Oxymoron -
Example from 1984:
"Freedom is slavery" (4).
This is an oxymoron because freedom and slavery are contradictory words that do not make sense together. It is impossible to be a slave and have freedom at the same time. The author George Orwell uses this technique to show the brainwashing tactics the government used on the citizens of Oceania.
Paradox -
Example from 1984:
"Ignorance is strength" (4).
This quote is a paradox because ignorance and strength contradict each other; all the while, they are possible. It is possible to be ignorant, but have strength. Strength can be physical too. Once again, Orwell uses this paradox to illustrate the brainwashing tactics used on the citizens of Oceania.
Repetition -
Example of repetition from Their Eyes Were Watching God:
"What killed this man?
The chorus answered, 'Bare, bare fat'
What killed this man?
'Bare, bare fat'
What killed this man?
'Bare, bare fat'"
Author Zora Neale Hurston uses repetition with the phrases "what killed this man" and "bare, bare fat" for emphasis. In the scene, buzzards are chanting over the body of a dead mule and the repetition creates a sense of anxiety. Chants are shouted during times of anticipation and through repetition, Hurston is creating this image right before the buzzards attack the mule's body.
Personification -
Example from Their Eyes Were Watching God:
"She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree, soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of a breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her." (11)
Hurston uses lots of personification in her writing. In this quote, Hurston describes the breeze as "breath[ing]" (11). This personification creates the image that the breeze is alive and by having it "panting", it gives the reader an image of an old man out of breath.
Caricature -
Example from 1984:
"It depicted simply an enormous face, more than a meter wide: the face of an man of about forty-five, with a heavy black mustache and ruggedly handsome features" (1).
Orwell describes Big Brother's face as large, wide and thick with a mustache. These exaggerated facial features creates a comical image in the reader's mind of Big Brother looking like video game character, such as Super Mario.
Symbol -
Example from The Stranger:
"Suddenly he stood up, strode over to a far corner of his office, and pulled out a drawer on a file cabinet. He took out a silver crucifix which he brandished as he came toward me."
Camus uses the crucifix as a symbol of Christianity. In The Stranger, Camus has created an absurdist world, in which everything is purposeless and irrational. The crucifix symbolizes structural beliefs in general, including religion, which is considered purposeful.
Structure -
In the novel 1984, Orwell has divided the book into three separate parts. Each part of the book depicts a different stage in Winston's life. The first part is Winston learning about the truth behind the Party, the second part is Winston's understanding of the Party and the last section is Winston's acceptance of the Party. This structure helps divide the novel up and make it easier for the reader to take in all of the information.
Assonance -
Example from 1984:
"The house is surrounded" (222).
The sound "ou" is repeated twice in the same sentence, therefore making it an assonance. The repetition of sound places on emphasis on those certain words.
Juxtaposition -
Example from 1984:
"...instead of the eyes of the girl, the eyes of the aged prisoner gazed mournfully at Winston out of nests of hair" (117).
In this quote, the eyes of the girl are being compared to the eyes of the prisoner. They are placed side by side in the same sentence to show the contrast.
Ambiguity -
Example from 1984:
"By 1970 none of them was left, except Big Brother" (75).
In this example, "them" is ambiguous. It has more than one possible meaning in the context of the book. "Them" could be referring to the citizens of Oceania, the Brotherhood, or past political leaders.
Euphemism -
Example from 1984:
"You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word" (19).
Saying someone is "vaporized" is the politically correct way of saying that someone has been executed by their government in the novel. Saying "vaporized" also sounds less aggressive than saying killed or murdered.
Chronology -
Example from The Stranger:
"I went down, bought some bread and spaghetti, did my cooking, and ate my meal standing" (29).
Written from the perspective of Meursault, Camus uses the technique of chronology to show the sequential order Meursault does things. This technique helps characterize Meursault as a precise man.
Example from 1984:
"It depicted simply an enormous face, more than a meter wide: the face of an man of about forty-five, with a heavy black mustache and ruggedly handsome features" (1).
Orwell describes Big Brother's face as large, wide and thick with a mustache. These exaggerated facial features creates a comical image in the reader's mind of Big Brother looking like video game character, such as Super Mario.
Symbol -
Example from The Stranger:
"Suddenly he stood up, strode over to a far corner of his office, and pulled out a drawer on a file cabinet. He took out a silver crucifix which he brandished as he came toward me."
Camus uses the crucifix as a symbol of Christianity. In The Stranger, Camus has created an absurdist world, in which everything is purposeless and irrational. The crucifix symbolizes structural beliefs in general, including religion, which is considered purposeful.
Structure -
In the novel 1984, Orwell has divided the book into three separate parts. Each part of the book depicts a different stage in Winston's life. The first part is Winston learning about the truth behind the Party, the second part is Winston's understanding of the Party and the last section is Winston's acceptance of the Party. This structure helps divide the novel up and make it easier for the reader to take in all of the information.
Assonance -
Example from 1984:
"The house is surrounded" (222).
The sound "ou" is repeated twice in the same sentence, therefore making it an assonance. The repetition of sound places on emphasis on those certain words.
Juxtaposition -
Example from 1984:
"...instead of the eyes of the girl, the eyes of the aged prisoner gazed mournfully at Winston out of nests of hair" (117).
In this quote, the eyes of the girl are being compared to the eyes of the prisoner. They are placed side by side in the same sentence to show the contrast.
Ambiguity -
Example from 1984:
"By 1970 none of them was left, except Big Brother" (75).
In this example, "them" is ambiguous. It has more than one possible meaning in the context of the book. "Them" could be referring to the citizens of Oceania, the Brotherhood, or past political leaders.
Euphemism -
Example from 1984:
"You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word" (19).
Saying someone is "vaporized" is the politically correct way of saying that someone has been executed by their government in the novel. Saying "vaporized" also sounds less aggressive than saying killed or murdered.
Chronology -
Example from The Stranger:
"I went down, bought some bread and spaghetti, did my cooking, and ate my meal standing" (29).
Written from the perspective of Meursault, Camus uses the technique of chronology to show the sequential order Meursault does things. This technique helps characterize Meursault as a precise man.
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