How Are Literary Techniques Used In Susanna Kaysen's Girl Interrupted

In “How to read literature like a professor” by Thomas Foster he explains different literary techniques that writers use when writing a story. Some of these techniques were symbolism, tone, major conflicts, foreshadowing and using certain settings. Even though all of these techniques are important to the story, symbolism is more important because it is used the most throughout the book. Symbolism is the use of people or objects to portray a certain idea or quality of something.

The film “Girl, Interrupted” is a true story adapted from the original memoir by Susanna Kaysen. Set in the 1960s, it relates her experiences during her stay in a mental institution after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder following a suicide attempt. Many films include characters with a mental illness; the actors who play these characters have the immense challenge of staying true to the illness they portray.

There are copious examples of literary devices in the novella, but only three will be discussed. The first and foremost common device was that of

Susanna Kaysen’s “Girl Interrupted,” is an autobiography in relation to Kaysen’s two-year stay at a mental hospital as she battles borderline personality disorder. Although in denial, Susanna Kaysen is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder but is unable to come to terms with her illness as she reassures herself she is fine. The reader learns that Kaysen is an unreliable narrator that is unable to discover the truth behind her illness. Through the exploration of her relationships, actions, and opinions, enhances the fact that Kaysen is mentally ill. Through her past and present relationship’s, Susanna demonstrates her self-destructive tendencies. Kaysen’s impulsivity in the novel is another indication that her diagnosis is fitting. Finally, Kaysen’s thought process and anxious behavior further prove her as a candidate for BPD.

Literary Device Glossary: Night Metaphor Examples/evidence: "We were still trembling, and with every screech of the wheels, we felt the abyss opening beneath us.” (Page 25) Effect/purpose: An abyss didn’t literally open beneath them, this was said metaphorically to describe the hope lowering within the jews as time passed. ~ Personification Examples/evidence: " But it was all in vain.

In order for readers to be able to bloom their visual imagery from “Girl,” Kincaid uses repetition in two main ideas throughout the short story. The first idea she really wants to get across is singing benna, a type of music that centers on scandalous gossip. She writes, “is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?” This is toward the beginning of the story, and readers who do not recognize the word “benna” will be

There are some key, unique approaches to mental illness that have been inculcated into the theme of the film. One of these, and most probably the most potent, is the issue of questioning the true existence of mental illness. On repeated occasions, Susanna questions the true validity of her diagnosis. Even at the end of the film, she still questions the effectiveness of her treatment

Another very well used literary device in this story is personification. Personification is when an inanimate object is given human attributes. In the specific instance

The literary devices that is consistently used is connotation. The authors use of words such as; syntax(line 3), spring(line

In order to properly view a story from a feminist perspective, it is important that the reader fully understands what the feminist perspective entails. “There are many feminist perspectives, and each perspective uses different approaches to analyze and interpret texts. One is that gender is “socially constructed” and another is that power is distributed unequally on the basis of sex, race, and ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, ability, sexuality, and economic class status” (South University Online, 2011, para. 1). The story “Girl” is an outline of the things young girls

For a reader in 2017 “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid might seems very surreal and harsh as a story; mostly because of the very grating and mean language that is used when the mother is talking. The mother’s heartless language makes is really uncomfortable even though at the end of the day, she speaks nothing but love into her daughter’s life. She is giving her daughter social and family teachings, sharing with her the cultural and social values that will help her girl to have a peaceful and respected household and a happy life.

The most used literary device in It’s

The film, “Girl Interrupted” directed by James Mangold focuses on the lives of many women who have a psychological disorder. I will focus specifically on Susanna Kaysen, an 18 year old, who struggles with mental health issues during and after high school. Susanna voluntarily admits herself to psychiatric ward after an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide by taking a bottle of vodka with aspirin. Her decision was influenced by a short consultation with a family acquainted psychiatrist, because she is informed that she will only stay a few weeks. Afterall, she was institutionalized for a year and a half. Psychotherapy will attempt to diagnose and treat the disorder or symptoms she experiences, through analyzing psychological theory(s), that best understand her thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The biosocial theory effectively supports Susanna’s diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), while Behavior Analytic Theory could be applied in the treatment of Susanna’s symptoms and correcting her behavior.

Figurative language is one of the literary aspects. For example: ‘’I never understood why you would ever feel the need to shoot the fish in the barrel. I mean, they're in a barrel, you've already caught them. The hard work's done, they can't escape. So if you want them dead, just drain the water out. Why bring guns into it?” Another literary example used in the book is the use of syntax. The following quote demonstrates the author’s use of the correct syntax in his writing. “I don't understand a thing about this world: about people, and why they do the things they do. The more I find out, the more I uncover, the more I know, the less I understand.” Lastly, the author explains his point of view very well so that the reader can truly understand the author’s point of view. For example: ‘’Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a

The film Girl, Interrupted focused on an eighteen year old girl by the name Susanna that was admitted into a private mental hospital after being accused of a suicidal attempt. The movie follows Susanna on her journey in the institution as she encounters women with different admittance stories. The one who intrigues Susanna the most is Lisa. Lisa is thought to be a sociopath with the way she manipulates those around her to get her way. She is constantly in and out of the institution causing those around to fear, yet admire her. My main focus will be on Lisa and although it was not specified in the film just how old she is, she seemed to be around the same age group as Susanna. This means that, according to Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages, she is on stage five or six. Stage five happens during adolescence where ones primary task is their identity versus their own role in society whereas stage six happens in young adulthood and one faces intimacy versus isolation. The article incorporated gives more insight on how Erikson’s stages play hand in hand with one another and can potentially affect the mental state of someone if not successfully fulfilled. There is also a possibility that, with the ‘symptoms’ of a sociopath, Lisa could have had past problems during what Sigmund Freud considered the anal stage of her childhood.