LEXICAL STYLISTIC DEVICES IN ENGLISH: THEORY, ANALYSIS, AND LITERARY EXAMPLES

Abstract

This paper explores the nature, functions, and linguistic significance of lexical stylistic devices in the English language. Drawing from stylistics, semantics, and literary analysis, the study examines how writers use lexical devices such as metaphor, metonymy, simile, epithets, hyperbole, irony, allusion, and oxymoron to create expressive meaning and manipulate readers’ perception. The article also investigates how lexical stylistic devices contribute to imagery, characterization, emotional tone, and ideological interpretation in literary texts. Examples from British and American literature are provided to illustrate the semantic and stylistic mechanisms behind each device. The research concludes that lexical stylistic devices are not mere ornaments but fundamental linguistic tools that shape meaning, enhance aesthetic impact, and reveal the cultural worldview embedded in language.