Literary Elements
Symbol: a thing that stands as or represents something else
Example: When Mrs. Bennet talks of Mr. Bingleys good fortune and nice house, she implies that to mean he is high class. “Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.”“Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”
Foreshadow: a warning or indication of a future event
Example: Miss Bingley warns Elizabeth of Mr. Wickhmam being a non-trustworthy person. “Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy’s using him ill, it is perfectly false; for on the contrary, he has always been remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner.”
Allusion: a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events.
Example: “Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce’s Sermons.” The reference is that Mr. Collins picks this book to read to the Bennets, and he himself is a clergyman.
Irony: a literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem.
Example: Charlotte to Elizabeth about Mr. Darcy “I dare you say you will find him very agreeable.” Elizabeth replies “Heaven forbid!-That would be the greatest misfortune of all!-To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate!-Do not wish me such an evil!”
or “Mr. Darcy is all politeness” Elizabeth said, smiling.
Satire: the use of irony, sarcasm and ridicule to expose or point out foolishness.
Example: When Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth he claims to be of a higher class than she is, when really he is not. “You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for believing it are briefly these:-it does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you.”
Example: When Mrs. Bennet talks of Mr. Bingleys good fortune and nice house, she implies that to mean he is high class. “Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.”“Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”
Foreshadow: a warning or indication of a future event
Example: Miss Bingley warns Elizabeth of Mr. Wickhmam being a non-trustworthy person. “Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy’s using him ill, it is perfectly false; for on the contrary, he has always been remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner.”
Allusion: a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events.
Example: “Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce’s Sermons.” The reference is that Mr. Collins picks this book to read to the Bennets, and he himself is a clergyman.
Irony: a literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem.
Example: Charlotte to Elizabeth about Mr. Darcy “I dare you say you will find him very agreeable.” Elizabeth replies “Heaven forbid!-That would be the greatest misfortune of all!-To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate!-Do not wish me such an evil!”
or “Mr. Darcy is all politeness” Elizabeth said, smiling.
Satire: the use of irony, sarcasm and ridicule to expose or point out foolishness.
Example: When Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth he claims to be of a higher class than she is, when really he is not. “You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for believing it are briefly these:-it does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of De Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you.”