What Literary Device Is Most Clearly Used In This Passage

Unpacking Literary Devices: A Deep Dive into Identifying the Dominant Technique

Determining the most clearly used literary device in a passage requires a nuanced understanding of literary techniques and their application. While many devices might be present, one often dominates, shaping the meaning and effect on the reader more profoundly than others. This article will explore various literary devices, provide clear definitions, and offer a methodology for identifying the dominant technique within a given passage. We will then analyze an example passage to illustrate this process.

Understanding Common Literary Devices

Before we can identify the dominant device, we need to understand the common players. This list isn't exhaustive, but it covers many frequently employed techniques:

• Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things, stating one is the other. Example: "The world is a stage."

• Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as." Example: "He fought like a lion."

• Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Example: "The wind whispered secrets."

• Hyperbole: Exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Example: "I've told you a million times!"

• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words. Example: "Go slow over the road."

• Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words. Example: "All mammals named Sam are clammy."

• Imagery: Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the five senses. Example: "The sun beat down, baking the earth to a crisp, the air thick with the smell of pine and roasting nuts."

• Symbolism: The use of objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Example: A dove often symbolizes peace.

• Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality. This can take many forms, including verbal irony (sarcasm), situational irony (unexpected events), and dramatic irony (the audience knows something the characters don't).

• Foreshadowing: Hints or clues about future events.

• Flashback: Interruption of the chronological sequence to depict events from the past.

• Allusion: A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

• Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds. Example: "Buzz," "hiss," "bang."

• Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Example: "I have a dream… I have a dream…"

A Methodology for Identifying the Dominant Device

Analyzing a passage to determine its most prominent literary device requires a systematic approach:

1. Read the passage carefully: Multiple readings are often necessary to fully grasp the nuances of the author's style and intent.

2. Identify all the literary devices present: Make a list of every literary technique you notice. Don't be afraid to consult resources if you're unsure about a specific technique.

3. Analyze the frequency of each device: Count how many times each device is used. This gives you a quantitative measure of its prominence.

4. Assess the impact of each device: Consider the effect each device has on the overall meaning, tone, and atmosphere of the passage. Some devices might be more impactful than others, even if they appear less frequently. A single, powerfully executed metaphor can outweigh numerous instances of less impactful alliteration.

5. Consider the author's purpose: Why did the author choose these specific devices? How do they contribute to the overall message or theme?

6. Determine the dominant device: Based on frequency, impact, and the author's intent, identify the literary device that most clearly shapes the passage.

Example Passage and Analysis

Let's analyze the following passage:

"The city was a concrete jungle, a sprawling beast of steel and glass, its arteries choked with the relentless pulse of traffic. Each skyscraper clawed at the sky, ambitious fingers reaching for the heavens, while below, the people scurried like ants, lost in their individual mazes of hurried steps and worried frowns. The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of exhaust fumes and desperation, a suffocating blanket draped over the weary souls below."

Identifying Literary Devices:

• Metaphor: "The city was a concrete jungle," "its arteries choked with the relentless pulse of traffic," "Each skyscraper clawed at the sky," "the people scurried like ants."
• Personification: "Each skyscraper clawed at the sky," "the city... its arteries choked."
• Simile: "the people scurried like ants."
• Imagery: "concrete jungle," "sprawling beast of steel and glass," "relentless pulse of traffic," "ambitious fingers reaching for the heavens," "hurried steps and worried frowns," "The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of exhaust fumes and desperation, a suffocating blanket draped over the weary souls below."

Analysis:

While several literary devices are present, the most dominant technique is metaphor. Metaphors are used repeatedly to shape our understanding of the city, portraying it as a hostile, overwhelming environment. The extended metaphor of the city as a "concrete jungle" and a "sprawling beast" establishes the overall tone and atmosphere of the passage, influencing our perception of the setting and its inhabitants. While personification and simile are present, they function to support and enrich the core metaphorical framework. The imagery, though crucial, works in service of the metaphors, enhancing their descriptive power and emotional impact.

Conclusion:

The consistent and impactful use of metaphors to define the city's character and atmosphere makes it the most clearly used literary device in this passage. By applying the methodology outlined above, we can systematically identify the dominant technique and understand its contribution to the overall meaning and effect of a literary work. Remember, careful reading, attention to detail, and an understanding of authorial intent are key to this analysis. The practice of identifying literary devices sharpens your reading comprehension and deepens your appreciation of literature.