Alliteration

 Alliteration

Definition

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Example from Canterbury Tales

"At meat her manners were well-taught withal,;

No morsel from her lips did she let fall," 

(65)

Function

In this excerpt from Canterbury Tales, the repetition of the /m/ sound in "meat her manners" and the /w/ sound in "were well-taught withal" create an overall flow and make the text easier and more enjoyable to read. The use of alliteration creates a musical effect and makes the text more attractive and appealing. In general, it provides emphasis on a particular point being made or makes some aspect of the work more memorable.

Another example

"'Don't lie to me,' Myrtle gasped, tears now flooding down her face, while Peeves chuckled happily over her shoulder. 'D'you think I don't know what people call me behind my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!'" 

                                                        -Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling

Non-original mnemonic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGJu6LzUfYM 

Original mnemonic

Alliterations Are Always Appealing, Attractive, And Awesome!

Posted by Your Renee Lemke

Anaphora

Anaphora

Definition 

The deliberate repetition of the first part of a sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect

Example from Canterbury Tales

“O cursed sin! O blackguardly excess!

O treacherous homicide! O wickedness!

O gluttony that lusted on and diced!

O blasphemy that took the name of Christ”

(347-350)

Function

In these lines from Canterbury Tales, the repetition of the word O is used to draw attention and give prominence to the terrible sins that eventually led to the death of Christ. Phrases with anaphora tend to be short and pointed for dramatic emphasis. In general, anaphora is used both to emphasize ideas and add rhythm to literature, which makes the text more enjoyable to read and easier to remember. In writing it provides an artistic effect; in speech it can be used as a persuasive tactic or emotional appeal.

Another example 

“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.”

-Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

Non-original mnemonic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVfRbctO23I

Original mnemonic

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/19kXZZ-i84b9nqxPIWrrZZ1Y9PbH4P8yLSl3Qj9o3MkY/edit

Omniscient

Omniscient

Definition

To be omniscient is to know everything. In literature, an omniscient point of view or narration is one in which the narrator knows the thoughts and actions of every character in the narrative. This is called third person omniscient, and was arguably the most popular point of view in novels until the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. A third person omniscient narrator can freely jump between different characters’ minds, either in different chapters or even in the same scene. This creates a sense that the narrator is godlike and creates some trust that the narrator is objective and telling the truth. However, it can also be jolting to see into different characters’ thoughts in quick succession.

Example – from Mary Barton

‘How dare you say he shot Mr. Harry?’ “asked Mary, firing up from the state of languid indifference into which she had sunk while Sally had been settling about her dress.”  ‘But it’s no matter what you think, as did not know him. What grieves me is, that people should go on thinking him guilty as did know him,’ “she said, sinking back into her former depressed tone and manner.”

‘And don’t you think he did it?’ asked Sally (Gaskell 276).”

Function

The narrator of "Mary Barton" takes the third person omniscient form, in which the narrator is all-knowing and all-seeing. This narrator knows the thoughts of all the characters, notwithstanding their class. For example, “Mary went very red, and looked annoyed, although there was a secret spring of joy deep down in her heart, at hearing Jem so spoken of.” Her narration is full of pity and sympathy as she anguishes over the great divide between the lower and upper class. The narrator also attempts to present the classes authentically, as she records the local dialect of the working class.

Another example

“You are a slow learner, Winston."

"How can I help it? How can I help but see what is in front of my eyes? Two and two arfour."

"Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane.”   

- George Orwell’s 1984

Non-original mnemonic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBRX17AnXPY

Original mnemonic

O- Old

M- Mr.

N- Nauman

I- Is

S- Smart

C- (and) clever

I- In

E- Everything

N- Not

T- Told

Understatement

Understatement

Definition

Understatement is a way of speaking which minimizes the significance of something. When using understatement, a speaker or writer often employs restraint in describing the situation at hand and uses an expression with less emphasis or strength than would be expected. Understatement is common in many different languages and has been found in very ancient literatures from several different cultures. For example, examples of understatement can be found in the Old English epics like Beowulf as well as ancient Greek texts by Homer. Sometimes authors use understatement for humorous reasons, though more often it is a technique for minimizing one thing, thereby emphasizing another.

Example – from All Creatures Great and Small

“Well, how did the exams go?”

Tristan swallowed carefully and took a deep breath. “Did all right in parasitology,” he replied in a flat monotone.

“How about pathology?”

“Didn’t get it,” he said tonelessly.

“So you failed pathology,” he said conversationally (40-41).

Function

Tristan’s speech is characterized by frequent understatements, as he often fails to grasp the seriousness of a situation. A key example is when Tristan claims he “did all right in parasitology” when he actually failed this class, along with his other subjects. Throughout the book Tristan thinks nothing is a big deal, while Herriot understands the situation and tries to help Tristan with his training to become a veterinarian.

Another example

“There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,

A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes.

This terror of the hall-troops had come far.

A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on

As his powers waxed and his worth was proved.

In the end each clan on the outlying coasts

Beyond the whale-road had to yield to him

And begin to pay tribute.  That was one good king.”

This example of understatement comes from the very beginning of the epic Beowulf. The author explicitly states all of Shield Sheafson’s amazing qualities and ends simply with “That was one good king.”

Non-original mnemonic

Original mnemonic

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/10XpjOtWGO2Xx63LcZ-ALh85mRSd4NfeW6ftNUFU6vpo/edit

Conflict

Conflict

Definition

Conflict- is a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist.

Example- Beowulf

“There was conflict once more after the dragon awoke; intrepid, he slid swiftly along the rock, and found the footprints of an intruder;... He realized at once that one of the race of men had discovered the gold, the glorious treasure”(1636-1641).

Function

Conflict is used many times in Beowulf. It makes the story more exciting and more meaningful for the reader. Because one of the Geats stole from the dragon this would create a battle; a battle which eventually took Beowulf's life. If there had been no conflict than the Geats would not have acquired the dragons great wealth. Without conflict there wouldn’t be any fighting, and Beowulf’s legacy would not have been so great.

Another example

Another kind of external conflict sets a character against the evil that dominates a society. In such conflict a character may confront a dominant group with opposing priorities. For instance, in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, an honest lawyer, Atticus Finch, goes up against the racist society in which he lives. Atticus has the courage to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been falsely accused of a rape. Though Atticus has the support of a few like-minded people, most of the town members express their disapproval of his defense of a black man.

Non-original mnemonic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2vkWpA1Kn0

Original mnemonic

Causing

Opposing

Number(2 or more)

Forces to

Live

In

Contention

Together

Other resources

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/elements.html

Posted by John LeChard