Two Kinds of Literary Devices

Literary Devices have two aspects. They can be treated as either Literary Elements or Literary Techniques. It will be
convenient to define them separately.

Literary Elements have an inherent existence in literary piece and are extensively employed by writers to develop a
literary piece e.g. plot, setting, narrative structure, characters, mood, theme, moral etc. Writers simply cannot create his
desired work without including Literary Elements in a thoroughly professional manner.

Literary Techniques, on the contrary, are structures usually a word s or phrases in literary texts that writers employ to
achieve not merely artistic ends but also readers a greater understanding and appreciation of their literary works.
Examples are:  metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, allegory etc. In contrast to Literary Elements, Literary
Techniques are not unavoidable aspect of literary works.

To have a better understanding of Literary Devices, it is useful to look at their definition and examples:

Common Literary Elements

1. Plot: It is the logical sequence of events that develops a story.

2. Setting: It refers to the time and place in which a story takes place.
3. Protagonist: It is the  main character of story, novel or a play e.g. Hamlet in the play Hamlet
4. Antagonist: It is the character in conflict with the Protagonist e.g. Claudius in the play Hamlet
5. Narrator: A person who tells the story.
6. Narrative method: The manner in which a narrative is presented comprising plot and setting.
7. Dialogue: Where characters of a narrative speak to one another.
8. Conflict. It is n issue in a narrative around which the whole story revolves.
9. Mood: A general atmosphere of a narrative.
10. Theme: It is central idea or concept of a story.

Common Literary Techniques

1. Imagery: It is the use of figurative language to create visual representations of actions, objects and ideas in our mind in
such a way that they appeal to our physical senses. For example:

 The room was dark and gloomy. -The words “dark” and “gloomy” are visual images.
 The river was roaring in the mountains. – The word “roaring” appeals to our sense of hearing.

2. Simile and Metaphor: Both compare two distinct objects and draws similarity between them. The difference is that
Simile uses “as” or “like” and Metaphor does not. For example:

 “My love is like a red red rose” (Simile)

 He is an old fox very cunning. (Metaphor)

3. Hyperbole: It is deliberate exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis. For example:

 Your bag weighs a ton!

 I have got a million issues to look after!

4. Personification: It gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. For example:

 The flowers are dancing beside the lake.

 Have you see my new car? She is a real beauty!

5. Alliteration: It refers to the same consonant sounds in words coming together. For example:

 Better butter always makes the batter better.

 She sells seashells at seashore.

6. Allegory: It is a literary technique in which an abstract idea is given a form of characters, actions or events. For
example:

 “Animal Farm”, written by George Orwell, is an example allegory using the actions of animals on a farm to
represent the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Communist Revolution of Russia
before WW II.  In addition, the actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of
the Revolution.
7. Irony: It is use of the words in such a way in which the intended meaning is completely opposite to their literal
meaning. For example:

 The bread is soft as a stone.

 So nice of you to break my new PSP!

Function of Literary Devices

In general, the literary devices are a collection of universal artistic structures that are so typical of all works of literature
frequently employed by the writers to give meanings and a logical framework to their works through language.  When
such works are read by readers, they ultimately recognize and appreciate them. Because of their universality, they also
allow the readers to compare a work of one writer to that of the other to determine its worth. They not only beautify the
piece of literature but also give deeper meanings to it, testing the very understanding of the readers along with providing
them enjoyment of reading. Besides, they help motivating readers’ imagination to visualize the characters and scenes
more clearly.

What Is literary form?

What is literary form? Here's The Muse's definition:

 Literary form—the organization, arrangement, or framework of a literary work; the manner or style of
constructing, arranging, and coordinating the parts of a composition for a pleasing or effective result.

understanding literary form

Every well-organized, well-written work of literature has a form. The word form comes from Middle English word forme.
from Old French, and from the Latin forma, meaning beauty. The ancients considered form to be beautiful in and of itself;
it imparted beauty to a work of art.

The term literary form applies to both the notion or idea of literary form and to specific literary forms:

 The notion of literary form—Literary forms are skeletal structures or conceptual frameworks designed to
support or enclose parts of literary works.

Every literary form is the orderly method of arrangement and presentation of a literary work's parts or ideas; it is the
course of its reasoning, its development, and the manner in which its elements are coordinated. Literary forms contain, fit
together, and integrate the parts of a literary work into a complete, cohesive whole. A work's form is the guiding principle
that determines the manner in which it unfolds and the elements that propel its evolution from beginning to end.

 A specific literary form—One particular kind of literary framework or structure.

Virtually every literary form identified by literary specialists has a name or label which, by convention, has been
accepted by most or all literary experts. Many of these names are familiar to the public and are used by critics,
publishers, and others to help identify works for evaluation or for sale. For example:

o A novel is a composition written in the form of a fictional prose narrative of considerable length and
complexity in which the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters serve to unfold the plot.
o A novella is A fictional account longer than a short story and shorter than a novel; usually between
20,000 and 50,000 words.

I. What is Voice?
In literature, the voice expresses the narrator or author’s emotions, attitude, tone and point of view through artful, well
thought out use of word choice and diction. A voice may be formal or informal; serious or lighthearted; positive or
negative; persuasive or argumentative; comical or depressed; witty or straightforward; objective or subjective—truly,
voice can reflect any and all feelings and perspectives. A work’s voice directly contributes to its tone and mood; helping
the writer create the desired effect he wants his words to have on readers.
A piece of literature’s voice is one of its most defining and important features and can completely change the way a story
is read and received. For example, you could tell the same story in two ways; on version through a very positive narrator,
and the other through a very negative narrator, and the results would be very, very different. Likewise, you could have
two different authors or narrators addressing the same subject—the voice will vary depending on their feelings about that
subject, which will in turn affect the way it is presented.
Last, it’s important to distinguish between literary voice as described above, and the sound of someone’s physical voice.
The sound of someone’s voice is just a physical characteristic, whereas a literary voice is a part of writing and
storytelling.

II. Examples of Voice

Here are some examples of greetings from different voices:

 Good day, m’lady

 Good day, madame
 Greetings, sir
 What’s up, dude?
 Hey, bro!
 Hello there
 Sir, ma’am
 Hey you!
 ‘Ello gov’na
 G’day, mate
 Aloha!
Each greeting has the same basic meaning but is expressed in a completely different voice. Several factors contribute to
each voice—for example, some are formal while some are informal; some show an accent; some use slang; and some
even use different languages.

Now, read these two sentences:

The sun is a glorious glowing orb of golden heat and light, giving life to everything it touches.
***
The sun is a flaming ball of fire and blinding light, burning anything that’s under its rays for too long.
The voice of the first sentence is pleasant and appreciative, expressing that the sun is a wonderful thing. The second’s
voice carries the opposite attitude; expressing that the sun is harsh and damaging. The two distinct voices can influence
how we perceive the sun.

III. Types of Voice

Voice is determined by either the person telling the story (the narrator) or the person writing the story (the author), and
can be further defined by the voices of characters in a story. Basically, it’s important to remember that a work’s voice is
not always reflective of the author’s own opinions or attitudes.
a. Narrator’s voice
The narrator’s voice expresses the attitude of the person who is actually directly telling us the story. It is partially
determined by the narrator’s role in the story (narrative style)—whether the narrator is part of the story or telling it from
an outside perspective obviously affects his attitude and the way he’ll express himself. For instance, a first person narrator
(a character in the story narrating from their point of view, using I, me and we) may be more invested in what happens
than a third objective person narrator (a narrator who is not a character in the story and doesn’t have a stake in what’s
happening). But from whatever point of view, the narrator is the one who readers hear the story from, and so his voice is
what influences the entire way readers experience the work.
 

b. Author’s voice
The author’s voice directly reflects the attitude of the author himself. Even when a work has a narrator, an author’s voice
can certainly come through. That said, an author’s voice tends to be most prominent in nonfiction, where a writer is often
directly expressing his own knowledge and opinion. News sources provide great examples of authors’ voices—though the
news should really be neutral, it often clearly shows the voice of the network or the writer. For instance, many would say
that Fox News has a conservative voice and that CBS has a more liberal voice.

 
c. Character Voices
An author may also choose to show the voices of characters in addition to the voice of a third person narrator, or the
narrator may be a character within the story. So, with this technique, readers are able to understand the attitudes of those
who are direct part of the story. Sometimes, an author may tell a story from the perspectives of several characters, using
multiple voices that approach the same events with different attitudes.

IV. Importance of Voice

As mentioned above, the voice is an essential part of the way a story or piece of writing is delivered. Works of literature
need voices to help them stand out in style and deliver stories and content in the most effective way possible.
 

V. Examples of Voice in Literature

Example 1
In Susanna Kaysen’s memoir Girl, Interrupted we get to experience a story from a very unique perspective—that of the
author, who is actually writing about her time as a patient in psychiatric hospital. The voice of the story is unique in that it
reflects the author’s attitude about the events, but the author is also the real-life protagonist of the story. Here, Susanna
recounts her appointment with a psychiatrist:
“You need a rest,” he announced.
I did need a rest, particularly since I’d gotten up so early that morning in order to see this doctor, who lived out in the
suburbs. I’d changed trains twice. And I would have to retrace my steps to get to my job. Just thinking of it made me tired.
“Don’t you think?” He was still standing in front of me.
“Don’t you think you need a rest?”
Here, Susanna’s voice is almost misleading to the audience—in fact, she is expressing that she thinks she needs a rest
because she had a long morning. But knowing it is a psychiatrist asking her, we know that Susanna is having
psychological issues, and that the rest he speaks of is actually a rest in a psychiatric facility.

Example 2
One of the kookiest voices in literature comes from Dr. Seuss, known for his unruly rhyme patterns, made up words and
overall silly voice. In his beloved classic The Cat in the Hat, Doctor Seuss tells his story with three voices—the children,
the fish, and the Cat in the Hat. Here are two stanzas, one showing the fish’s voice, one showing the Cat’s:
our fish said, ‘no! no!
make that cat go away!
tell that cat in the hat
you do NOT want to play.
he should not be here.
he should not be about.
he should not be here
when your mother is out!’
 
‘now! now!  have no fear.
have no fear!’ said the cat.
‘my tricks are not bad,’
said the cat in the hat.
‘why, we can have
lots of good fun, if you wish,
with a game that i call
up-up-up with a fish!’
On top of the author’s overall whimsical voice, we get to hear from two of the characters, who though speaking to the
same issue, are very different and express opposite attitudes. The first voice is that of the fish, who is stern and serious,
warning the children that they should not play with the Cat; the second is that of the Cat; lighthearted and dismissive,
telling everyone not to worry and that they should definitely play with him. Dr Seuss uses these two distinct voices to help
show the difficult situation the kids are in—one voice says play, the other says don’t!

Tone
Definition of Tone

Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed
through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.

Every written piece comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and
subject is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, or cheerful, or it may be any other
existing attitude. Consider the following examples of tone:

 “I want to ask the authorities what is the big deal? Why do they not control the epidemic? It is eating up lives like
a monster.”
 “I want to draw the attention of the appropriate authorities toward damage caused by the epidemic. If steps are not
taken to curb it, it will further injure our community.”

The theme of both tone examples is the same. The only way we can differentiate between them is their separate tone. The
tone in the first example is casual or informal while, it is more formal in the second.

Tone Examples in Common Speech

We adopt a variety of tones in our day-to-day speech. This intonation of our speech determines what message we desire to
convey. Read a few examples below:

Example #1

Father: “We are going on a vacation.”

Son: “That’s great!!!”

– The tone of son’s response is very cheerful.

Example #2

Father: “We can’t go on vacation this summer.”

Son: “Yeah, great! That’s what I expected.”

– The son’s tone is sarcastic.

Example #3

“Yeah, your grades on this exam will be as good as the previous exams.”

– The tone is pessimistic in this example.

Example #4

“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?”

– This has an aggressive tone.

Short Examples of Tone

1. Though the starry sky was beautiful, his mood was so melancholic that he took no interest in it.
2. The old man took the handful of dust from his farm and sniffed it with great pleasure.
3. The sweet smell of spring roses made overjoyed him.
4. The old man’s face looked so peaceful after death that he seemed in deep sleep.
5. The spectacle of sunset was so astounding that people stood watching breathlessly.
6. The scorching heat of the desert sun burned his skin black, and he could see death hovering over his head.
7. The singing of birds was deemed a messenger for approaching spring.
 8. His stinking breath kept listeners at a considerable distance from him.
9. The muffled church bell sounded as thought it came from an unfathomably deep well.
10. The kind touch of her mother’s hand comforted her in her pain.
11. He was on his way to home when he saw a boy of ten, who moved his heart as he stood weeping.
12. The negotiations between the two states came to a halt after terms of reference could not be agreed upon.
13. The harsh gusts of cruel cold wind battered her body.
14. He went into the restaurant and ordered a hot coffee, the cozy atmosphere inside reminded him of the past.

Characterization
Characterization Definition

Characterization is a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and explain the details about a
character in a story. It is in the initial stage in which the writer introduces the character with noticeable emergence. After
introducing the character, the writer often talks about his behavior; then, as the story progresses, the thought-processes of
the character.

The next stage involves the character expressing his opinions and ideas, and getting into conversations with the rest of the
characters. The final part shows how others in the story respond to the character’s personality.

Characterization as a literary tool was coined in the mid 15th century. Aristotle in his Poetics argued that “tragedy is a
representation, not of men, but of action and life.” Thus the assertion of the dominance of plot over characters, termed
“plot-driven narrative,” is unmistakable. This point of view was later abandoned by many because, in the 19th century, the
dominance of character over plot became clear through petty bourgeois novels.

Types of Characterization

An author can use two approaches to deliver information about a character and build an image of it. These two types of
characterization include:

1. Direct or explicit characterization

This kind of characterization takes a direct approach towards building the character. It uses another character, narrator, or
the protagonist himself to tell the readers or audience about the subject.

2. Indirect or implicit characterization

This is a more subtle way of introducing the character to the audience. The audience has to deduce for themselves the
characteristics of the character by observing his/her thought process, behavior, speech, way of talking, appearance, and
manner of communication with other characters, as well as by discerning the response of other characters.

Characterization in Drama

On stage or in front of the camera, actors usually do not have much time to characterize. For this reason, the character
faces the risk of coming across as underdeveloped. In dramaturgy, realists take a different approach, by relying on implied
characterization. This is pivotal to the theme of their character-driven narrative. Examples of these playwrights are Anton
Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen, and August Strindberg.

Classic psychological characterization examples, such as The Seagull, usually build the main character in a more indirect
manner. This approach is considered more effective because it slowly discloses the inner turmoil of the character, over the
course of the show, and lets the audience connect better.

The actors who act in such roles usually work on them profoundly to get an in-depth idea of the personalities of their
respective characters. Often, during such shows, plays, or dramas, no direct statements about the character’s nature are
found. This kind of realism needs the actors to build the character from their own perspective initially. This is why
realistic characterization is more of a subtle art, which cannot directly be recognized.

Examples of Characterization in Literature

Example #1: The Great Gatsby (By F. Scott Fitzgerald)

There are many examples of characterization in literature. The Great Gatsby, is probably the best. In this particular book,
the main idea revolves around the social status of each character. The major character of the book, Mr. Gatsby, is
perceptibly rich, but he does not belong to the upper stratum of society. This means that he cannot have Daisy. Tom is
essentially defined by his wealth and the abusive nature that he portrays every now and then, while Daisy is explained by
Gatsby as having a voice “full of money.”
Another technique to highlight the qualities of a character is to put them in certain areas that are symbolic of a social
status. In the novel, Gatsby resides in the West Egg, which is considered less trendy than East Egg, where Daisy lives.
This difference points out the gap between Jay’s and Daisy’s social statuses. Moreover, you might also notice that Tom,
Jordan, and Daisy live in East Egg while Gatsby and Nick reside in West Egg, which again highlights the difference in
their financial background. This division is reinforced at the end of the novel when Nick supports Gatsby against the rest
of the folk.

Occupations have also been used very tactfully in the novel to highlight characteristics of certain protagonists. The prime
example is Gatsby who, despite being so rich, is known by his profession: bootlegging. He had an illegal job that earned
him a fortune, but failed to get him into the upper class of New York society. In contrast, Nick has a clean and fair job of a
“bond man” that defines his character. The poor guy Wilson, who fixes rich people’s cars, befriends his wife; and then
there is Jordon, who is presented as a dishonest golf pro.

Function of Characterization

Characterization is an essential component in writing good literature. Modern fiction, in particular, has taken great
advantage of this literary device. Understanding the role of characterization in storytelling is very important for any
writer. To put it briefly, it helps us make sense of the behavior of any character in a story by helping us understand their
thought processes. A good use of characterization always leads the readers or audience to relate better to the events taking
place in the story. Dialogues play a very important role in developing a character, because they give us an opportunity to
examine the motivations and actions of the characters more deeply.

What is the importance of language in literature?

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Literature is written through the medium of a language. It is a vehicle to express one’s thoughts, feelings & imagination.
Without language, how can literature be possible? Even oral form of literature uses oral language. Literature also aims at
preserving itself for future and this preservation is done through written form of language. How did Vedas reach to us?
Previously through ‘shruti’ oral transmission and later through written records. In both formats, language is indispensable.

The Role of English Language and Literature in Cultivating Students' Language Skills
Literature is a kind of art that reflects the objective reality in the form of language and words. Literature is the carrier of
the image of art, so it is different from music, sculpture, painting and other art forms. Literature can get rid of the binding
of specific material materials, be free from time and space constraints, reflect a wide range of rich social life and directly
characterize the complex and delicate inner world. The cultivation of language skills is inseparable from literature.
Literature can stimulate the interests of language learning, provide rich and vivid materials, make learners seem to be
immersive and unknowingly complete the accumulation of vocabulary, the infiltration of grammar and the formation of
language sense. At the same time of getting the ability of understanding, the ability of outputting language also forms.
With the improvement of literary literacy, language skill also increases from the basic understanding and expression to
deep understanding and literary expression. The study of English language and literature has an important influence on
improving students' skills to use language

What is the relationship between language and literature?

Language is medium of communication. If we talk about literature, it adds something in the beauty of language. Literature
developes the interest of reading. Throughout the medium of poem or drama or other form of literature generally writers
intended to pass message.something if we can't say directly to someone, we will pass out message indirectly through the
poem or song or sayings or through the dialogues. Simply the forms of literature are the ornaments of language. Language
will become effective or inresting with the decoration of literature.

Theme
Definition of Theme

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

Major and Minor Themes

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 literary work, making it the most significant idea in the work. A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an
idea that appears in a work briefly, giving way to another minor theme. Examples of theme in Jane Austen’s “Pride and
Prejudice” are matrimony, love, friendship, and affection. The whole narrative revolves around the major theme of
matrimony. Its minor themes are love, friendship, affectation etc.

Difference Between a Theme and a Subject

It is important not to confuse a theme of a literary work with its subject. Subject is a topic that acts as a foundation for a
literary work, while a theme is an opinion expressed on the subject. For example, a writer may choose a subject of war for
his story, and the theme may be his personal opinion that war is a curse for humanity. Usually, it is up to the readers to
explore the theme of a literary work by analyzing characters, plot, and other literary devices.

Presentation of Themes

A writer presents themes in a literary work through several means. 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.

Short Examples of Theme

1. When the astronaut landed on the moon, he felt loneliness. Thinking there was no one else, he became a little
forlorned, though the view of Earth was stunningly beautiful.
(Theme of lonesomeness)
2. The space travelers were travelling to the moon, when their spaceship suddenly ran out of fuel. They were all
frightened to learn that they wouldn’t be able to return to Earth, and could only land on the moon.
(Theme of fear)
3. The bus was travelling at a great speed when it was stopped by a gang of robbers. The passengers were ordered to
get out, leaving their precious belongings in the bus.
(Theme of fear)
4. Their marriage ceremony was taking place in a grand hotel. All the eminent people of the city were invited, the
reason that the celebration was excellent.
(Theme of happiness)
5. As soon as the clock struck 12 at noon, the jubilations started. It travelled from East to West on the first day of the
year.
(Theme of felicitation)
6. The religious leader was leading a huge congregation of followers, praying with utmost humility.
(Theme of religiosity)
7. All the family members were dressed in black, with somber faces. They were participating in the funeral
ceremony of their deceased relative.
(Theme of gloom)
8. The cricket match was reaching a highpoint, the fans of both teams screaming their support. It was an excellent
game.
(Theme of cheerfulness)
9. The teacher said that she hoped all of her students would pass with good grades.
(Theme of optimism)
10. The father of the slowwitted student said he had no false hopes about his son’s future.
(Theme of pessimism)
11. The immigrant looked around to talk to somebody, but could find no one who spoke his language. He felt
claustrophobic and desolate.
(Theme of hopelessness)
12. Only the laborers were working on Labor Day.
(Theme of irony)
13. The conference was in full swing, with scholars delivering knowledgeable lectures on varying subjects. The
audience enjoyed it immensely.
(Theme of learning)
14. The politician was delivering a speech on the need for peace between two neighboring states. He said through
peace they could achieve what not possible through war.
(Theme of peace)
15. The general commanded his troops to open fire at the enemy, and to kill each and every soldier of the combatants.
(Theme of war)