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Similes
1. Oroonoko in Coramantien
Explanation and Analysis:
Stylistically, Behn follows in the tradition of many epic romances and quest stories, such as Gawain and the Green Knight and The Odyssey. Oroonoko not only mirrors these epics with regards to plot points (i.e. fighting epic battles, being instantly enamored by a beautiful woman whom the hero then sets out to rescue, etc.), but also in the language used to describe the events taking place. Behn's wording is often overwrought or exaggerated, filled with hyperbole, like when Oroonoko decides to fight the encroaching army:
Come, if we must die, let us meet death in the noblest way; and 'twill be more like Oroonoko to encounter him at an army's head, opposing the torrent of a conquering foe, than lazily, on a couch, to wait his lingering pleasure, and die every moment by a thousand wrecking thoughts.
This type of hyperbolic, sentimental speech is a style of writing common in romantic epics. Oroonoko is a man who seems larger than life; as such, the stylistic elements of the narrative must be tailored to suit his otherworldliness.
Stylistically, Oroonoko also shares similarities with theatrical tragedies, and appears to be divided into three acts: Oroonoko's life in Coramantien, his capture and enslavement, and his revolt and execution. Though the text is not divided into acts by Behn herself, the narrative style mimics this structure. The tragic hero is first established as a person of special significance; he then faces adversity and rises to the challenge; and, finally, he experiences a realization or transformative encounter that ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.
Related Themes:
