ENG206B Project: Literary Techniques Analysis with Applications

This presentation provides an analysis of ten literary techniques and elements, including definition and examples from various literary works. Terms like metaphor, allusion, theme, mood, imagery, central idea, author's purpose, sensory language, and tone are defined and illustrated with examples from literature such as Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave,' Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' Charles Lamb's essays, Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice,' Charles Dickens' 'Pickwick Papers' and 'Hard Times' and Jhumpa Lahiri's 'The Namesake'. Each explanation includes a clear definition, a literary example, and an original sample to demonstrate understanding of the technique. The project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these literary devices and their application in different contexts. Find more solved assignments and study resources on Desklib.

LITERARY TERMS
Analysis

Metaphor
• Metaphor is a term of speech that is
applied to an action or object to which
it can not be literally applied.
• For example the sentence of The
Allegory of the cave by Plato “We are
all shadows on the wall of time” refers
to the idea that all men are mere
faceless figures in the world.
• Here men are competed with shadows
and unimportant in the flow of time.

Extended metaphor
• Extended metaphors are lengthy and intended to create a deep
comparison.
• this can be found in Romeo and Juliet, “It is the East, and Juliet is
the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already
sick and pale with grief“ (Callaghan 2003).
• Here Juliet has been compered to sun and the speaker is urging her
to overpower the negative energy.

Allusion
• It is a literary term which makes a reference to a person, place and
event.
• This can be real imaginary and refers to fiction, folklore, religious
manuscripts and historical events.
• In Charles Lamb’s essay, he shares the incidents of punishment in
school.
• He refers to the moment of deliverance as being a solemn auto da
fe.
• It clearly refers to the execution of the historical Spanish
inquisition where the heretics were burnt alive.

Theme
• Theme is the main concepts or underlying meaning of the literary
works that can be stated both directly as well as indirectly.
• Theme of love is prevalent in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
• This explores the type of love growing slowly through
misunderstanding and dislike.

Mood
• Mood evokes certain feelings as well as vibes among the readers
or viewers through words, expressions and descriptions.
• In ‘Pickwick Papers’, Charles dickens states “The river, reflecting
the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed
noiselessly on” (Hull 2015).
• Through this type of descriptions, the author creates a peaceful
and serene mood among the readers.

Imagery
• Imagery refers to use some figurative language for representing
actions, objects and ideas that appeals to physical senses.
• In Romeo and Juliet, “It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” compares
Juliet as the image of sun.
• Imagery does not find similarity in the physical appearance but
focuses on the subtle mental pictures.

Central idea
• It is the unifying element of the plot of a narrative.
• It reflects discoveries, conflicts expression on the main character.
• The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri is a novel that revolves round the
central idea of identify crisis of the main character Gogol who is
stuck between Indian and America culture (Johnson 2016).

Author’s purpose
• Author’s purpose is the reason why he initiates to write on a
particular topic.
• This helps the writer to decide whether the purpose for the writing
is to persuade, entertain, inform or explain his concepts to his
readers.
• For example through ‘Comedy of Errors’, Shakespeare has purpose
of entertaining his audience.

Sensory language
• Sensory language in literature helps the reader to
connect with description, image and scene.
• This includes sight, smell, taste, sound and touch for
creating image.

Tone
• In written composition, tone is
an attitude towards the
audience as well as subject.
• Through the choice of words,
viewpoint of the narrator on a
specific subject can be
conveyed.
• In Hard Time, the tone of
Charles Dickens was quite
serious to show the gravity of
situation.

References
• Bennett, A. and Royle, N., 2016. An introduction to literature,
criticism and theory. Routledge.
• Callaghan, D., 2003. Romeo and Juliet: texts and contexts. New
York: Bedford/St. Martins.
• Hull, S.P., 2015. Charles Lamb, Elia and the London Magazine:
Metropolitan Muse. Routledge.
• Johnson, C.J., 2016. A Grain of Truth: The Spirituality of Food in
Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake.