Literary Devices and Analysis

Literary Devices

• Alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together
• Allusion: reference to a person, place, event, or work of art that is outside the text itself
• Amplification: extension or expansion of a detail or idea to emphasize its importance
• Anaphora: repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences
• Hyperbole: exaggeration used for emphasis or effect
• Imagery: language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
• Irony: contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs
• Metaphor: comparison between two unlike things without "like" or "as"
• Personification: attribution of human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities (e.g. objects, animals)
• Simile: comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as"
• Symbolism: use of objects, colors, or other elements to represent abstract ideas or concepts

Novel Analysis

• Character Development: how characters change or grow throughout the novel
• Conflict: problem or challenge that drives the plot forward
• Foreshadowing: hints or clues that suggest events that will occur later in the story
• Imagery: language that creates vivid sensory experiences for the reader
• Motif: recurring theme or idea that is woven throughout the novel
• Plot: sequence of events that make up the story
• Point of View: perspective from which the story is told (e.g. first person, third person limited, omniscient)
• Setting: time and place in which the story takes place
• Theme: underlying message or idea that the novel conveys

Forgetfulness and Memory in Literature

• The Psychology of Forgetfulness: how and why people forget, including psychological and neurological factors
• Memory and Identity: how memories shape our sense of self and identity
• Forgetting as a Theme: how forgetfulness is used as a theme in literature, including its symbolism and metaphorical significance
• The Impact of Forgetting: how forgetting affects characters and their relationships in literature
• Memory and Trauma: how memories of traumatic events can be forgotten or repressed, and the impact on characters and their relationships.