Literary Devices In A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

While there are many literary devices in A Lesson Before Dying, by Earnest J. Gaines, I believe these are the main three important ones. Each of them helps the reader sense the themes the narrator has set for you to feel. The first device that is important is point of view, since majority of book is seen through Grants eyes. It sets the scene, while you see through a dynamic character who is constantly racially judged. You are a witness to his inner conflicts on the events that take place, and that allows the themes of heroism and sacrifice to be set in this novel. Mood is another literary device, it is set constantly throughout the book as dark and grim, since both Grant and Jefferson sit in their own self pity most of the time. This literary device helps set the theme of racism that takes place in this book, and lastly symbolism is used a lot throughout the novel, with "little" but significant objects like the notebook or Grants Schoolhouse. It is used hand in hand with metaphors too. Symbolism can be seen to carry the theme that is set in some parts for religion and Grants conflicted emotions on his inescapable past.

First, with there being many literary devices in A Lesson Before Dying, out of the three main important ones, point of view is the biggest one used. Since you see through a dynamic character who is constantly racially judged, you witness his inner conflicts on the events that take place. You witness his struggles firsthand, its seen when hes always battling himself to put his words out in a close-minded white society. As a consequence of seeing his thoughts and feelings, you were also able to see how he laboured against his hindrance with Jefferson’s lack of verbal communication. Simply with that perspective, it allows Grant to set a theme of heroism and sacrifice in this novel. Since he sacrifices his time and effort to help with Jefferson, he puts himself forwards to bring Jefferson upwards, even if he did not realize it until it was too late or did not mean to.

The second main literary device is mood, it is shown repeatedly throughout the book. The novel is set to dark and grim, with both Grant and Jefferson sitting in their own self pity most of the time. The use of dialect supports that, since they live in the middle of Louisiana during a very racist time. This literary device helps set the theme of racism that takes place in this book. With the perspective view being through grant, we see how hes always talking himself down from intelligence. He is always battling racism, almost towards himself. Since he makes himself appear less intelligent sometimes, towards the whites. It even ends on a darker note—With everything Jefferson has done, he still would not have been accepted to live. 

Finally, the last literary device to be described would be symbolism. It is used everywhere in A Lesson Before Dying with significant objects and places. It is shown with Jefferson’s dairy, its his best source of reflection on himself and surroundings, he often writes pondering about life and religion, and their purposes. The Schoolhouse is also symbolic, towards Grant. The use of the word hog with Jefferson as seen on page 12 “Miss Emma was not seeing any of that. She was remembering, she was thinking; she was not seeing. “Called him a hog.” She said that, and it was quiet again.” It affected him afterwards, he then referred to himself as a hog, he felt less then a human, less then he was. It is read on page 67 “That’s for youmans,” he said. “You’re a human being, Jefferson,” I said. “I’m a old hog,” he said. “Youmans don’t stay in no stall like this. I’m a old hog they fattening up to kill.”  Another style it is shown through is its even seen in the way they treat food and drink. Throughout the book food was used as a way of showing love, appreciation, care, and even attachment. One time that was shown at the beginning of page 21. It is used hand in hand with metaphors too. The symbolism that is used can be seen to carry the theme that is set in some parts for religion and Grants conflicted emotions on his inescapable past. It’s demonstrated when hes always talking or thinking about leaving the place, far away, but he can’t. Vivian exposes that to him finally, and he must realize he is stuck. He is also conflicted on his beliefs throughout the novel, he is in constant question of the existence of God and his ways or purpose—which goes with the religious theme that’s set in the book. 

Thus, while, there are many literary devices in A Lesson Before Dying, those are the three important ones demonstrated throughout almost the entirety of the book. Earnest J. Gaines did a great job at using point of view, mood and symbolism in appropriate ways to portray what was needed to be set, like the themes of racism, heroism and sacrifice, religion and inescapable pasts.