Literary Devices Essays & Research Papers

Use of Irony and Imagery in O. Henry’s Story ‘The Ransom of Red Chief’

Literary Devices Short Story

The definition of the word ‘ransom’ is the sum paid to the kidnappers for the safe return of a kidnapped person. Yet, in O. Henry’s story ‘The Ransom of Red Chief’, the opposite happens. The kidnappers are compelled to pay a fee to the abductee’s father to take the kidnapped boy off their hands. In the story, Sam and Bill hatch a plan to kidnap Johnny and extract a two thousand dollars ransom from his affluent father Ebenezer Dorset; unfortunately,...

2 Pages 897 Words

Juxtaposition in Lorraine Hansberry's ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and Oscar Wilde's ‘A Woman of No Importance’

This paper is going to be about the aspects of juxtaposition in two stories named ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and ‘A Woman of No Importance’ which have several issues that are both similar and different. The aspect of juxtaposition will show the parallelism in the actions or events in both the plays through the dialogues and the behaviors that the characters show at different circumstances in the story and how these dialogues bring out the symbolism of good and...

4 Pages 1770 Words

Postmodern Literary Techniques Used in the Novel ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ by Jonathan Safran Foer

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Literary Devices

In order to often better connect with stories, the use of literary techniques is extremely important, as it allows the reader to personally engage with the text. Such a technique is used by the author of the novel ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’, Jonathan Safran Foer, a story about a 9-year-old New Yorker, Oskar Schell, who is seeking closure of his father’s death in the September 11 attacks. Mainly, the author capitalizes on the practice of imagery, the use of...

3 Pages 1542 Words

Allusions Research: Dover Beach, The Tyger, Tower of Babel and Others

Literary Devices The Tyger

Allusions Research Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels/Literature: Jonathan Swift, a satirical author, was born in Dublin, Ireland on the 30th of November in 1667. He advanced to Trinity College, obtaining a bachelor of arts degree, and achieved a master of arts degree at Oxford University. During his life, Swift wrote multiple literary works, including Gulliver’s Travels, his most famous novel. The plot follows Lemuel Gulliver, a sailor who shipwrecks and winds up in a mysterious place called Lilliput, which is inhabited...

5 Pages 2080 Words

Literary Devices in William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

Literary Devices Macbeth

‘Macbeth’, first performed in 1606, is an Elizabethan tragedy written by William Shakespeare. He details the anarchy that greed brings rise to, having Macbeth being driven by both himself and extrinsic figures to murder Scotland’s king, ultimately leading to his own anguished death. Shakespeare utilizes a myriad of literary devices to communicate the ideas of fate, natural and unnatural, and guilt and conscience, though how these ideas are construed relies significantly on the societal context of the audience – particularly...

2 Pages 845 Words

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Roald Dahl's Story ‘The Landlady’

Literary Devices Short Story

‘The Landlady’ is a very weird and unusual story. This short horror story is by author named Roald Dahl. The story is about a lady who owns a house that does bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere. Billy Weaver aka Mr. Weaver is a businessman that is looking for a place to stay for the night, he first looked at the ‘First Bell Dragon’. The bed and breakfast pulled him in like some magnetic force field dragging him...

1 Page 560 Words

Dramatic and Literary Techniques Used by Thornton Wilder in the Play ‘Our Town’

Literary Devices

The author Thornton Wilder uses dialogue in the play ‘Our Town’. There is a lot left to the imagination as the sets are simple and throughout the acts, the narrative provided by the Stage Manager sets the scene in what is known as the dream play technique. The stage set is very basic with only a few props, table and chairs, the audience is left to conjure up the scenery from their imagination. Wilder does this on purpose to lead...

2 Pages 762 Words

Analysis of the Ways in Which Literary Devices Create Shades of Meaning Using the Example of Tim Winton's Story 'Cloudstreet'

Literary Devices

Shades of meaning can refer to the subtleties and degrees of meaning that can be developed in a text. Australian novelist Tim Winton’s story, ‘Cloudstreet’, does not simply explore love, family, spirituality or human value, it addresses deeper concepts with graduations of meaning that develop over the course of the text, and are unique to each reader. Winton utilizes an array of literary strategies to manipulate the readers to grow alongside his characters, the story, and the ideas imbued in...

3 Pages 1307 Words

Literary Devices Used by Suetonius for the Portrayal of Caligula's Character

Character Literary Devices

Suetonius uses a variety of literary techniques in order to portray Caligula’s character in a negative light, which primarily revolve around the establishment of superficial praise for Caligula, in order to more strikingly condemn him later. In order to demonstrate this, we must observe the way in which Suetonius structures the Life of Caligula to maximize this effect, before noting the stylistic techniques which emphasize this structural criticism, and the use of specific language to maximize the contrast. In this...

5 Pages 2159 Words

Symbolism in Octavia Butler's Novel ‘Kindred’ and Langston Hughes' Poem ‘Harlem’

Kindred Langston Hughes Literary Devices

In the novel, ‘Kindred’ by Octavia Butler, and the poem ‘Harlem’ by Langston Hughes, they both use symbolism to communicate how racism destroys the dreams and ambitions of those affected by its grasp. The poem ‘Harlem’ by Langston Hughes uses symbolism to communicate how racism destroys the dreams and ambitions of those affected by its grasp. Hughes opens the poem by saying, “What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” (Harlem, 1-3)....

3 Pages 1177 Words

Jean-Paul Sartre's Portrayal of Ideas of Ontology and Consciousness in 'No Exit' through Irony and Characterization

Consciousness Irony Literary Devices

In the play ‘No Exit’, Jean-Paul Sartre implements the ideas of the philosophy of ontology and consciousness. In exploration of these philosophical ideas, like ontology, which is the ‘study of what exists’, the author works to emphasize the importance of self-awareness. Ontology, itself, categorizes the nature of existence into three states of being. These states of being include: being-in-itself, being-for-itself, and being-for-others, which all hold connection to the characters. Likewise, consciousness, also explores the idea of being self-aware, and emphasizes...

3 Pages 1357 Words

Literary Techniques Used in 'The Swimmer' to Create a Setting of American Suburbia

Literary Devices The Swimmer

The recent rise of suburbia in mainstream media has promoted the suburban lifestyle to be the most desirable and ideal way of life. However, when understood in depth, suburbia often hides a deceptive façade as a means to achieve a sense of social superiority. The short story, ‘The Swimmer’ (Cheever, 1964), explores the social and psychological repercussions of the constant display of a superficial persona in American suburbia. The story concentrates on the middle-aged man Neddy Merrill’s journey through the...

3 Pages 1202 Words

The Chrysalids of Whydham: Prejudice, Superstition and Discrimination Shown by Different Literary Devices

Literary Devices Prejudice The Chrysalids

The author uses the influence of storytelling to communicate religious persecution as a key concern to their audience. Wyndham uses religious persecution as the main issue to show how it caused individuals to live in fear and its cruel punishments. John Wyndham wrote the Chrysalids during the 1950s. He displayed speculative fiction to the audience by analyzing world trends and problems to contemplate future problems. John Wyndham served for his country during the war showing patriotism and loyalty for his...

2 Pages 892 Words

Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Novel ‘The Scarlet Letter’

Literary Devices Symbolism The Scarlet Letter

Symbolism is a concept people are exposed to everyday, whether they notice it or not. It is a device that is used in many different forms, from state flags to works of art to the lyrics of one’s favorite song. Many find symbolism to give such things a higher significance or importance, allowing them to become much more than their surface meanings. The symbolism in literature is no different. In literature, symbolism has been used to thoroughly amplify the meaning...

3 Pages 1579 Words

Literary Devices Used in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Novel ‘The Great Gatsby'

Literary Devices The Great Gatsby

‘The Great Gatsby’, a ‘great’ American novel written by none other than F. Scott Fitzgerald. This classic novel takes a close look at the American Dream as it existed in Fitzgerald’s time. The book was set out in America in the 1920s which was also known as the Jazz Age. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America if they just work hard enough. However, Fitzgerald’s novel represents...

1 Page 566 Words

Use of Literary Devices to Reveal the Theme in Henry W. Longfellow’s 'Nature'

Literary Devices Poetry

Well-written poetry has the ability to stir up deep emotions, plumb the depths of the human conscience, and even cause for reflection on existence itself. The usage of many literary devices contributes to the greatness of a poem and determine the impact it has, as can be seen in ‘Nature’ by Henry W. Longfellow. Longfellow implies a fleetingness to life and a lack of understanding in the human race; that nature herself is the all-knowing mother gently guiding humans through...

1 Page 654 Words