Literary Devices PDF

Literary Devices Monday, September 08, 2014 10:42 AM LITERARY DEVICES Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature, in the sense of its universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Literary devi...

Literary Devices Monday, September 08, 2014 10:42 AM LITERARY DEVICES Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature, in the sense of its universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Literary devices collectively comprise the art form’s components; the means by which authors create meaning through language, and by which readers gain understanding of and appreciation for their works. They also provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, both within and across genres. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices. Allegory: Where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical event. Anthropomorphism: Where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being given arms, legs, facial features, human locomotion or other anthropoid form. (This technique is often incorrectly called personification.) Dramatic irony: Where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware. Macbeth responds with disbelief when the weird sisters call him Thane of Cawdor; ironically, unbeknownst to him, he had been granted that title by king Duncan in the previous scene. Figurative language: Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. There are many techniques which can rightly be called figurative language, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, verbal irony, and oxymoron. (Related: figure of speech) The poet makes extensive use of figurative language, presenting the speaker’s feelings as colors, sounds and flavors. Idiom: An expression that cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements, as in "kick the bucket" or "under the weather." Puns: A word or words, which are formed or sounded alike, but have different meaning; to have more than one possible meaning. (Using that pencil is pointless.) Foreshadowing: Where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story Unit Three Page 1 However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing. Willy’s concern for his car foreshadows his eventual means of suicide. Hyperbole: A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; “hype.” The author uses hyperbole to describe Mr. Smith, calling him “the greatest human being ever to walk the earth.” Imagery: Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery. Also refers to specific and recurring types of images, such as food imagery and nature imagery. (Not all descriptions can rightly be called imagery; the key is the appeal to and stimulation of specific senses, usually visual. It is often advisable to specify the type of imagery being used, and consider the significance of the images themselves, to distinguish imagery from mere description.) The author’s use of visual imagery is impressive; the reader is able to see the island in all its lush, colorful splendor by reading Golding’s detailed descriptions. Irony (a.k.a. Situational irony): Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow in absurd or mocking opposition to what would be expected or appropriate. Mere coincidence is generally not ironic; neither is mere surprise, nor are any random or arbitrary occurrences. See also Dramatic irony; Verbal irony. Metaphor: A comparison of two unlike things that suggests a similarity between the two items (Love is a rose). Onomatopoeia: Where sounds are spelled out as words; or, when words describing sounds actually sound like the sounds they describe. Remarque uses onomatopoeia to suggest the dying soldier’s agony, his last gasp described as a “gurgling rattle.” Oxymoron: A contradiction in terms. Romeo describes love using several oxymorons, such as “cold fire,” “feather of lead” and “sick health,” to suggest its contradictory nature. Paradox: Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out. In 1984, “doublethink” refers to the paradox where history is changed, and then claimed to have never been changed. A Tale of Two Cities opens with the famous paradox, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Parallelism: Use of similar or identical language, structures, events or ideas in different parts of a text. Hobbs’ final strikeout parallels the Whammer’s striking out against him at the Unit Three Page 2 Hobbs’ final strikeout parallels the Whammer’s striking out against him at the beginning of the novel. Personification (I) Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions, perceptions and emotions are directly attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. (Not to be confused with anthropomorphism.) Malamud personifies Hobbs’ bat, giving it a name, Wonderboy, and referring to it using personal pronouns; for example, “he went hungry” during Hobbs’ batting slump. Personification (II) Where an abstract concept, such as a particular human behavior or a force of nature, is represented as a person. The Greeks personified natural forces as gods; for example, the god Poseidon was the personification of the sea and its power over man. Repetition: Where a specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times, usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea. The repetition of the words “What if…” at the beginning of each line reinforces the speaker’s confusion and fear. Simile: An indirect relationship where one thing or idea is described as being similar to another. Similes contain the words “like” or “as." Although similes and metaphors are generally seen as interchangeable, similes acknowledge the imperfections and limitations of the comparative relationship to a greater extent than metaphor. “The moon appeared crimson, like a drop of blood hanging in the sky.” “She hunched and struggled her way down the path, the way an old beggar woman might wander about.” Synecdoche: A form of a metaphor when people take part of a thing and use it to stand for the whole thing (Using wheels to refer to cars). Verbal Irony: Where the meaning of a specific expression is, or is intended to be, the exact opposite of what the words literally mean. (Sarcasm is a tone of voice that often accompanies verbal irony, but they are not the same thing.) Orwell gives this torture and brainwashing facility the ironic title, “Ministry of Love.” Auditory Devices Used in Poetry: Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of several words in a phrase (Robbie saw rabbits resting by roses). Rhyme: The repetition of vowel sounds and consonant sounds at the end of words (brown, town, clown, crown, renown). Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds with different vowel’s preceding it (bake, duck, soak, pick, epic). – sometimes at the end of the word, but occurring with NON-vowel sounds. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds with different consonantal sounds following (meek, beam, Unit Three Page 3 Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds with different consonantal sounds following (meek, beam, peace, pier, reap; choke, goal, show- sometimes in the middle of the word, occurring in vowel sounds. Enjambment: when a sentence spills over more than one line. It allows you to break a lot of the rules of end rhyme and still use it, by accommodating phrasing past where the rhyme has to go. Or you can just use it to write more naturally, like naturally powerful speech that isn't bent into an artificial, restrictive form: From childhood’s hour I have not been a As others were; I have not seen a As others saw; I could not bring b My passions from a common spring. b Rhythm: The words carry a kind of beat or pulse. Unit Three Page 4