Literary Devices

“New Year’s Day” by Edith Wharton uses literary device to reveal the social values and customs have changed. Edith uses various literary devices in the opening of her short story. Through the title, Edith shows the transition from “old” New York to a “new” New York, in which the customs are very different. New Year’s Day is often a point that people use to start over and work on their “New Year Resolutions.” It’s a time where people see change, and the change in New York Customs, according to Edith, was drastic. The literary devices used in “New Year’s Day” by Edith Wharton help to reveal the social values and customs that have changed through the years. Edith writes in first person narration and because of this the reader is able to see his true feelings and his opinion on the changes in social values and customs. The second sentence in the passage is a flashback. The second sentence says, “They used to meet at the Fifth Avenue Hotel…” The use of this literary device is to show that the author is looking back in time and reminiscing. The author constantly uses flashbacks throughout the passage. For example, the Edith writes, “They used to meet at the Fifth Avenue Hotel” and “They met in hotels.” Through these examples we
She reflects on old customs and social values and it is shown through her word choice. She chooses to use words and phrases that are colloquial and familiar to her heritage. “,and my infantile memory barely reached back to the time when Grandmamma, in lace lappers and creaking “moire”, used to receive on New Year’s Day, supported by her handsome married daughters.” Not everyone is familiar with the term Grandmamma, as well as Grandmamma’s attire. The colloquialism carries on throughout the rest of the passage, as Edith continues to mention “prunella,” and “sarcenet,” which both describe a type of