ParallelismLiterary Devices

Parallelism Definition

Parallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter.

Parallelism examples are found in literary works as well as ordinary conversations.

Common Examples

This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs. For example, “Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and into our hearts.” We see that repetition of a phrase that not only gives the sentence a balance but rhythm and flow as well. This repetition can also occur in similar structured clauses e.g. “Whenever you need me, wherever you need me, I will be there for you.”

Like father, like son.

The escaped prisoner was wanted dead or alive.

Easy come, easy go.

Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was always busy.

Flying is fast, comfortable, and safe.

Parallelism in Literature

Antithesis is a kind of parallelism in which two opposite ideas are put together in parallel structures.

Alexander Pope in his “An Essay on Criticism” uses antithetic parallel structure.

“To err is human; to forgive is divine.”

John Donne’s Poem “Community”

“Good we must love, and must hate ill,

For ill is ill, and good good still;

But there are things indifferent,

Which we may neither hate, nor love,

But one, and then another prove,

As we shall find our fancy bent.”

Parallelism in Literature

Repetition of parallel structures in the following lines from “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens:

By repeating “It was…” in the passage, the readers are prompted to focus on the traits of the “age” they will read about in the succeeding passages.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”

Function of Parallelism

The use of parallel structures in speech or writing allows speakers and writers to maintain a consistency within their work and create a balanced flow of ideas. Moreover, it can be employed as a tool for persuasion as well because of the repetition it uses.

Remember it has similar construction, sound, meaning or meter.

AllegoryLiterary Devices

Allegory Definition

Allegory is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events. It can be employed in prose and poetry to tell a story with a purpose of teaching an idea and a principle or explaining an idea or a principle. The objective of its use is to preach some kind of a moral lesson.

Common Examples

Allegory is an archaic term and used specifically in literary works. It is difficult to spot its occurrence in everyday life, although recently, we do find example of allegory in political debates. The declaration of an ex-US president G.W Bush was allegorical when he used the term “Axis of Evil” for three countries and later the term “allies” for those countries that would wage war against the “Axis”.

Allegory in Literature

“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is an allegory that uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WW II. The actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the revolution. It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society. One of the cardinal rules on the farm for the animals is:

The animals on the farm represent different sections of Russian society after the revolution. For instance, the pigs represent those who came to power following the revolution; “Mr. Jones” the owner of the farm represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; while “Boxer” the horse, represents the laborer class etc. The use of allegory in the novel allows Orwell to make his position clear about the Russian Revolution and expose its evils.

Animal Farm Example

THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.

2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.

3. No animal shall wear clothes.

4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.

5. No animal shall drink alcohol.

6. No animal shall kill any other animal.

7. All animals are equal.

Allegory of the idealism of communism and forced equality

"Muriel," she said, "read me the Fourth Commandment. Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed?" […]

With some difficulty Muriel spelt it out... "It says, 'No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets,"' she announced finally. (6.10-6.13)

This is a representation of how the Stalinism controlled the civilians of Russia

Function of Allegory

Writers use allegory to add different layers of meanings to their works. Allegory makes their stories and characters multidimensional, so that they stand for something larger in meaning than what they literally stand for. Allegory allows writers to put forward their moral and political point of views. A careful study of an allegorical piece of writing can give us an insight into its writer’s mind as how he views the world and how he wishes the world to be.

ThemeLiterary Devices

Theme Definition

Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a work that may be stated directly or indirectly.

Major and minor themes are two types of themes that appear in literary works. A major theme is an idea that a writer repeats in his work, making it the most significant idea in a literary work. A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an idea that appears in a work briefly and gives way to another minor theme.

To Present a Theme

A writer presents themes in a literary work through several ways. A writer may express a theme through the feelings of his main character about the subject he has chosen to write about. Similarly, themes are presented through thoughts and conversations of different characters. Moreover, the experiences of the main character in the course of a literary work give us an idea about its theme. Finally, the actions and events taking place in a narrative are consequential in determining its theme.

Theme in Literature

Love and friendship are frequently occurring themes in literature. They generate emotional twists and turns in a narrative and can lead to a variety of endings: happy, sad or bittersweet. The following are famous literary works with love and friendship themes:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Theme in Literature

The theme of war has been explored in literature since ancient times. The literary woks utilizing this theme may either glorify or criticize the idea of war. Most recent literary works portray war as a curse for humanity due to the suffering it inflicts. Some famous examples are:

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Theme in Literature

Crime and mystery are utilized in detective novels. Such narratives also include sub-themes such as “crimes cannot be hidden”, “evil is always punished” etc. Some well-known crime and mystery theme examples are:

Set in Stone by Linda Newberry

Da Vinci Code Code by Dan Brown

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Theme in Literature

Revenge is another recurrent theme found in many popular literary works. A character comes across certain circumstances that make him aware of his need for revenge. The outcome of his action is often bitter but sometimes they may end up being satisfied. Examples are:

Hamlet and Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

The girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Steig Larsson

The Seer of Shadows by Avi

Function of Theme

Theme is an element of a story that binds together various other essential elements of a narrative. It is a truth that exhibits universality and stands true for people of all cultures. Theme gives readers better understanding of the main character’s conflicts, experiences, discoveries and emotions as they are derived from them. Through themes, a writer tries to give his readers an insight into how the world works or how he or she views human life.

Symbolism Literary Devices

Symbolism Definition

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a symbol of friendship. Similarly, the action of someone smiling at you may stand as a symbol of the feeling of affection which that person has for you.

Common Examples

In our daily life, we can easily identify objects, which can be taken as examples of symbol such as the following: The dove is a symbol of

peace A red rose or red color

stand for love or romance Black is a symbol that

represents evil or death A broken mirror may

symbolize separation

Symbolism in Literature

To develop symbolism in his work, a writer utilizes other figures of speech, like metaphors, similes, allegory, as tools. Some symbolism examples in literature are listed below with brief analysis

Shakespeare’s famous monologue from “As You Like It”

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

they have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,”

The above lines are symbolic of the fact that men and women, in course of their life perform different roles. “A stage” here symbolizes the world and “players” is a symbol for human beings.

Symbolism in Literature

William Blake goes symbolic in his poem Ah Sunflower.

“Ah Sunflower, weary of time,

Who countest the steps of the sun;

Seeking after that sweet golden clime

Where the traveler’s journey is done;”

Blake uses a sunflower as a symbol for human beings and “the sun” symbolizes life. Therefore, these lines symbolically refer to their life cycle and their yearning for a never-ending life.

Symbolism in Literature Emily Bronte’s Wuthering

Heights presents almost every character, house, surroundings and events in a symbolic perspective. The word “Wuthering”, which means stormy, represents the wild nature of its inhabitants. The following lines allow us to look into the symbolic nature of two characters:

“My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it; I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath a source of little visible delight, but necessary.”

The phrase “foliage of leaves” for Linton is a symbol for his fertile and civilized nature. On the contrary, Heathcliff is likened to an “eternal rock” which symbolizes his crude and unbendable nature.

Function of Symbolism

Symbolism gives a writer freedom to add double levels of meanings to his work: a literal one that is self-evident and the symbolic one whose meaning is far more profound than the literal one. The symbolism, therefore, gives universality to the characters and the themes of a piece of literature. Symbolism in literature evokes interest in readers as they find an opportunity to get an insight of the writer’s mind on how he views the world and how he thinks of common objects and actions, having broader implications.

RepetitionLiterary Devices

Repetition Definition

Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer. There are several types of repetitions commonly used in both prose and poetry. As a rhetorical device, it could be a word, a phrase or a full sentence or a poetical line repeated to emphasize its significance in the entire text. Repetition is not distinguished solely as a figure of speech but more as a rhetorical device.

Types of Repetition The following examples of repetition are classified according to the different types of repetition used in literature and in daily conversations

Anadiplosis: Repetition of the last word in a line or clause.

Anaphora:Repetition of words at the start of clauses or verses.

Antistasis: Repetition of word s or phrases in opposite sense.

Diacope: Repetition of words broken by some other words.

Epanalepsis: Repetition of same words at the end and start of a sentence.

Epimone: Repetition of a phrase (usually a question) to stress a point.

Epiphora: Repetition of the same word at the end of each clause.

Gradatio: A construction in poetry where the last word of one clause becomes the first of the next and so on.

Negative-Positive Restatement: Repetition of an idea first in negative terms and then in positive terms.

Polyptoton: Repetition of words of the same root with different endings

Symploce: It is a combination of anaphora and epiphora in which repetition is both at the end and at the beginning.

Repetition in Literature

I’m nobody! Who are you?Are you nobody too?Then there’s a pair of us-don’t tell!They’d banish us you know.

These lines have been taken from “I’m nobody! Who are You?” by Emily Dickinson

Observe how she has used “nobody” to emphasize her point in her poem to create an association with the person she is talking about.

Repetition in Literature

Because I do not hope to turn again

Because I do not hope

Because I do not hope to turn…

These three lines have been taken from “Ash-Wednesday” authored by T. S. Eliot, a famous modern poet of the 20th century.

The repetition of a full phrase shows us mastery the poet has acquired in using words and phrases to make his point clear and emphasize that he has no hope of coming back.

Repetition in Literature

I looked upon the rotting sea,

And drew my eyes away;

I looked upon the rotting deck,

And there the dead men lay.

These lines have been taken from the famous poem “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by S.T. Coleridge. The poem tells a story where a seafarer tells about his adventures in the sea.

Repetition in Literature

“My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,

And every tongue brings in a several tale,

And every tale condemns me for a villain.”

These lines have been taken from “Richard III” by William Shakespeare. These lines show the repetition of a phrase that occurs at the end of the first and then start of the second line. It is called anadiplosis.

Repetition in Literature

“A horse is a horse, of course, of course,

And no one can talk to a horse of course

That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.”

These lines are among the repetition examples from the theme song of Mr. Ed, a 1960s TV program. This is an example of a diacope type of rhetorical repetition. There is repetition but it is broken up with several other words.

Function of Repetition The Beauty of using figurative language is that the pattern it arranges

the words into is nothing like our ordinary speech. It is not only stylistically appealing but it also helps convey the message in much more engaging and notable way. The aura that is created by the usage of repetition cannot be achieved through any other device. It has the ability of making a simple sentence sound like a dramatic one. It enhances the beauty of a sentence and stresses on the point of main significance. Repetition often uses word associations to express the ideas and emotions in an indirect manner. The beauty of reading a piece with repetition in it is the balance where we, as readers, have to decipher such associations and understand the underlying meanings.

Repetition as a literary term can be used both constructively and destructively. The constructive usage encompasses functions such as, putting emphasis on a point, confirming a fact or an idea, cohesion, mimesis, transition, showing impartiality and or describing a notion. The same literary device when used destructively can disintegrate the entire piece of writing Erasure, redundancy, continuous present, fragmentation, copying and habitual misuse of the literary device are among the destructive effects.

ThesisLiterary Devices

Thesis Definition

A thesis is a statement in a non-fiction or a fiction work that a writer intends to support and prove.

One can find examples of thesis statement at the beginning of literary pieces. These thesis statements are of utmost importance, as they serve as clear indicators as to which directions writers will follow in their work.

A thesis statement is carefully chosen by a writer and is marked by vigilant selection of words that will never miss its target. Generally, such a statement shows up in the first paragraph or what is called an introduction. Despite writers’ efforts to prove their thesis statements, not all of these statements can be verified for their exactness. Nevertheless, they do develop an argument.

Importance of a Thesis Statement

In writing an essay, a thesis statement determines the worth of an essay by its capacity to stay focused on its thesis statement. For an instance, if a writer fails to clearly mention or define a solid thesis statement in his or her essay, it will be almost impossible for him or her to pay attention to the issue he or she plans to discuss and explain. Suppose a writer wants to write an essay on how to make a perfect fruit salad, the quality of his or her writing will exceedingly improve if he or she lets the readers have knowledge of the subject matter at the start of the essay:

“In this essay, I will tell you how to make the perfect fruit salad in the world that is not only tasteful for your taste buds but also healthful for your body.”

Narrative Thesis Example

In a narrative essay or narrative section of a piece of literature, a thesis statement is called a narrative thesis. A narrative thesis can be an apparent one or a hidden or implied one. In both cases, such a statement is a powerful propelling force behind an entire work that guides it toward its ultimate purpose and the lesson it intends to instruct.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. – Jane Austen

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. – Vladimir Nabokov

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. – Leo Tolstoy

Narrative Thesis Example

Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. – Gabriel García Márquez

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. – George Orwell

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. – J. D. Salinger

Function of Thesis

The examples clearly reveal the function of a thesis statements or a narrative thesis as a driving force behind a literary composition. It guides the narrative toward its ultimate purpose, which is the moral lesson it aims to inculcate.

Essay Literary Device

Definition of Essay

Essay is derived from a French word essayer, which means to attempt, or to try. An essay is a short form of literary composition based on a single subject matter, and often gives personal opinion of an author. A famous English essayist Aldous Huxley defines essays as, “a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything.” Oxford Dictionary describes it as “a short piece of writing on a particular subject.” In simple words, we can define it as a scholarly work in writing that provides the author’s personal argument.

Types of EssayThere are two forms of essays; literary and non-literary. Literary essays are of four types:

Expository Essay – In an expository essay, the writers give explanation of an idea, theme or issue to the audience by giving their personal opinions. This essay is presented through examples, definitions, comparison, and contrast

Narrative Essay – Narrative essay is non-fiction, but describes a story with sensory descriptions. The writers not only tell story, but also make a point by giving reasons.

Descriptive Essay – As it sounds like, it gives description about a particular topic or describes the traits and characteristics of something or a person in details. It allows artistic freedom and creates images in the minds of readers through the use of five senses.

Persuasive Essay – In this type of essay, a writer tries to convince his readers to adopt his position on a point of view or issue after he provides them solid reasoning in this connection. It requires a lot of research to claim and defend an idea

Essay (Of Love by Francis Bacon “It is impossible to love, and be wise … Love is a

child of folly. … Love is ever rewarded either with the reciprocal, or with an inward and secret contempt. You may observe that amongst all the great and worthy persons…there is not one that hath been transported to the mad degree of love: which shows that great spirits and great business do keep out this weak passion…That he had preferred Helena, quitted the gifts of Juno and Pallas. For whosoever esteemeth too much of amorous affection quitted both riches and wisdom.”

In this excerpt, Bacon attempts to persuade the readers that people, who want to be successful in this world, they must never fall in love.

Essay (The Autobiography of Kettle by John Russell)

“I am afraid I do not attract attention, and yet there is not a single home in which I could done without. I am only a small, black kettle but I have much to interest me, for something new happens to me every day. The kitchen is not always a cheerful place in which to live, but still I find plenty of excitement there, and I am quite happy and contented with my lot…”

In the following example, the author is telling an autobiography of a kettle and describes the whole story in chronological order.

Function of Essay

The function of an essay depends upon the subject matter, whether the writer wants to inform, persuade, explain or entertain. In fact, the essay increases the analytical and intellectual abilities of the writers as well as readers. It evaluates and tests the writing skills of a writer and organizes his/her thinking to respond personally or critically to an issue. Through an essay, the writers present their arguments in a more sophisticated manner. In addition, it encourages the students to develop concepts and skills such as analysis, comparison and contrast, clarity, exposition, conciseness, and persuasion.

ConflictLiterary Device

Conflict Definition

In literature, a conflict is a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist.

Types of Conflict

Internal

An internal or psychological conflict arises as soon as a character experiences two opposite emotions or desires; usually virtue or vice, or good and evil inside him. This disagreement causes a character to suffer mental agony. Internal conflict develops a unique tension in a storyline marked by a lack of action.

External

External conflict, on the other hand, is marked by a characteristic involvement of an action wherein a character finds himself in struggle with those outside forces that hamper his progress. The most common type of an external conflict is where a protagonist fights back against the antagonist’s tactics that impede his or her advancement.

Conflict in Literature

Hamlet’s internal conflict “Hamlet”. This internal conflict decides his tragic downfall. He reveals his state of mind in the following lines from Act 3, Scene 1 of the play:

“To be, or not to be–that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep…”

The conflict here is that he wants to kill his father’s murderer “Claudius” but he also looks for a proof to justify his action ultimately ruining his life and the lives of his loved ones. Due to his internal conflict, he spoils his relation with his mother and sends “Ophelia” into such a state of despair that she commits a suicide. Hamlet’s internal conflict or which is regarded as indecisiveness almost got everyone killed at the end of the play. The resolution to the conflict came when he killed “Claudius” by assuming fake madness for the reason that he would not be asked for any justification. In the same play, we find Hamlet engaged in an external conflict with his uncle “Claudius”.

Function of Conflict

Both internal and external conflicts are essential elements of a storyline. It is essential for a writer to introduce and develop conflict, internal or external or both, in his storyline in order to achieve a story goal i.e. the resolution of a conflict in order to entertain his readers.