Literary Devices Used In Ap Literature
In literature, repetition is a tool used to indicate emphasis and can help determine the tone of a passage. In the beginning, her tone seems regretful and nostalgic, which is most apparently reflected in her repetition- anadiplosis- of “gone”. This repetition is effective because it emphasizes her feelings of loss towards Old Leisure. Anadiplosis is used again, however, to indicate a different tone towards contemporary leisure, when Elliot mentions that “Even idleness is eager now- eager for amusement”. The tone here can be interpreted as critical and slightly satirical, as she criticizes the notion that leisure is being created as a result of technological advances, when in reality, “it only creates a vacuum for eager thought to rush in”.
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Elliot uses personification in creating a picture of Old Leisure as a simplistic, “contemplative, rather stout gentlemen” that the reader can sympathize with, indicating a sympathetic tone. Elliot also uses personification in the paradox “even idleness is eager now” by giving idleness the human trait of feeling eagerness. This further demonstrates the absurdity of how much leisure has changed due to technology, and amplifies her satirical tone. Equally important to the use of personification in identifying tone, if not more than that, is word choice. In the text, Elliot uses descriptions of Old Leisure with positive connotations, such as “easy, jolly conscience”, “innocent of leaders” and “excellent digestion”, to create a positive and idyllic image of leisure and allow the reader to further sympathize with leisure, once more indicating a sympathetic tone from Elliot. Another description to note is her description of looking through a microscope in “cursory peeps”, which points towards a criticism of rushing towards the end of any given activity rather than fully digesting it, supporting her earlier point that “idleness is eager”. The use of “squeamish” paired with “doubts and qualms and lofty aspirations” indicates, once more, a slight mockery of the simple mindedness of Old Leisure. In associating important and common life philosophy with nausea, Elliot further
Elliot uses personification in creating a picture of Old Leisure as a simplistic, “contemplative, rather stout gentlemen” that the reader can sympathize with, indicating a sympathetic tone. Elliot also uses personification in the paradox “even idleness is eager now” by giving idleness the human trait of feeling eagerness. This further demonstrates the absurdity of how much leisure has changed due to technology, and amplifies her satirical tone. Equally important to the use of personification in identifying tone, if not more than that, is word choice. In the text, Elliot uses descriptions of Old Leisure with positive connotations, such as “easy, jolly conscience”, “innocent of leaders” and “excellent digestion”, to create a positive and idyllic image of leisure and allow the reader to further sympathize with leisure, once more indicating a sympathetic tone from Elliot. Another description to note is her description of looking through a microscope in “cursory peeps”, which points towards a criticism of rushing towards the end of any given activity rather than fully digesting it, supporting her earlier point that “idleness is eager”. The use of “squeamish” paired with “doubts and qualms and lofty aspirations” indicates, once more, a slight mockery of the simple mindedness of Old Leisure. In associating important and common life philosophy with nausea, Elliot further