Unit 6 Overview: Literary Techniques in Longer Works

Literary Techniques in Longer Works: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Longer fiction and drama present authors with the space to explore characters, themes, and symbols in much greater depth than short stories. Just as short fiction benefits from tight, impactful storytelling, Literary Techniques in Longer Works help shape the complexity and nuance of novels and plays. By analyzing elements such as foil characters, nonlinear narrative structures, and symbolic character roles, readers can gain a deeper understanding of how an author develops their literary vision.

This guide will walk through key literary techniques in longer works, helping you sharpen your analytical skills and deepen your appreciation for complex storytelling.

6.1 Interpreting Foil Characters

What is a Foil Character?

A foil character is a character who contrasts another character in order to highlight key traits. This contrast may reveal motives, decisions, and even moral struggles that would not be as evident without the foil’s presence.

Examples of Foil Characters in Longer Works

• Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson (Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle)
  Holmes, with his sharp intellect and detached demeanor, is contrasted with Watson, who is more emotionally grounded. Watson’s relatability makes Holmes’ brilliance stand out even more.

• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson)
  These two characters represent the duality of human nature—Jekyll is rational and moral, while Hyde embodies unchecked evil.

• Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
  Gatsby represents hopeful ambition, while Tom Buchanan symbolizes entitlement and corruption. Their contrast reveals deeper themes about class, love, and moral decay.

Why Foil Characters Matter in Longer Works

Foil characters serve to:

1. Emphasize strengths and weaknesses in the protagonist.

2. Provide insight into themes by creating stark character contrasts.

3. Drive the plot by creating conflict between opposing character perspectives.

6.2 Understanding and Interpreting Character Motives

What Are Character Motives?

Character motives are the underlying reasons for a character’s actions, decisions, and words. In longer works, these motives may be complex, evolving over time.

Identifying Character Motives

1. Speech and Dialogue – What a character says can provide insight into their desires and motivations.

2. Choices and Actions – Actions often reveal true intentions more than words.

3. Contradictions in Behavior – When a character’s actions contradict their words, it signals hidden motives.

Example: Character Motives in Shakespeare’s King Lear

• Edmund – Motivated by ambition and resentment, Edmund betrays his father and brother.

• King Lear – Lear’s initial motive is to divide his kingdom among his daughters based on their expressions of love, but as the play progresses, his true desire for genuine love and loyalty emerges.

6.3 Understanding Nonlinear Narrative Structures

What Are Nonlinear Narratives?

Nonlinear narratives disrupt traditional chronological order by using techniques such as:

• Flashbacks – Events from the past are introduced to provide background information.

• Foreshadowing – Hints about future events create suspense.

• In Media Res – The story starts in the middle of the action, leaving details to be revealed later.

Examples of Nonlinear Narratives in Literature

• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez – Uses a fragmented timeline to tell the multi-generational story of the Buendía family.

• Beloved by Toni Morrison – Flashbacks reveal the traumatic history of Sethe and her struggles with memory.

• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut – The protagonist experiences time non-linearly, reflecting the chaotic nature of war.

Impact of Nonlinear Structures

1. Enhances mystery and suspense

2. Reflects themes of memory and perception

3. Forces readers to engage actively with the text

6.4 The Effect of Narrative Tone and Bias on Reading

Understanding Narrative Tone

Tone refers to the author’s attitude toward the subject or the narrator’s perspective. In longer works, tone can shift depending on character development, plot changes, or theme progression.

Examples of Tone in Literature:

• Ironic and Satirical Tone – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Melancholic and Reflective Tone – The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

• Epic and Grand Tone – Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Unreliable Narrators and Bias

Some narrators mislead or distort reality due to bias, intentional deception, or personal limitations. Unreliable narrators make reading more challenging and require careful interpretation.

Famous Unreliable Narrators:

• Humbert Humbert (Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov)

• Nick Carraway (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

• Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger)

Questions to Ask About Narrative Bias:

• Does the narrator have an agenda?

• Are there contradictions in their account?

• How do other characters react to the narrator’s perspective?

6.5 Characters as Symbols, Metaphors, and Archetypes

Characters as Symbols

Some characters represent larger concepts beyond their individual storylines. Examples:

• Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby) – Symbolizes the American Dream and its corruption.

• The Monster (Frankenstein) – Represents the consequences of unchecked ambition and scientific overreach.

Archetypes in Literature

Archetypes are universal character models that recur across literature and culture.

Common Archetypes in Longer Works:

• The Hero – Odysseus in The Odyssey

• The Mentor – Dumbledore in Harry Potter

• The Trickster – Loki in Norse mythology

6.6 Developing Literary Arguments Within a Broader Context

Steps to Developing a Strong Literary Argument

1. Create a Defensible Thesis

   • Example: In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald critiques the illusion of the American Dream through Gatsby’s tragic downfall.

2. Use Sufficient Evidence

   • Pull direct quotes and textual examples to support your argument.

3. Establish a Line of Reasoning

   • Make clear connections between evidence and the central claim.

Using Other Works for Context

Comparing different works can enhance literary arguments:

• Frankenstein vs. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Science and morality)

• The Catcher in the Rye vs. The Bell Jar (Adolescent alienation)

• 1984 vs. Brave New World (Dystopian control)

Conclusion

The Literary Techniques in Longer Works create depth and complexity that distinguish novels and plays from shorter literary forms. By understanding foil characters, nonlinear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and symbolic characters, readers can uncover deeper meanings in literary works.