Irony
The use of irony in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence or word is actually different from the literal meaning. Often irony is used to suggest the stark contrast of the literal meaning being put forth. The deeper, real layer of significance is revealed not by the words themselves but the situation and the context in which they are placed. Click here for a deeper explanation on irony.
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Example from the text:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife” (Austen 3) |
Dramatic Irony
Occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not. Because of this understanding, the words of the characters take on a different meaning.
This example of dramatic irony because we know that Elizabeth had no intrest in Mr. Collins but he belives that Elizabeth likes him
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Example from the text:
“You would have been less amiable in my eyes had there not been this little unwillingness; but allow me to assure you, that i have respected mother's permission for this address” (Austen Ch19) |
Situational Irony
Involves a Situation that has an opposite effect than expected and the outcome is different than expected.
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Example from the text:
"It taught me to hope...as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before"(Austen) |
Verbal Irony
Someone says something but actually means something else to make a meaning
Mr. Collins letter is a great example of verbal irony because he is supposedly sending a letter of condolence but in the letter he says basically that Mr. Bennett did not raise his children right and that it has greatly lowered there social status and that he is very sorry that all the people are talking about the Bennett daughters, even though he is judging them himself
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Example from the text:
And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behavior in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence; though, at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age.(Austen Ch 48) |
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is a literary and rhetorical device that is meant to mock with often satirical or ironic remarks with a purpose to amuse and hurt someone or some section of society simultaneously. For instance:
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Example from the text:
"The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this." (Austen Ch 48) |
Understatement
An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
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Example from the text:
"She looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife."(Austen) |
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize the real situation.
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Example from the text:
"I do assure you that I am not one of those young ladies who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could make you so."(Austen) |
Satire
Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor and irony exaggeration or ridicule.
Austen in this quote uses Lady Catherine who is dressed all fancy how a woman of her class must be dressed and rudely address to Lizzys sister |
Example from the text:
"And that I suppose is one of your sisters." (Austen) |
Horatian Satire
Horatian satire tends to focus lightly on laughter and ridicule, but it maintains a playful tone.
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Example from the text:
"I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?" (Austen) |
Bathos
Bathos is when a writer or a poet falls into inconsequential and absurd metaphors, descriptions or ideas in an effort to be increasingly emotional.
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Example from the text:
When Lydia went away she promised to write very often and very minutely to her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected, and always very short. (Austen Ch.42) |
Parody
Parody is an imitation of a particular writer, artist or a genre, exaggerating it deliberately to produce a comic effect.
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Example from the text:
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Circumlocution
Circumlocution is a rhetorical device that can be defined as an ambiguous or paradoxical way of expressing things, ideas or views.
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Example from the text:
Mr collins is a great example of this |
Caircature
Caricature is a device used in descriptive writing and visual arts where particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated to create a silly or comic effect.
Austen uses Mrs. Bennet and Collins as caricatures in p&p. |
Example from the text:
"She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news." "(Austen) |
Center of Consciousness
Center of consciousness is a method of narration that describes in words the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters.
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Example from the text:
Jane Austen takes us into the minds of our characters to see there true feelings and emotions such as when Elizabeth read Darcy's letters |
Participatory
When the author intrrupts the story and gives an outside opinion
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Example from the text:
Austen does this alot when jane and lizzy are talking |
Authorial Intervention
Authorial Intrusion is an interesting literary device wherein the author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader. Authorial Intrusion establishes a one to one relationship between the writer and the reader where the latter is no longer a secondary player or an indirect audience to the progress of the story but is the main subject of the author’s attention.
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Example from the text:
Austen writes this story in Third person Omniscient to be in complete control of the narration of the story |
Theme
Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly.
I believe the theme of the book is pride through the country and how it affects relationships with people
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Example from the text:
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine” (Austen 15). |
Motif
Motif is an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work.
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Example from the text:
Love is a big Motif in this story and also reputation because all the girls wanted or at least what there mother wanted was that they could get married and maintain the same or better reputation in the village |
Aphorism
Aphorism is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner.
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Example from the text:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters."(Austen 3) |
Epistolary Novel
A novel told through the medium of letters written by one or more of the characters.Each volume explains a different setting.
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Example from the text:
A use of this found when Jane sends a letter to Lizzy about there sister Lydia relationship with Wickham it is a turning point in the book |
Neoclassicism
Neoclassical literature was written between 1660 and 1798. This time period is broken down into three parts: the Restoration period, the Augustan period, and the Age of Johnson.
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Example from the text:
Austen has a very neoclasical style of writing and it enhance her story that breaks it into three parts |
Romanticism
A movement in literature and the fine arts, beginning in the early nineteenth century, that stressed personal emotion, free play of the imagination, and freedom from rules of form.
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Example from the text:
We see this example in Elizabeth and her sisters Austen writes in third person allowing more of this. |
Three Volume Novel
A novel with a Beginning, middle, and end. It also was a standard form of publishing for British fiction during the nineteenth century. It was a significant stage in the development of the modern Western novel as a form of popular literature
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Example from the text:
Pride and prejudice starts with introducing the women at the Bennett household and the woman's characteristics and then by introducing mr Bingley and Darcy and the soliders we get to the middle of the story and then when everyone starts to get married |
Novel of Manners
Is a realistic story that concentrates the reader's attention upon the customs and conversation, and the ways of thinking and valuing of the people of a social class.
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Example from the text:
Jane Austen clearly explains throughly all the manners that a lady and man must have between each other and if one doesn't follow it they could be shamed on by there own village |
Tone
Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience.
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Example from the text:
The reaction Mr Bennett had to Elizabeth’s refusal to marry Collins (107). |
Metonymy
A metonymy is a word or phrase that is used to stand in for another word.
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Example from the text:
When elizabeth changed of heart and love for Mr. Darcy |
Euphemism
The term euphemism refers to polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant.
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Example from the text:
The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's situation, and his expectation of a young olive branch." |
Didactic
"teaching". have the primary aim of teaching or instructing,especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.
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Example from the text:
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Pedantic
an adjective that describes words, phrases or general tone that is overly scholarly,academic or bookish.
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Example from the text:
All of the characters sound bookish to me but the one who stands out is Mr Collins he seems more suck up and like he knows everything |
Sentimental
Sentimentality comes up as an issue for nearly every writer at some point. In attempting to convey strong emotions, it's easy to go too far and make your reader feel manipulated instead of moved.
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Example from the text:
I feel like the writer uses jane alot in this sense |
Coquettish
characteristically flirtatious, especially in a teasing, lighthearted manner.
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Example from the text:
Lydia is a very coquettish person especially once she is with Wickham. |
Allusion
Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
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Example from the text:
"I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love" (Austen 35) |
Anaphora
the deliberate repition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect
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Example from the text:
"Your not well enough - you cannot go yourself" (Austen 184) |
Balanced Causes
Example from the text:
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