Literary Devices in the Novel
"Cheese, like oil, makes too much of itself. It wants the whole boat to itself." (pg. 24) In this sentence, personification is used. The cheese is given the traits of a human being by saying that it "wants the whole boat to itself". Also, this phrase has some essence of simile in it. In the phrase, the author is saying "like oil"- which is a simile.
"..and he pretended that the lemons were rats, and got into the hamper and killed three of them before Harris could land him with the frying pan." (pg. 31) This sentence is figurative language.
"In the sunlight- in the daytime, when Nature is alive and busy all around us... when our Mother Earth has gone to sleep, and left us waking, oh! the world seems so lonesome, and we get frightened like children in a silent house." In this sentence nature and earth are given traits of a human being. This is called personification.
"You don't expect correct phrasing or vocalization. You don't mind if a man does find out, when in the middle of a note, that he is too high, and comes down with a jerk. You don't bother about time. You don't mind a man being two bars in front of the accompaniment, and easing up in the middle of a line to argue it out with the pianist, and starting the verse afresh." (pg. 60) In the quotation all the sentences start with the same words- "You don't". This literary device is called anaphora.
"'Ah! and now you are going to have a hard time on the river for a change; change is good for everyone.'" (pg.69) In this quote, "change" is the last word of one clause and becomes the first of the next. This repetition is called gradatio. Also, in this sentence "ah!" is a word whose pronunciation imitates the sound made. This is called onomatopoeia.
"'I should like to see them pull the wrong line,' murmured George," (pg. 73) Murmured is another example of onomatopoeia.
"Don't you, any of you, worry yourselves about that." (pg. 16) This sentence involves exaggeration for the sake of emphasis. This literary device is called hyperbole.
"'Don't stop,' you roar." Roar is another example of onomatopoeia.
.. and to camp in one of the many picturesque inlets to be found round that tiny shore. (pg. 79) The words "found and round" are literary devices called alliteration. More specifically, this alliteration has the repetition of the consonants and this is called consonance.
"Oh-what-a-wicked-this-is-and-how-I-wish-I-could-do-something-to-make-it-better-and-nobler expression about Montmorency that has been known to bring the tears into the eyes of pious old ladies and gentlemen. (pg. 14) This literary device is called a compound adjective. A compound adjective is a single adjective that is made up of more than one word. The compound adjective in this quote gives me a clearer idea about Montmorency's character.
"'Be dull and soulless like a beast of the field- a brainless animal with listless eyes,'" (pg.82) In this quote, "like a" is a literary device which is called a simile.
"..and he pretended that the lemons were rats, and got into the hamper and killed three of them before Harris could land him with the frying pan." (pg. 31) This sentence is figurative language.
"In the sunlight- in the daytime, when Nature is alive and busy all around us... when our Mother Earth has gone to sleep, and left us waking, oh! the world seems so lonesome, and we get frightened like children in a silent house." In this sentence nature and earth are given traits of a human being. This is called personification.
"You don't expect correct phrasing or vocalization. You don't mind if a man does find out, when in the middle of a note, that he is too high, and comes down with a jerk. You don't bother about time. You don't mind a man being two bars in front of the accompaniment, and easing up in the middle of a line to argue it out with the pianist, and starting the verse afresh." (pg. 60) In the quotation all the sentences start with the same words- "You don't". This literary device is called anaphora.
"'Ah! and now you are going to have a hard time on the river for a change; change is good for everyone.'" (pg.69) In this quote, "change" is the last word of one clause and becomes the first of the next. This repetition is called gradatio. Also, in this sentence "ah!" is a word whose pronunciation imitates the sound made. This is called onomatopoeia.
"'I should like to see them pull the wrong line,' murmured George," (pg. 73) Murmured is another example of onomatopoeia.
"Don't you, any of you, worry yourselves about that." (pg. 16) This sentence involves exaggeration for the sake of emphasis. This literary device is called hyperbole.
"'Don't stop,' you roar." Roar is another example of onomatopoeia.
.. and to camp in one of the many picturesque inlets to be found round that tiny shore. (pg. 79) The words "found and round" are literary devices called alliteration. More specifically, this alliteration has the repetition of the consonants and this is called consonance.
"Oh-what-a-wicked-this-is-and-how-I-wish-I-could-do-something-to-make-it-better-and-nobler expression about Montmorency that has been known to bring the tears into the eyes of pious old ladies and gentlemen. (pg. 14) This literary device is called a compound adjective. A compound adjective is a single adjective that is made up of more than one word. The compound adjective in this quote gives me a clearer idea about Montmorency's character.
"'Be dull and soulless like a beast of the field- a brainless animal with listless eyes,'" (pg.82) In this quote, "like a" is a literary device which is called a simile.