Aspects of literary style: literary devices
Aspects of literary style: literary devices
Literary Devices in Vera Historia
Use of Satire
- Vera Historia is a form of Menippean satire, which blends prose and verse to criticise established beliefs and practices.
- Lucian mocks the exaggerations of other authors by creating even more outlandish and absurd stories in his own work.
- He frequently uses irony, creating a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant or between what is expected and what actually occurs.
Hyperbole and Exaggeration
- An evident feature of Lucian’s style is his use of hyperbole or exaggerated claims that are not meant to be taken literally.
- Lucian stretches the truth to absurd lengths to amuse his readers and make a point about the unreliability of some previous accounts of history and mythology.
Parodic Elements
- Vera Historia often features parody, a characteristic of Lucian’s satirical humour.
- This involves mimicking the style and content of various travel narratives, myths, and philosophical ideas in an exaggerated, comic manner.
Use of Metaphor and Simile
- Lucian employs metaphor and simile to engage the reader and provide vivid and imaginative descriptions of the events and characters in his story.
- For example, he describes cloud-cuckoo-land as ‘like Athens but more grandiose’, effectively using simile to present an exaggerated, fantastical imagery.
Imagery
- The text is filled with vibrant and exotic imagery to captivate the reader’s attention and immerse them in Lucian’s extraordinary adventures.
- These detailed descriptions play a pivotal role in creating the surreal and fantastical world within ‘Vera Historia’.
Direct Speech
- Lucian frequently uses direct speech throughout Vera Historia, aiding character development and promoting reader engagement.
- This stylistic choice brings personalities to life and provides direct access to their thoughts, feelings, and perspectives.