GRE Subject Test: Literature in English

The GRE Subject Test in Literature in English assesses knowledge and understanding of literary texts, critical analysis, and interpretation skills.

Major Literary PeriodsGenres and FormsClose Reading and Critical Analysis
Critical Theories and SchoolsIntertextuality and AllusionAdvanced Literary Devices
Analyzing Unseen PassagesComparative AnalysisBuilding Interpretive Arguments
Time Management for the GRE Literature TestProcess of Elimination
Major Literary Perio...Genres and FormsClose Reading and Cr...Critical Theories an...Intertextuality and ...Advanced Literary De...Analyzing Unseen Pas...Comparative AnalysisBuilding Interpretiv...Time Management for ...Process of Eliminati...
Advanced Topics

Advanced Literary Devices

Mastering Complex Literary Techniques

Beyond simile and metaphor, literature is full of advanced devices that add subtlety and sophistication.

Notable Devices

  • Metonymy and Synecdoche: Using a part to represent the whole or vice versa.
  • Irony (Dramatic, Verbal, Situational): Saying one thing and meaning another, or when the audience knows more than the characters.
  • Stream of Consciousness: A narrative style that mimics a character’s thought process.
  • Unreliable Narrator: A narrator whose credibility is compromised.

Why They Matter

Recognizing these devices helps you analyze texts more effectively and answer tricky GRE questions.

Examples

  • Spotting stream of consciousness in James Joyce’s Ulysses.

  • Identifying metonymy in Shakespeare’s 'lend me your ears.'

In a Nutshell

Advanced literary devices create complex meanings and challenge readers’ interpretations.

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Analyzing Unseen Passages