In paragraph 1, the author writes, “He steps on the first stack of cinderblocks and wobbles his way to the door.” Which of the following literary devices is used in this sentence?
A. Assonance, characterized by the repetition of similar vowel sounds in a sentence. This is used to add character to the writing and often adds an element of playfulness.
B. Anastrophe, characterized by a phrase in which the order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged. In standard parlance and writing the adjective comes before the noun but when one is employing an anastrophe the noun is followed by the adjective. This reversed order creates a dramatic impact and lends weight to the description offered by the adjective.
C. Consonance, characterized by the repetition of similar consonant sounds in a sentence. This is used to add character to the writing and often adds an element of playfulness.
D. Epiphany, characterized as a sudden moment of realization or recognition for a character. In an epiphany a character often sees someone or something in a new light.
E. Soliloquy, characterized by one character’s long, solo speech. This is done primarily to express a character’s inner feelings and occurs while other characters remain silent or are not present on stage.
Answer: The correct literary device used in the sentence is C. Consonance. Consonance is characterized by the repetition of similar consonant sounds in a sentence. In this sentence, the repetition of the “w” sound in “wobbles” and “way” adds character to the writing and creates a playful effect. Therefore, the author employs consonance to enhance the description of the character’s movements.