The Bible is an anthology[1]; it is several books, each of which serves a different function, compiled into one larger work. Each book was written at a different time period, and meant to convey a different message. The tone and context varies from book to book, author to author. It's important to remember this when reading the Bible. Even more important is the fact that inside each books is a ton of literary devices (e.g., allegories, allusions, archetypes, imagery, metaphors, symbolism, etc.). Recognizing these literary devices can help you understand the Bible on a much deeper level. That is the purpose of this study! Check out a list of literary devices in the image below—throughout the series we are going to touch on a few of these.