Literary+Devices

//Pride and Prejudice// and //Persuasion// have many of the same characteristics and Jane Austen employs the use of a plethora of literary devices to paint a picture of her many characters, their raw human emotions, and the importance of their interactions to enhance her stories. Five particular literary devices often found in //Pride and Prejudice// and //Persuasion// are characterization, irony, conflict, foreshadowing, and theme. Many of the literary devices employed in her novels lead to another literary device to form a connective web that elevates Austen’s stories to a higher level.

=__ Literary Devices: __=

1. __Characterization__: “the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character” (//Elements of Literature// 1991)
Jane Austen uses characterization to explain the actions of her characters and give hints for future developments. She also uses characterization in order to further develop each character beyond that of a one-dimensional character.

===2. __Irony__: “a contrast or discrepancy between expectations and reality: between what is said and what is really meant, between what is expected and what really happens, or between what appears to be true and what really is true” (//Elements of Literature// 1196)===

Irony is used in Austen's novels to define several of her characters and to give their speech and personality several layers and dimensions. In certain cases, irony is used to set the tone for the novel, reflect a deeper meaning, add humor, and paint the characters in a unflattering way without seeming overly rude.

3. __Conflict__: “a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions” (//Elements of Literature// 1192)
Conflict is important in Austen’s two novels not only because it progresses the plotline, but because it shows readers the different emotions that each of her characters have. It is through their external and internal conflicts that Austen is able to present the large range of human emotions and to relate them back to 19th century English values and morals.

Jane Austen’s use of conflict in //Pride and Prejudice// and //Persuasion// is not used to determine the good or evil, but to show the depth of human emotion and the internal struggles that reside in the pursuit for love and marriage. It is these conflicts that lead to the atypical romance novel where the couple overcomes hardships in order to truly discover their love for one another.

4. __Foreshadowing__: “the use of clues to hint at what is going to happen later in the plot” (//Elements of Literature// 1195)
Jane Austen subtly uses foreshadowing in many of her character’s speech and personality to allow readers a glimpse of what will come. This literary device is important to the novels because it allows readers to predict what may happen in the future and the impact they have on characters. Besides this, foreshadowing is important to her novels because it also proves as a impetus to demonstrate to readers many of the themes in the novels.

5. __Theme__: “the central idea or insight of a work of literature” (//Elements of Literature// 1203)
Jane Austen’s novels often revolve around similar themes and these two novels written at different spectrums of her writing career showcase these themes. Theme is important to the novels due to the fact that they allow Austen to relate feelings and emotions from all ages into a common thread for her novels. The theme is used in the novels to elevate the deeper meanings of the novels and they make her characters more relatable. Austen uses her irony, wit, and experiences to convey theme in her novels.