a previous time.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing provides a hint about something which is going to happen later in the story. A specific sequence of words is revealed in dialogue early on the narrative, then comes back later on in the story, allowing an audience to subliminally experience the connection.
Dialogue
Within the telling of a personal story, dialogue could, in a way, refer to the storyteller speaking to the audience, but another example is whenever something said by another character is quoted. This allows the audience to hear the words of someone other than the storyteller.
Stream of Consciousness
In addition to describing the chain of events that occur in personal narratives, storytellers can also reveal what they were thinking about at a particular point in time. Taken to the extreme, stream of consciousness takes the audience inside a narrator’s mind for an extended journey.
Reflection
Reflection involves a narrator contemplating past events and thinking about their significance. This technique also allows a storyteller to share insights and lessons learned, as well as exploring what if scenarios — what might have transpired if other decisions had been made.
Symbolism
Symbolism can enhance personal stories by using objects, characters, events, or settings to represent more complex themes or emotions, allowing readers to connect with the narrative at a deeper level. In essence, something which is easy to grasp, represents a more difficult concept.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition places contrasting 2 elements side by side to highlight differences, enhance meaning, or create tension. This may involve an emotional contrast (happy / sad), or a difference in traits (strength / weakness), or the results of an effort (success / failure).
Allegory
Allegory attempts to express some truth about the human condition using fictional characters and events in order to convey moral, spiritual, even political messages. As relates to personal storytelling, the narrator tells a fictional story within the true story as a way to make a point.
Satire
Satire uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to comment on societal issues. In personal stories, it can provide a more humorous lens through which to view serious topics and make them more accessible. Satire invites audiences to reflect on their own experiences and norms.
As you create your impactful narrative, think about how you can use a few of these literary techniques to enhance your personal story. Doing so will make your story more engaging to an audience.
these resources will make it more impactful!
The Essential Literary Elements
The Essential Literary Devices
Ten Fundamental Story Blocks