How Are Literary Devices Used In Five Chimneys

The Holocaust remains one of the darkest and most disturbing events in human history, making it a topic that requires attention from an audience. But what is the best resource to do so? The novel, Five Chimneys is a harrowing memoir written by survivor, Olga Lengyel that chronicles her experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp. In addition, directed by Steven Spielberg, a scene from the infamous film, Schindler’s List contains a scene, known as “Make me a hinge” where a Jewish refugee was mistreated and taken away to die. Both resources are based on the horrific events from the Holocaust and illustrated what life looked like as being incarcerated in the concentration camps. Although the scene “Make me a hinge” exhibits a

For instance, Five Chimneys uses metaphors in chapter thirteen of the novel, saying “The only Lerman in Auschwitz whoever shouted lost his head” (Lengyel 105). Of course, this character did not lose their head, however, this literary device provides a dramatic connection to convey to the audience that this event was very traumatic. Another device used in chapter thirteen of Five Chimneys is irony. Lengyel describes a malicious woman, Irma Griese, to have “her coiffed hair, her striking beauty, and her artful makeup” (Lengyel 108). Lengyel describes this woman, Irma Griese, as a true “beauty,” however, these are descriptions of the outside. The irony used in this quote depicts the opposite of who this woman is; Irma Griese is the one who beat, abused, and tormented Lengyel in the concentration camps. Therefore, this type of device depicts satire and irony of what true evil is in the camps, because what is described of Griese on the outside is not what she is on the inside. In the clip, the director does a great job of utilizing the cinematic technique of diegetic sound to generate a strong sense of tension from the viewer as they worry about the character being attempted for murder by the German guards. However, the gun's disabled trigger is all that can be heard, indicating that the weapon was

For example, “As I turned, I saw Irma Griese coming…, her whip in hand, to designate the next batch for the gas chambers. Why she did not send me there, or shoot me, or put me to death in some more evil fashion, I could never guess” (Lengyel 108). In this quote, said by Lengyel, there is a clear question-and-answer analysis, that the audience receives. There is a lot of uncertainty and inquiry. In lieu, “Make me a hinge,” is so easily processed by the audience. The film moves at a fast pace, meaning the scene cannot provide the same amount of deep thought; there is little deep comprehension from the audience. In the scene, the reason why the guards did not kill the incarcerated man was that the gun was not working, therefore they gave up. In this scene, there was no area for the audience to question the why’s and whats; the questions are already provided and answered in the film. Therefore, Five Chimneys enables the audience to dive deeper and ask questions that cannot be