Analysis of A Hero by R.K Narayan

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How does R.K Narayan entertain the reader?

 R.K Narayan is an astute writer,  throughout the story of ‘A Hero’ he ulitised many literary devices to entertain and attach the readers mind into the story.  These devices consisted of the wide and frequent use of juxtaposition, compelling, persistent figurative language, phonology and characterisation.  All these devices fluctuate for describing the humourously characterised Swami. R.K Narayan also used language components to brush up the readers humourous emotions depicted by the dialogues of young Swami. All these components help develop the great statement of ironic courage shown by young Swami. On the other hand the readers aren’t only entertained by the humourous sides of the story but R.K Narayan also brings the element of stereotypical household family. R.K Narayan entertains the reader by creating stereotypical inter family quarrels. The story’s theme not only consists of courage but also family. The portrayal of childish imagination is shown continuously alongside the setting of the Night (dark).  

R.K Narayan entertains the reader by utilising the elements of figurative language. The imagery is seen in the form of sensual and visual imagery ‘The tiger was at his back, and he could hear it’s claws scratch the ground ....scratch, scratch and then a light thud’ this quotation portrays the use of sensual imagery and visual imagery. Here swami’s imagination gets the best of him and his mind creates a image of the tiger seen on the newspaper.  The reader distinguishes the sensual imagery by the effective of the visual imagery of the tiger’s claws created by the Onomatopoeia of the claws. The reader can sense the tiger crawling behind them while reading but, creating the atmosphere isn’t the only effect constructed by the figurative language. The reader is also mystified by how Swami’s father can do this to him, so the figurative language creates pity and sympathy towards Swami.  The entertainment is brought to reader by the imagery because it provides the readers with a tense and frighting atmosphere, increasing their heartbeat. The ellipsis creates a certain pace to the scene, like a increasing heartbeat to the reader, creating more tension.

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Through this story, readers are also entertain by R.K Narayan with the principal use of   juxtaposition which is the comparison of Swami’s courage with the boy in the newspaper. R.K Narayan uses juxtaposition as a basis of this story. It creates the Father and Swami argument, leading to the test of persist courage ‘A man may have the strength of a elephant and yet be a coward/ Leave alone strength, can you prove you have courage’ through both of these quotes you can see the idea of juxtaposition to set up a argument and the test of Father. The ...

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