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English: Literature

Department of HSS, JIIT,

Noida
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Topics to be covered:
• Literature: Definition & Meaning
• Need to study Literature
• English Language and Literature: Inter-relation
• Approaches to study Literature
• Literary Devices: Meaning
• Literary Devices: Types

• Resource to be consulted for further reading:

• https://literarydevices.net/
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Definition
• Literature means those novels, short
stories, plays and poems which convey
their message by paying considerable
attention to language which is rich and
multilayered.
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Why Study Literature

• Literature has aesthetic and cognitive
value.
• The English language is deep-rooted in
literature.
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Aesthetic and Cognitive Values of

Literature

• For oft when on my couch I lie

• Eyes raised, I see the moon so bright
• Head bent, in homesickness I’m drowned
• What is this life if full of care
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The English language is deep-

rooted in literature.
• A little learning is a dangerous thing.
• For fools rush in where angels fear to
tread.
• To err is human; to forgive, divine.
---Alexander Pope
• The child is the father of man
---William Wordsworth
• A pound of flesh—Shakespeare
catch-22 --- Joseph Heller
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3 basic approaches

• A language-based approach

• A content-based approach

• Literature for personal enrichment

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How to Study Literature

• By close reading

• Be familiarized with some literary

devices

• Background information
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WHAT ARE LITERARY DEVICES?

• Literary devices are techniques writers

use to engage their readers beyond the
literal meaning of the text.
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Alliteration
• Alliteration is derived from Latin’s “Latira”.
It means “letters of alphabet”. It is a stylistic
device in which a number of words, having
the same first consonant sound, occur close
together in a series.

• Examples :

• But a better butter makes a batter better.

• Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood

there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever
dared to dream before
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Assonance
• Assonance is a literary device in which
the repetition of similar vowel sounds takes
place in two or more words in proximity to each
other within a line of poetry or prose. Assonance
most often refers to the repetition of internal
vowel sounds in words that do not end the same.

• Examples :

• He fell asleep under the cherry tree

• Dumb luck
• This little light of mine, I‘m going to let it shine
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Hyperbole

A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used

for emphasis or effect.

An extravagant statement or figure of speech not

intended to be taken literally.

Examples :

I waited an eternity for summer to get here!

He could have slept for a year.
This book weighs a ton.
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Imagery

Descriptive words or phrases that appeal

to the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, taste,
and smell- creating a picture in the
reader’s mind.
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What Is an Image?

Listen to this excerpt of “The Shell” by James Stephens and

imagine the scene he describes.

And straightway like a bell

Came low and clear
The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas,
..............................
And in the hush of waters was the sound
Of pebbles rolling round,
For ever rolling with a hollow sound.
And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go
Swish to and fro
Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey.
—from “The Shell” by James Stephens
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Quick Check
Which words
appeal to the
sense of
And straightway like a bell hearing?
sight? touch?
Came low and clear
The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas,
..............................
And in the hush of waters was the sound
Of pebbles rolling round,
For ever rolling with a hollow sound.
And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go
Swish to and fro
Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey.
—from “The Shell” by James Stephens
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Quick Check
Which words
And straightway like a bell
appeal to the
Came low and clear sense of
The slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, hearing?
.............................. sight? touch?
And in the hush of waters was the sound
Hearing
Of pebbles rolling round,
For ever rolling with a hollow sound. Sight
And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters go
Touch
Swish to and fro
Their long, cold tentacles of slimy grey.
—from “The Shell” by James Stephens
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Metaphor

A figure of speech in which two things are

compared, usually by saying one thing is another,
or by substituting a more descriptive word for the
more common or usual word that would be
expected.

Examples :

the world's a stage

he was a lion in battle
drowning in debt
a sea of troubles.
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God looked around His garden
And saw an empty space
He then looked down upon this
Earth
And saw your tired face

He knew that you were suffering

He knew you were in pain
He knew that you would never
Get well on Earth again

He knew the roads were getting

rough
The mountains hard to climb
So he puts his arms around you
and
Whispered Peace be Thine

He closed your weary eyelids

And lifted you for rest
This garden must be beautiful
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Personification

A figure of speech in which things or ideas are

given human attributes.

Examples :

Dead leaves dance in the wind

Blind justice
Winter wrapped her cold fingers around me
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Repetition

A word or line that is repeated, usually to evoke an

emotion or create a rhythm.
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“There were so many important moments. If I’d

missed the ticket, I wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t
gone to the show, I wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t
stuck around to see what Steve was up to, I
wouldn’t be here. If I hadn’t stolen Madam
Octa, I wouldn’t be here. If I’d said no to Mr.
Crepsley’s offer, I wouldn’t be here.

A world of “ifs”, but it made no

difference. What was done was done. If I could
go back in time…” ~Cirque Du Freak by Darren
Shan
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Rhyme

The occurrence of the same sound at the end of

two or more words.

Examples :

cat / hat
desire / fire
steak / fake
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English is a Pain! (Pane)
Rain, Reign, rein,
English is a pain.
Although the words
Sound just alike
The spelling’s not the same!

Bee, Be, B
I’d rather climb a tree
Than learn to spell
The same old word,
Not just one way, but three!

Sight, Site, Cite

I try with all my might.
No matter which
I finally choose,
It’s not the one that’s right!

There, Their, They’re,

Enough to make you swear.
Too many ways
To write one sound,
I just don’t think it’s fair!

To, Two, Too

So what’s a kid to do?
I think I’ll do
To live on Mars
And leave this mess with
ewe! (you?)

By Shirlee Curlee Bingham

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Simile

• A simile is a figure of speech in which two

essentially dissimilar objects or concepts
are expressly compared with one another
through the use of “like” or “as.”

• She felt like a wilted flower.

• The boy charged in the room like a bull!
• This class is like a 3 ring circus!
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The aliens have landed!
It’s distressing, but they’re
here.
They piloted their flying saucer
Through our atmosphere.

They landed like a meteor

Engulfed in smoke and flame.
Then out they climbed
immersed in slime
And burbled as they came.

Their hands are greasy

tentacles.
Their heads are weird
machines.
Their bodies look like
cauliflower
And smell like dead sardines.

Their blood is liquid helium.

Their eyes are made of granite.
Kenn Nesbitt Their breath exudes the stench
of foods
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PUNS
• A pun is a literary device that is also known as a “play on
words.” Puns involve words with similar or identical
sounds but with different meanings. Their play on words
also relies on a word or phrase having more than one
meaning. Puns are generally intended to be humorous, but
they often have a serious purpose as well in literary works.

• When my algebra teacher retired, he wasn’t ready for the

aftermath.
• I recently spent money on detergent to unclog my kitchen
sink. It was money down the drain.
• Geometry is so pointless.
• Romeo: “Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with
nimble soles; I have a soul of lead” — From Romeo and
Juliet.
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Symbolism
The use of one thing to represent
another

Example:

The dove is a symbol of peace.

A red rose or red color stands for love or romance.
Black is a symbol that represents evil or death.
Lamb symbolizes innocence
A flag stands for freedom
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Paradox

A seeming contradiction.
Examples:
“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”
“You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim.”
“Be cruel to be kind.”-from Hamlet by Shakespeare
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SATIRE

A text or performance that uses irony, derision, or

wit to expose or attack human vice, foolishness, or
stupidity.
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IRONY
• The expression of one's meaning by using
language that normally signifies the opposite,
typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

• A state of affairs or an event that seems

deliberately contrary to what one expects and
is often wryly amusing as a result.
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Examples:
• A fire station burns down.

• A character stepping out into a hurricane and

saying, “What nice weather we're having!

• “The Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry is a story of

two people, much in love, who are very poor and
want to give a Christmas gift to one another. She
is very proud of her long, beautiful hair and he is
equally proud of his pocket watch. The irony
comes in to play when she cuts and sells her hair
to buy him a chain for his watch, and he sells the
watch to buy her combs for her hair.
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SOLILOQUY
A monologue in which a character expresses
his or her thoughts to the audience and does
not intend the other characters to hear them.

Examples:

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” from

Hamlet written by Shakespeare
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Learning & Relevance

• Literary devices are techniques for

effective communication.
• They help in portraying a picture through
words.
• They are used to express ideas and
improve the writing.
• They can really enhance your work and
create a deeper level of meaning that
readers will enjoy decoding.
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Let’s Revise!

• Literature has _______and _______ value.

• There are______ approaches of studying

literature.

• Identify the literary devices:

• Deep down, you're really shallow.

• I'm drowning in a sea of grief.
• The wind howled in the night.
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References
• https://slideplayer.com/slide/4796851/#:~:text=2%20Definition%
20Literature%20means%20those,which%20is%20rich%20and%2
0multilayered.&text=Stylistics%20is%20such%20a%20way,under
stand%20how%20messages%20are%20conveyed
.
• https://slideplayer.com/slide/10206722/#:~:text=ARE%20LITERA
RY%20DEVICES%3F,LITERARY%20DEVICES%20ARE%20TECH
NIQUES%20WRITERS%20USE%20TO%20ENGAGE%20THEIR%
20READERS,Figurative%20Language%20Figurative%20Languag
e
.
• https://literarydevices.net/
• https://figurativelanguage.net/what-is-satire-definition-and-meani
ng.html

• https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-devices/
• https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-situational-irony