LITERARY DEVICES

SHORT STORY ELEMENTS: LITERARY DEVICES

F:\Nick handouts fo co!ctin"\#$fi%!s fo &DF\RS'()* E%!+!nts fo Ana%,-in" Fiction(doc .(Ro/inson01**2
Authos us! 3aious %it!a, d!3ic!s to d!3!%o4 id!as in th!i 5ok( This handout !64%ains so+! of
th! +ost co++on%, us!d %it!a, !%!+!nts and su""!sts stat!"i!s fo usin" th!+ to ana%,s! shot
stoi!s(
Th! d!3ic!s !64%o!d in this handout a!: i+a"!,7 s,+/o%is+7 ion,7 and fo!shado5in"( As ,ou
!ad %it!atu!7 5atch fo ho5 th!s! 3aious !%!+!nts a! us!d(
IMAGERY
I+a"!, is th! 5a, authos c!at! 4ictu!s7 o i+a"!s7 in !ad!s8 +inds( Thou"h th! c!ation of
th!s! i+a"!s7 th! autho oft!n "i3!s c%u!s to d!!4! +!anin"s of th! sto,(
Stat!"i!s us!d to c!at! i+a"!, inc%ud!:
)( A44!a%s to th! s!ns!s 9si"ht7 sound7 s+!%%7 touch and tast!:(
1( ;s! of fi"uati3! %an"ua"!
a( Si+i%! < a co+4aison of t5o =uit! diff!!nt thin"s usin" like o as.
/( M!ta4ho < an i+4%i!d co+4aison of t5o =uit! diff!!nt thin"s 9no like o as:(
c( &!sonification < "i3in" hu+an =ua%iti!s to so+!thin" that8s not hu+an(
As ,ou !ad a sto,7 5atch fo us!s of th! s!ns!s and fi"uati3! %an"ua"! that c!at! 3i3id i+a"!s in
,ou +ind( Mak thos! 4assa"!s fo %at! ana%,sis(
To ana%,-! i+a"!,7 consid!:
>hat !s4!cia%%, ston" i+a"!s do!s th! autho us!?
>h, do!s th! autho !+4hasi-! thos! 4aticu%a i+a"!s?
A! th!! 4att!ns in th! us! of i+a"!, in th! sto, such as !4!tition of si+i%a i+a"!s o
contastin" i+a"!s? >hat do thos! 4att!ns su""!st a/out d!!4! +!anin"s of th! sto,?
Ho5 do!s th! i+a"!, aff!ct th! +ood of th! sto,?
>hat issu!s do!s th! i+a"!, ais! o !+4hasi-! in th! sto,?
A! th!! chan"!s in kinds of i+a"!, as th! sto, 4o"!ss!s? >hat do!s this t!%% ,ou a/out
oth! chan"!s that tak! 4%ac! in th! sto,?
IMAGERY ACTIVITY
Th! 4assa"! /!%o5 /, .an! ;=uhat7 fo+ h! no3!% @A Ma4 of A%assB sho5s !6a+4%!s of s!3!a%
kinds of i+a"!,:
In order to reach the front door she had to pass through the dining room, and as she did so she recalled that in the late
afternoon, while the rest of the house darkened, the low light entering the room from the west window always caused
the large oval of the table to shine like a lake, a lake with two silver candlesticks floating on its surface. She had
watched this happen almost every day of her life, as long as she could remember, and it would continue to happen when
she was not there: an abandoned table gathering light and her far away, not witnessing the ceremony (36.
)( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! th! s!ns! of si"ht?



1( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! si+i%!?



LITERARY DEVICES
C( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! 4!sonification?



SYMBOLISM
S,+/o%is+ is 5h!n th! autho us!s so+!thin" 9oft!n a conc!t! o/D!ct: to !4!s!nt so+!thin" !%s!
9oft!n an a/stact id!a o !+otion:( >it!s "!n!a%%, us! s,+/o%s to !64!ss +u%ti4%! +!anin"s(
S,+/o%is+ can /! /as!d on:
1. Lit!a% +!anin"s $ /as!d on th! dictiona, d!finition0s of a 5od
1( Cu%tua% +!anin"s $ /as!d on sha!d und!standin"s of 4!o4%! in on! o +o! cu%tu!s < !("(
a os! stands fo /!aut,
C( Cont!6t$s4!cific +!anin"s $ th! cont!6t of th! sto, "i3!s th! o/D!ct s,+/o%ic +!anin"
'( It can /! us!fu% to think a/out s,+/o%is+ as a s!i!s of %a,!s(
S,+/o%is+ can c!at! ich +!anin"s 5ith +an, %a,!s fo !ad!s 5ho tak! th! ti+! to !64%o! th!
d!4ths of 4ossi/%! +!anin"s inc%ud!d in a s,+/o%( To ana%,-! s,+/o%is+7 5atch out fo int!!stin"
choic!s of 5ods o i+a"!, that ,ou think cou%d i+4%, d!!4! +!anin"s( Th!n7 consid!:
>hat is th! %it!a% +!anin" of th! 5od o o/D!ct?
>hat chaact!istics do!s that o/D!ct ha3!?
>hat oth! +!anin"s do!s th! 5od ha3!? Look it u4 in a dictiona,(
Do!s th! o/D!ct ha3! s,+/o%ic +!anin" in th! cu%tu! of th! autho o th! cu%tu! of th!
s!ttin"?
Is this s,+/o% us!d !4!at!d%, thou"h th! sto,7 o do!s it Dust occu onc!?
>hat id!as do!s th! sto, "i3! ,ou a/out 4ossi/%! +!anin"s th! autho +a, inc%ud! in th!
us! of th! s,+/o%?
A! oth! !%at!d s,+/o%s us!d? Fo !6a+4%!7 a! 3aious foods us!d to s,+/o%i-! diff!!nt
thin"s o a! o/D!cts in natu! us!d as s,+/o%s !4!at!d%,?
SYMBOLISM ACTIVITY
In th! fo%%o5in" !6c!4t fo+ A Ma4 of A%ass7 .an! ;=uhat us!s a @c%oakB as a s,+/o%:
!s she emerged into the light and descended the stone stairs she was aware of two things: the
sound of "alcolm#s footsteps beside her and the dependency descending on her like a familiar
cloak over her spirit. $here was warmth in the cloak, but it felt wrong for this season. She knew
that from now on there would be moments when she would want to remove it from her shoulders.
(3%6&3%'
)( >hat cou%d th! c%oak !4!s!nt?



1( >hat id!as do!s th! sto, "i3! ,ou a/out 4ossi/%! +!anin"s th! autho +a, inc%ud! in th! us! of
th! s,+/o%?


LITERARY DEVICES
IRONY
Th! +o! ,ou t, to /! ionic7 th! +o! difficu%t it isE Do ,ou kno5 5hat !%s! is ionic? Ion, has
nothin" to do 5ith ionin"E Ion, is th! hu+oous o sconfu% us! of 5ods to !64!ss th! o44osit! of
5hat on! !a%%, +!ans( >hat is said o 5itt!n is not 5hat is +!ant( Ion, is 5h!n th!! is a
su4isin" o +!anin"fu% diff!!nc! /!t5!!n 5hat s!!+s to /! tu! and 5hat is !a%%, tu! o
/!t5!!n 5hat is !64!ct!d to ha44!n and 5hat actua%%, ha44!ns( So+!ti+!s th! ion, is c%!a to
chaact!sF oth! ti+!s th! ion, is on%, c%!a to th! !ad!(
Th!! a! +an, s4!cific t,4!s of ion,( Th!s! th!! a! th! +ost co++on:
V!/a% ion, is 5h!n th!! is a "a4 /!t5!!n 5hat a s4!ak! sa,s and 5hat th! s4!ak!
+!ans( This can inc%ud! sacas+ as 5!%% as und!stat!+!nt o o3!stat!+!nt of th! tuth(
Fo instanc!7 th! 4!son 5ho sa,s7 GNic! "oin"7 Einst!in7G isnHt !a%%, 4a,in" an,on! a
co+4%i+!nt(
Da+atic ion, is th! contast /!t5!!n 5hat th! chaact! thinks to /! tu! and 5hat 5!
9th! !ad!: kno5 to /! tu!( So+!ti+!s as 5! !ad 5! a! 4%ac!d in th! 4osition of
kno5in" +o! than 5hat on! chaact! kno5s( I!caus! 5! kno5 so+!thin" th! chaact!
do!s not7 5! !ad to disco3! ho5 th! chaact! 5i%% !act 5h!n h! o sh! %!ans th! tuth
of th! situation( Think soa4 o4!asE ItHs 5h!n ,ou kno5 th! /oo"!,+an is hidin" in th! attic7
/ut th! h!o of th! +o3i! do!snHt kno5 that( You 5ant hi+ to "!t a c%u! and sta, a5a, fo+
th! attic( GDonHt o4!n that dooE A!t out of th! hous!EG Th! ion, is that th! h!o thinks h! is
saf!7 5h!n ,ou kno5 h!Hs in dan"!( Th!! is that !%!+!nt of contast a"ain(
Situationa% ion, is 5h!n th!! is a "a4 /!t5!!n 5hat ha44!ns and 5hat a !ad! o
chaact! ho4!s fo o !64!cts to ha44!n( Ion, of situation is oft!n hu+oous7 such as 5h!n
a 4ank /ackfi!s on th! 4ankst!( ItHs th! !=ui3a%!nt of a 4!son s4a,in" sha3in" c!a+ in
his o5n fac! 5h!n h! 5as t,in" to s4a, his /!st fi!nd(
Th! "a4 c!at!d /, ion, n!!ds to /! si"nificant( M!! %i!s o !6a""!ation do not n!c!ssai%,
indicat! +!anin"fu% ion,( Th! !ad! n!!ds to int!4!t ion, in th! cont!6t of th! und!%,in"
+!anin"s of th! sto,(
To ana%,-! ion,:
Id!ntif, an, diff!!nc!s /!t5!!n 5hat is !64!ct!d to ha44!n and 5hat actua%%, ha44!ns(
Id!ntif, an, diff!!nc!s /!t5!!n 5hat a s4!ak! sa,s and 5hat th! s4!ak! +!ans(
>ho is a5a! of th!s! diff!!nc!s? Th! !ad! on%,? An, of th! chaact!s? A%% of th!
chaact!s?
Consid! 5hat th! autho +i"ht ha3! int!nd!d /, inc%udin" th!s! diff!!nc!s( Do th!,
su""!st und!%,in" +!anin"s?
Do th! diff!!nc!s fo+ a 4att!n? Fo !6a+4%!7 a! th!! !4!at!d us!s of si+i%a t,4!s of
"a4s? A! so+! chaact!s !4!at!d%, a5a! of th! "a4s 5hi%! oth!s a! una5a!? >hat do
such 4att!ns su""!st a/out und!%,in" +!anin"s of th! sto,?
FORESHADOWING
Fo!shado5in" is 5h!n an autho "i3!s hints !a%i! in a sto, a/out 5hat is "oin" to ha44!n %at! in
th! sto,( Hints can /! in thin"s 4!o4%! sa,7 think o do7 o th!, can /! in th! s!ttin"7 chaact!s7
!3!nts7 d!sci4tions o !3!n tit%!s7 cha4t! h!adin"s o "a4hics(
R!ad!s so+!ti+!s !co"ni-! fo!shado5in" 5h!n th!, fist !ad a sto, /ut oft!n th!
fo!shado5in" is not fu%%, a44a!nt unti% th! !ad! "!ts to th! 4at of th! sto, that has /!!n
fo!shado5!d( Th!n !ad!s oft!n !+!+/! thin"s fo+ !a%i! in th! sto, that hint!d at 5hat
LITERARY DEVICES
5as to co+!( F!=u!nt%,7 5h!n a !ad! "!ts to th! fo!shado5!d 4at7 it is not !nti!%, a su4is!(
Th! fo!shado5in" has 4!4a!d th! !ad! fo 5hat ha44!ns(
Fo!shado5in" can c!at! sus4!ns!7 t!nsion7 !6cit!+!nt o f!a( It can add i+4otanc! to !3!nts( It
can a%so su/t%, intoduc! und!%,in" +!anin"s o !sta/%ish k!, as4!cts of chaact! and s!ttin"(
To !64%o! fo!shado5in"7 onc! ,ou ha3! finish!d th! /ook7 think a/out !3!nts that ,ou f!!% 5!!
fo!shado5!d( Mak! not! of an, fo!shado5in" ,ou can !+!+/!( R!$!ad th! /ook and not! an,
futh! fo!shado5in" that ,ou did not !+!+/! aft! th! fist !adin"( Th!n consid! th!s!
=u!stions:
>h, do ,ou think th! autho chos! to fo!shado5 th! !3!nt?
>hat kinds of hints did th! autho "i3! of th! !3!nt that 5as to co+!? Do th! hints fo+
4att!ns?
>h, do ,ou think th! autho us!d thos! !%!+!nts to fo!shado5 th! !3!nt?
>hat d!!4! +!anin"s did th! autho sho5 ,ou thou"h th! fo!shado5in"?
Ho5 did th! fo!shado5in" +ak! ,ou f!!%?
Ho5 5ou%d th! i+4act of th! sto, chan"! if th! fo!shado5in" 5!! d!%!t!d?
READING ACTIVITY
R!ad th! shot sto, @a S!c!t fo T5oB and ans5! th! fo%%o5in" =u!stions(

)( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! fo!shado5in" to hint a/out &i!!8s /%indn!ss7 "i3! at %!ast t5o
!6a+4%!s?




1( Ho5 did &i!! "!t a5a, 5ith not /!in" a/%! to !ad and 5it!?



C( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! i+a"!, in th! sto, to d!sci/! &i!!8s !,!s?




'( >hat 5as th! su4is! !ndin" in th! Sto,? Ai3! d!tai%s? >as th! !ndin" ionic?





LITERARY DEVICES
!(S)*+S
IMAGERY ACTIVITY
)( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! th! s!ns! of si"ht? In the e,cerpt above, -r.uhart uses the
sense of sight, discussing both the light and the look of the table / she paints a picture
with her words.
1( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! si+i%!? In the e,cerpt, -r.uhart uses a simile to compare the
appearance of the table with the appearance of a lake: 0the west window always caused
the large oval of the table to shine like a lake1.
C( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! 4!sonification? In the e,cerpt, -r.uhart personifies the table by
describing the way it gathers light as 0a ceremony1. ! ceremony is generally conducted by humans.
SYMBOLISM ACTIVITY
)( >hat cou%d th! c%oak !4!s!nt? ! cloak is like a coat, it keeps you warm, but sometimes too
warm. ! cloak can also hide what is underneath and even restrict the wearer#s movement. In this
conte,t, it is a cloak of 0dependency1. $his cloak is hiding her spirit but also possibly restricting
it. It seems that this cloak can be a burden and that she may be outgrowing it.
1( >hat id!as do!s th! sto, "i3! ,ou a/out 4ossi/%! +!anin"s th! autho +a, inc%ud! in th! us! of
th! s,+/o%? $he author gives indications that a cloak is not necessarily a good thing, that it can
relate to dependency and that she doesn#t always want it anymore.
READING ACTIVITY
R!ad th! shot sto, @a S!c!t fo T5oB and ans5! th! fo%%o5in" =u!stions(

)( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! fo!shado5in" to hint a/out &i!!8s /%indn!ss7 "i3! at %!ast t5o
!6a+4%!s? $here are actually many hints the author gives about 2ierre#s blindness. $he first one in
when 2ierre boasts of 3oseph#s skill, 0)hy a blind man could handle my route with 3oseph pulling
the wagon.1 $he second is when 3ac.ues is speaking to the company president. 4e remarks that it
looks as though 2ierre and 3oseph have a secret between them. !nother one is when 2ierre says he
will never see 3oseph again after he has died and 3ac.ues does not understand. !dditionally, when
3ac.ues looks into 2ierre#s eyes and sees a dead lifeless look in them. 5astly, 2ierre walked into an
oncoming truck because he was not able to see it.
1( Ho5 did &i!! "!t a5a, 5ith not /!in" a/%! to !ad and 5it!? 2ierre was able to get away with
not being able to read and write. $he cooks instead of following the usual custom of leaving a note
in an empty bottle if an additional .uart of milk was needed they would sing out when they heard
the rumble of his wagon wheels over the cobbled street. !lso 2ierre had a remarkable memory.
)hen he arrived at the stable he#d always remember to tell 3ac.ues, the foreman, if people had
changed their order. 3ac.ues would note these things in a little book he always carried. "ost of
the drivers had to make out the weekly bills and collect the money, but 3ac.ues, liking 2ierre, had
always e,cused him from this task.
C( Ho5 do!s th! autho us! i+a"!, in th! sto,?
'( >hat 5as th! su4is! !ndin" in th! Sto,? Ai3! d!tai%s? >as th! !ndin" ionic? $he surprise
ending of the story was that 2ierre was blind and that he was dependant on 3oseph for his
e,istence, they were linked. )hen 3oseph died, 2ierre 0.uit1, he .uit life.