This list includes 30 literary devices that start with E, from “Ecphonesis” to “Extended metaphor”. These devices range from dramatic exclamations to broad figurative comparisons, useful in analysis, teaching, and writing.
Literary devices that start with E are stylistic techniques or figures of speech beginning with the letter E. Many appear in classic and contemporary works; for example, “ecphonesis” shows strong emotional exclamation in Greek drama.
Below you’ll find the table with Device, Definition, and Example.
Device: The name of the literary device; you can scan this to find the term you want to study or teach.
Definition: Concise explanation of the device in plain language, so you can quickly grasp its meaning and use.
Example: A short contextual sentence showing the device in use, helping you recognize and apply it in writing.
Literary devices that start with E
| Device | Also known as | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecphonesis | exclamation | rhetorical figure | O, the horror! |
| Ellipsis | omission; suspension | syntactic device | She said… then left. |
| Elision | contraction; omission | poetic/sound device | o’er the frozen lake |
| Emphasis | stress; accentuation | stylistic device | I did say I loved you. |
| Enallage | grammatical substitution | figure of speech | You is my friend. |
| Encomium | eulogy; panegyric | rhetorical form | A speech praising the fallen hero. |
| End-stopped line | end-stopping | poetic device | And miles to go before I sleep. |
| Enjambment | run-on line | poetic device | The sun rose and spilled gold across fields. |
| Enthymeme | truncated syllogism | rhetorical argument | He trusted her; she never lies. |
| Enumeration | listing | rhetorical device | We need bread, milk, eggs, and butter. |
| Epanadiplosis | repetition end-to-beginning | rhetorical repetition | When I give, I give myself. |
| Epanalepsis | beginning-end repetition | figure of speech | The king is dead, long live the king. |
| Epanorthosis | immediate correction | rhetorical device | He is the best—no, the only player. |
| Epic simile | Homeric simile | figurative device | Like a ship, it plunged through waves. |
| Epigram | witticism; aphorism | short poem/figure | I can resist everything but temptation. |
| Epigraph | motto; quotation | paratextual device | A quotation at the book’s start. |
| Epilogue | afterword | structural device | Years later, she returned to the village. |
| Epiphany | revelation; insight | narrative device | Suddenly, he understood her warning. |
| Epitaph | tomb inscription | poetic form | Here lies the brave and true. |
| Epithet | descriptive tag | descriptive device | Swift-footed Achilles. |
| Epistolary | letter form | narrative form | A novel told through letters. |
| Epistrophe | epiphora; repetition end | rhetorical repetition | See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. |
| Epizeuxis | palilogia; immediate repetition | rhetorical repetition | Alone, alone, all, all alone. |
| Equivocation | ambiguity; double meaning | rhetorical device | He said he’d ‘be there’—time unspecified. |
| Erasure | blackout poetry | experimental technique | A poem from blacked-out newspaper lines. |
| Euphemism | polite term | rhetorical device | He passed away for “died.” |
| Euphony | pleasant sound | sound device | silver bells, mellow wedding bells |
| Expletive | filler word | rhetorical device | It is, indeed, a fine day. |
| Exposition | background information | narrative device | The narrator explains the kingdom’s history. |
| Extended metaphor | conceit; sustained metaphor | figurative device | Life is a journey, maps and crossroads. |
Descriptions
Ecphonesis
A sudden, emotional exclamation used to convey strong feeling or surprise, common in speeches and drama.
Ellipsis
Omission of words or a trailing off, often shown with three dots, creating pause, suspense, or implication.
Elision
Omission of sounds or syllables in speech or verse to preserve meter or smooth pronunciation.
Emphasis
Techniques (word order, punctuation, repetition) that give prominence to words or ideas for effect.
Enallage
Intentional change of usual grammar or word form to create voice, character, or rhetorical effect.
Encomium
A formal expression of praise or tribute, often in speeches or ceremonial writing.
End-stopped line
A poetic line that ends with a natural pause or punctuation, giving a complete thought at the line’s close.
Enjambment
Continuation of a sentence beyond a line break, creating momentum, surprise, or enjambed rhythm.
Enthymeme
A syllogistic argument with an unstated premise, used in persuasive speech to involve the audience’s inference.
Enumeration
Listing details or parts to build emphasis, show scope, or create cumulative effect.
Epanadiplosis
Repeating a word or phrase at the end of one clause and the start of the next for emphasis or continuity.
Epanalepsis
Repeating the opening word or phrase at the end of the same clause to create emphasis or closure.
Epanorthosis
A quick self-correction that revises a statement for emphasis, intensity, or tonal shift.
Epic simile
An extended, elaborate simile (often in epic poetry) that amplifies and intensifies a comparison over several lines.
Epigram
A brief, witty saying or short poem that ends with a pointed or paradoxical twist.
Epigraph
A short quotation or phrase placed at the beginning of a work to suggest theme, tone, or context.
Epilogue
A closing section after the main narrative that offers resolution, reflection, or future glimpse.
Epiphany
A sudden, transformative moment of realization for a character, altering understanding or direction.
Epitaph
A brief inscription or short poem honoring the dead, often carved on gravestones or used as a memorial.
Epithet
An adjective or phrase attached to a name that highlights a characteristic, often conventional in epic or poetic diction.
Epistolary
A narrative told through letters, diary entries, or documents to create intimacy, multiple viewpoints, or authenticity.
Epistrophe
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses to create emphasis and rhythm.
Epizeuxis
Rapid, immediate repetition of a word for dramatic emphasis, intensity, or emotional effect.
Equivocation
Deliberate use of ambiguous language that allows multiple interpretations or avoids direct commitment.
Erasure
Creating new text by deleting or obscuring words from an existing text, forming poems or commentary from the remainder.
Euphemism
A mild or indirect expression substituted for a harsher or more direct term to soften impact or be tactful.
Euphony
Use of pleasing, harmonious sounds and rhythms through word choice and arrangement to create a soothing effect.
Expletive
A word or short phrase inserted for emphasis or to fill syntax, often without substantial semantic content.
Exposition
Presentation of necessary background—setting, characters, context—to help readers understand the story’s circumstances.
Extended metaphor
A sustained comparison developed across sentences or a whole text, deepening an idea by exploring its elements throughout.