Literary Devices Used In The Necklace
“The Necklace” is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant. This story is full of literary devices that make it a masterpiece. It is a story that revolves around greed and the consequences that come with it. Here are some of the literary devices used in “The Necklace”.
Suspense
Suspense is a literary device that creates tension and uncertainty in the mind of the reader. Guy de Maupassant uses suspense in “The Necklace” to keep the reader engaged and interested in the story. The suspense starts when Madame Loisel loses the necklace and the reader is left wondering if she will be able to find it.
Situational Irony
Situational irony is a literary device where the opposite of what is expected happens. In “The Necklace”, Madame Loisel borrows a necklace to look rich and ends up losing it. She then has to replace it with a real one by working hard for ten years. This is an example of situational irony because Madame Loisel wanted to look rich for one night but ends up living a life of poverty for ten years.
Symbolism
Symbolism is a literary device where an object or action represents something else. In “The Necklace”, the necklace symbolizes wealth and status. Madame Loisel borrows the necklace to look wealthy and important, but it ends up causing her downfall.
Metaphor
Metaphor is a literary device where a comparison is made between two things that are not alike. In “The Necklace”, Madame Loisel is compared to a poor woman in a shabby coat. This is a metaphor because Madame Loisel is not actually poor and does not own a shabby coat, but the comparison is made to show her dissatisfaction with her life.
Irony
Irony is a literary device where the opposite of what is expected happens. In “The Necklace”, Madame Loisel loses the necklace and replaces it with a real one, only to find out that the original necklace was actually fake. This is an example of irony because Madame Loisel worked hard to replace the necklace, only to find out that it was not worth anything.
Imagery
Imagery is a literary device where descriptive language is used to create a picture in the mind of the reader. In “The Necklace”, Guy de Maupassant uses imagery to describe Madame Loisel’s dress and the ballroom. This helps the reader to visualize the setting and the characters in the story.
Personification
Personification is a literary device where human qualities are given to non-living objects. In “The Necklace”, the necklace is personified when Madame Loisel describes it as “alive with the life of another”. This helps to create a sense of mystery and intrigue around the necklace.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a literary device where exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. In “The Necklace”, Madame Loisel exaggerates her poverty and her dissatisfaction with her life. This helps to create a sense of sympathy for her character and makes the reader more invested in the story.
Repetition
Repetition is a literary device where a word or phrase is repeated for emphasis. In “The Necklace”, the phrase “she was unhappy all the time” is repeated several times to emphasize Madame Loisel’s dissatisfaction with her life. This helps to create a sense of tension and conflict in the story.
Flashback
Flashback is a literary device where the story moves back in time to show events that happened before the current time. In “The Necklace”, Madame Loisel remembers her past life and her dreams of a better future. This helps to create a sense of nostalgia and longing in the story.
Conclusion
“The Necklace” is a masterpiece of literature that uses various literary devices to create a powerful story. Guy de Maupassant uses suspense, situational irony, symbolism, metaphor, irony, imagery, personification, hyperbole, repetition, and flashback to tell the story of Madame Loisel and her downfall. These literary devices help to create a sense of tension, conflict, and emotion in the story, making it a timeless classic.