Here you’ll find 25 literary devices that start with M, organized from “Malapropism” to “Multiperspectivity”. These devices range from rhetorical tricks to narrative strategies used in poetry, drama, and prose. You will also find teacher-friendly downloadable printables at the end of the page.
Literary devices that start with M are techniques and forms beginning with “M” that shape meaning, tone, and reader response. For example, “malapropism” traces to a comic character who helped coin the term in the 18th century.
Below you’ll find the table with Device, Definition, and Example.
Device: Name of the literary device, so you can locate and compare terms starting with M.
Definition: Brief, clear definition that explains the device’s function and how it alters meaning or effect in a text.
Example: A short, contextual sentence showing the device in use, so you see practical application quickly.
Literary devices that start with M
| Name | Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malapropism | rhetorical | Mistaken substitution of similar-sounding word. | He’s the pineapple of politeness. |
| Masculine rhyme | sound | Rhyme on a single stressed final syllable. | love / move |
| Maxim | rhetorical | Concise statement expressing a general truth or principle. | Less is more. |
| Merism | rhetorical | Pairing contrasting terms to represent a whole. | Search high and low. |
| Mesodiplosis | rhetorical | Repetition of a word in the middle of successive clauses. | We are tired, we are tested, we endure. |
| Metafiction | narrative | Fiction that self-consciously comments on its fictionality. | Narrator notes the story is made-up. |
| Metalepsis | rhetorical | A chain metaphor transferring meaning through linked images. | He sailed into the jaws of fate. |
| Metaphor | figurative | Direct comparison between unlike things without “like” or “as”. | Time is a thief. |
| Metaphysical conceit | figurative | Extended, surprising metaphor linking distant ideas. | Comparing love’s bond to a compass. |
| Metaphrase | rhetorical | Literal, word-for-word translation or restatement. | Translate line-by-line. |
| Metonymy | figurative | Substitution of a related term for the thing meant. | The pen is mightier than the sword. |
| Meter | sound | Organized pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. | Iambic pentameter line. |
| Meiosis | rhetorical | Understatement presenting something as less significant. | It’s just a scratch, for a deep wound. |
| Mimesis | narrative | Artistic imitation or representation of reality. | Realistic dialogue and scenes. |
| Mixed metaphor | figurative | Blending incompatible metaphors, causing incongruity. | We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it. |
| Monologue | narrative | Extended speech by a single character. | Hamlet’s “To be or not to be…” |
| Monomyth | trope | Universal hero’s journey narrative pattern. | Hero departs, faces trials, returns. |
| Monostich | poetic | A poem composed of a single line. | A one-line epigraph poem. |
| Monorhyme | sound | All lines in a stanza or poem share the same end rhyme. | aaa aaa rhyme scheme. |
| Mood | narrative | Atmosphere or emotional feeling evoked by a text. | Gloomy, tense setting. |
| Mock-heroic | trope | Satirical use of epic style for trivial subject. | Epic language about a kitchen spat. |
| Montage | narrative | Condensed sequence of scenes or images to show change. | Training montage in films. |
| Motif | trope | Recurring element that reinforces themes or mood. | Repeated water imagery. |
| Mot juste | rhetorical | The exact, most appropriate word for a context. | Finding the perfect adjective. |
| Multiperspectivity | narrative | Presenting a story through multiple viewpoints. | Chapters from different characters. |
Descriptions
Malapropism
Comic error where an incorrect word replaces the intended one, revealing diction issues and producing irony or humor; taught in rhetoric and language lessons.
Masculine rhyme
A common rhyme type with final stressed syllables matching; contrasts with feminine rhyme. Important in scansion and rhyme scheme analysis.
Maxim
Short, pithy statement often offering wisdom or moral insight; appears as aphorism or epigraph and used in rhetorical instruction.
Merism
Figure using two extremes or complementary parts to signify entirety; useful for emphasizing scope or totality in texts.
Mesodiplosis
A repetition device placing a repeated word centrally across phrases to build rhythm and emphasis; found in speeches and poetry.
Metafiction
A technique where a text exposes its status as fiction, examining storytelling, authorship, and reader roles; common in postmodern works and creative writing study.
Metalepsis
A rarer trope connecting metaphors or references in sequence to create layered meaning or irony; appears in complex poetic and rhetorical effects.
Metaphor
Core figurative device that implicitly equates two things to highlight qualities; central to imagery, theme, and creative writing instruction.
Metaphysical conceit
Characteristic of metaphysical poetry: elaborate, intellectual analogies that link far-apart concepts for wit and argument.
Metaphrase
A literal rendering or strict rephrasing of text, often contrasted with paraphrase; relevant in translation and comparative readings.
Metonymy
Figure replacing a concept with something closely associated (e.g., “the crown” for monarchy); frequent in political and literary language.
Meter
The rhythmic structure of poetry defined by feet and line length; essential for scansion, poetic forms, and performance.
Meiosis
Rhetorical downgrading used for irony, humor, or restraint; taught with litotes and other understatement forms.
Mimesis
Foundational aesthetic concept: literature as imitation of life; used to discuss realism, fidelity, and representation across genres.
Mixed metaphor
Often accidental and jarring, mixed metaphors reveal sloppy figurative control or can be used deliberately for comic effect.
Monologue
Dramatic device showing character thought, emotion, or persuasion; common in plays, novels, and spoken-word pieces.
Monomyth
Campbell’s model describing a common mythic plot arc; used in comparative mythology, storytelling, and narrative studies.
Monostich
A concise poetic form focusing on compression and resonance; useful in creative-writing workshops and formal experiments.
Monorhyme
A structural choice with a single repeated rhyme throughout, common in various poetic traditions and formal exercises.
Mood
The emotional tone created by diction, imagery, and setting; central to reader response and literary analysis.
Mock-heroic
A parody technique applying grandiose diction or form to low subjects to ridicule or critique; prominent in satire history.
Montage
A technique that compresses time or shows development through juxtaposed images or scenes; used in prose, film, and poetic sequences.
Motif
A repeated image, phrase, or situation that supports theme, unity, and symbolism across a work.
Mot juste
A writerly goal emphasizing precision and tone; central to revision and diction-focused craft lessons.
Multiperspectivity
Technique offering varied perspectives to deepen complexity, reliability, and theme; common in contemporary and experimental narratives.