ipl-logo

Quicksand Literary Devices

2854 Words12 Pages

Literary devices and their implications in Quicksand by Nella Larsen Quicksand by Nella Larsen used a multitude of different types of literary devices. Some of these literary devices are theme, setting, irony, imagery, symbolism, and foreshadowing. These literary devices allow Nella Larsen to depict a greater understanding of the meaning behind the book. The meaning and uses of literary devices will be broken down and explained in detail until a deeper meaning is revealed. For the themes of this novel it is very apparent that race has something to do with it. The racial division is the main driving force of the conflict. This conflict seems to follow the main character, Helga Crane, wherever she goes. This can be seen when she is working …show more content…

She had kids with the Reverend and also married him. Having the kids and marrying the Reverend was what made her stuck because she could not run anymore and had to stay and take care of her children. This is how the story in its entirety is all symbolism. Aside from the symbolism Nella also uses a lot of imagery. This imagery helps create a very specific setting and mood for each town or city. An example of this is when she moved to rural Alabama with Reverend Green. This quote, “ Helga Crane was not religious. She took nothing on trust. Nevertheless on sundays she attended the very fashionable, very high services in the Negro Episcopal church on Michigan Avenue. She hoped some good christian would speak to her, invite her to return, or inquire kindly if she was a stranger in the city. None did, and she became bitter, distrusting religion more than ever”. The quote talks about Helga’s experience with the church and how she did not ever get approached by anyone. This is very detailed to the point I could picture sitting in the church watching this unfold. That is the level of imagery Nella Larsen put into …show more content…

The irony in Quicksand is in every part of the description of the book that I gave. From the beginning in the public school that Helga worked at. The irony of the school being made for young black girls but then at the same time having a discriminatory staff that does not like Helga for her being mixed race. Another example of irony in Quicksand is when she goes to seek the religious community. After finding this group and the Reverend she finds out that all of the people are extremely shallow and do not actually care about others. This is very ironic because of the fact that the teachings are about treating everyone good but this is not what happens. It is also ironic that Hegla can not find a group to fit in with throughout the whole novel. This is ironic because of the fact that she is mixed

Show More
Related

Use Of Literary Devices In 'The Marrow Thieves'

147 Words | 1 Pages

Literary devices can be seen everywhere. From writing, music, advertisements, and so on. When writing and telling stories, we usually use literary devices to help strengthen the words you write to add more of an impact on the reader while reading. Using literary devices such as. metaphors and similes create comparisons between two different things.

Read More

Literary Devices In Edward Bloor's Tangerine

1333 Words | 6 Pages

The authors use of literary devices give readers the ability to learn, comprehend, and relate the events and characters in the novel to real life situations and

Read More

How Does Jamaica Kincaid Use Literary Devices

501 Words | 3 Pages

Many authors use literary devices to illustrate a tale they are attempting to tell they employ literary devices so that the readers may relate to the problems and emotions of the characters. Jamaica Kincaid illustrates the complexity of her own circumstance through her own literary devices. Kincaid builds the plot and helps the audience grasp the intricacy of Kincaid's predicament by using literary devices including internal conflicts, details, and locales. Kincaid also used strategies like extreme repetition and imagery to highlight the complexity of the narrator's predicament. Kincaid illustrates the complexity of the narrator's condition by utilizing a literary device like internal struggle.

Read More

Literary Devices Used In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

572 Words | 3 Pages

Did you know that authors use many different literary devices to tell a story? A literary device is a technique writers use to make their stories unique and interesting. Literary devices like simile, metaphor, suspense, personification, allusion, irony, foreshadowing, and imagery are used in lots of stories. In the short story ¨The Most Dangerous Game”, Richard Connell uses literary devices such as suspense and simile to help the reader gain a clear understanding of the story. In this essay, I will provide two examples of literary devices used throughout Richard Connell’s short story.

Read More

The Most Dangerous Game Literary Devices Analysis

701 Words | 3 Pages

The reader has to be able to understand or imagine what the devices mean, to enhance the story. A few examples in the story, were difficult to understand due to the reference. For the most part, this story had some great literary devices. In the story The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell

Read More

Examples Of Alliteration In Beowulf

347 Words | 2 Pages

1. Find an example of a literary device and write the example. Be sure to label what device it is and explain how your example fits the description. Alliteration was the literary device used in Beowulf's Last Battle in the sentence "Then Beowulf rose, still brave, still strong and with his shields at his side, and a mail shirt on his breast, strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower". The repeated letter was "s" in the words still, strong, shields, side, shirt, and strode.

Read More

Irony And Themes Of Flannery O Connor

1417 Words | 6 Pages

Also, one should stay true to what they believe in. For example, in the story, Mrs. Freeman tells everyone that she is a true Christian when she keeps her Bible upstairs and rarely looks at it. Don’t lie just to make oneself look to be part of the “good country people”. In the beginning, as Hulga was being introduced, O’Connor explains that Hulga has a love of reading which relates to her career. “The girl had taken the Ph. D. in philosophy and this left Mrs. Hopewell at a complete loss” (O’Connor 104).

Read More

The Book Thief Research Paper

709 Words | 3 Pages

Another literary device shown in the book is foreshadowing. The author uses foreshadowing to hint at the events to come in the story. For example, death often foreshadows upcoming events by providing brief glimpses into the future, such as the death of certain characters. The foreshadowing adds an element of suspense and intrigue, making the reader eager to know what happens

Read More

Use Of Literary Devices In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Birthmark

633 Words | 3 Pages

When we read, we want to truly enjoy what is written we need to become a part of the story. And literary devices help us to better see and feel the storyline. A good storyline captures all of our senses, these devices draw the reader in, paint a picture, heighten the senses, and pull at us emotionally. Throughout Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story The Birthmark, some of the key literary devices used were irony symbol and theme.

Read More

Use Of Irony In The Hunger Games And The Lottery

1446 Words | 6 Pages

Irony is often used in literature to illustrate certain situations to the audience. In some pieces of literature that might be pointing out an unjust system, in others that might be to add a comedic effect, but whatever situation the author wants to illustrate, irony is very beneficial. Through small and witty, one-liners, or a bigger dramatic irony situation contrasting two very different situations, irony can be very beneficial for the reader to understand the story. Both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins have a corrupt dystopian society. Through the use of irony, the author can portray the corruptness to the audience.

Read More

Examples Of Discrimination In The Secret Life Of Bees

813 Words | 4 Pages

During this time racial tension was high and white people refused to let the blacks to associate with them. In the novel Rosaleen gets arrested for trying to register to vote, and then the police let white men beat her up. June Boatwright is racist towards Lily, as Lily is a white girl going in to live with a household of blacks. May Boatwright kills herself from mental illness which was brought on from racism. Racism in today’s

Read More

The Man In The Black Suit Literary Devices Analysis

1337 Words | 6 Pages

Literary devices are used by an author to enhance a story. These devices can help to make a piece more descriptive, complex and thrilling. Literary devices can also help the reader further understand the text. Conflict, characterization, and imagery are exemplary examples of literary devices used by authors. Conflict is one of the most essential literary devices.

Read More

The Chrysalids By John Wyndham: Literary Analysis

812 Words | 4 Pages

Although there are many literary devices that are used in this novel the ones that I feel are the best used are; symbol, foreshadowing, and lastly pathos. The first literary device that I will be talking about is Symbol. The device symbol plays a very important part of this novel, as there are a few important and vital symbols such as; the cross, dream, and Sophie herself. The cross is an important symbol in this novel because as it what everyone wears on their

Read More

Situational Irony In Ray Bradbury's There Will Come Soft Rain

939 Words | 4 Pages

Situational Irony is a very important element in literature and can be found in many famous literary works including Ray Bradbury’s There Will Come Soft Rains. Situational Irony adds drama to the story and engages the reader. There are three specific examples of situational irony in There Will Come Soft Rains: The house continues to perform its daily tasks even though no one lives there, the house is destroyed by a tree branch that starts a fire yet it survived a nuclear fallout, and Mrs. McClellan’s favorite poem describes the situation in the story. The first example of situational irony can be seen in the fact that the house continues to do its everyday tasks even though all of the humans that used to live there are dead.

Read More

Literary Devices Used In The Story Of An Hour

550 Words | 3 Pages

“The Story Of An Hour” uses Literary Devices. Literary Devices are specific language techniques which writers use to create text that is dear, interesting, and memorably. The literary devices in “The Story Of An Hour” are Irony, Symbolism, Imagery, and Allegory. Irony means the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically, for humorous or emphatic effect. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Read More

More about Quicksand Literary Devices

Related Topics

Open Document