SUBMITTED BY : Syed Basila Jehan

DEPARTMENT: B.A Honours 3rd Sem

Roll No : ENGH–17–33
SUBMITTED TO : Miss Tooba Rashid

Literary Devices in
She Stoops to Conquer

INTRODUCTION :
Oliver Goldsmith is a great Irish poet , novelist , playwright , and man
of letters. He was born in 1728 in Ballymahon, County Longford,
Kingdom of Ireland, or Elphin, County Roscommon, Kingdom of
Ireland. He belonged to the circle of Johnson , Burke and Reynolds –
“The Club”. The Traveller (1764) and The Vicar of Wakefield (1766)
earned him literary distinction and reputation. She Stoops to
Conquer (1773) is his dramatic prominent piece of work whose
complicated plot is based upon practical jokes , miscommunication
and mistaken identities.
Literary techniques or devices can be defined as any
element or entirety of elements that a writer uses in the structure of
his/her work to add meaning and depth to the subject. Literary
devices add texture,energy,new meanings and excitement to the
storyline.It helps to hold the attention of readers in order to look for
the deeper meaning presented in a simple manner by the writer.

EXAMPLES OF LITERARY DEVICES IN

She Stoops to Conquer :

1 . SETTING :
M.H Abrams and Geoffrey Galt Harpham describes setting in their
book A Glossary of Literary Terms (1957) on pp. 362 as ,
“ The overall “setting” of a narrative or dramatic work
is the general locale, historical time, and social
circumstances in which its action occurs.. ”
The physical setting of She Stoops to Conquer (1773) is more of
a rural side. Most of the action of the play takes place in the “old
mansion” in English countryside and a brief episode occurs in a
nearby tavern “The Three Pigeons” The play was performed in
1773 thus the time of it is 18th century (Romantic era). Formal
education was not a prominent feature of society and main
medium of transport were carts and horses. Examples from the
text :
• “Scene I–A chamber in an old fashioned house” (Setting of Act I ,
scene I )
• “Mrs.Hardcastle: Here we live in an old rumbling mansion”(1,1)
• “Tony: I can’t stay, I tell you. The Three Pigeons expects me down
every moment.There’s some fun going forward.
Hardcastle: Ay;the alehouse, the old place:I thought so.”(1,1)
• “Marlow: . . . We were told it was but forty miles across the
country, and we come above threescore!”(i.e the distance of this
rural area is 60 miles from city) (1,2)
• “Servant:Your fan,muff,and gloves,madam.The horses are
waiting.”(Indicates the mode of transport) (4,1).

2 . SIMILE :
M.H Abrams and Geoffrey Galt Harpham describes simile in A Glossary
of Literary Terms (1957) on pp.133 as ,
“In a simile , a comparison between two distinctly
different things is explicitly indicated by the word
“like” or “as”.”
Goldsmith uses an explicit wide range of comparisons in his
dramatic masterpiece She Stoops to Conquer (1773). He
compares humans with animals ( ‘ rabbits ’ , ‘ hare ’ ) , inanimate
objects ( ‘ wheels’ , ‘ cushion’ ) , supernatural creatures like
“mermaid” and much more. Examples from the text :
• “ Hardcastle : When company comes, you are not to pop out and
stare , and then run in again, like frightened rabbits in a
warren.”(2,1)
 • “ Tony : I have seen her since the height of that. She has as many
tricks as a hare in a thicket, or a colt the first day’s breaking.”(2,1)
• “ Tony : . . . she has two eyes as black as sloes , and cheeks as
broad as and red as a pulpit cushion.” (2,1)
• “ Tony : Vanish. She’s here, and has missed them already. Zounds!
How she fidgets and spits about like a catherine wheel.”
(catherine: wheel of fireworks) (3,1)
• “Marlow : Yes , as merry as cards , suppers , wine and old women
can make us.” (3,1)
• “Tony : I’m sure I always loved cousin Con’s hazel eyes, and her
pretty long fingers, that she twists this way and that, over the
haspicholls, like a parcel of bobbins.” (4,1)
• “Tony: Never fear me. Here she comes. Vanish. She’s got from the
pond, and draggled up to the waist like a mermaid.” (5,2)
• “ Tony : . . . Ah, it’s a highwayman , with pistols as long as my arm.
A damned ill looking fellow.” (5,2)

3 ALLUSION :
M.H Abrams and George Galt Harpham describes Allusion in A Glossary
of Literary Terms (1957) on pp.13 as ,
“ Allusion is a passing reference , without explicit
identification, to a literary or historical person, place , or
event, or to another literary work or passage.”
Prolific writer of “The Club” – Oliver Goldsmith has used several
allusions in his drama. He has made reference to some legendary
masterpiece like Hamlet of Shakespeare . He also has referred to Greek
mythology in order to satire the sentimental comedy and mentioned
certain guides for betterment of household ways and curing diseases.
Examples from the text :
• “The Comic Muse , long sick , is now a- dying!” (Prologue)
Explanation: “Comic Muse” refers to the Muse of comedy which is
“sick” due to the development of sentimental comedy . Muse of
comedy was known as “Thalia” –one of 9 goddesses who
influenced writers, musicians and various artists.
• “Marlow: We wanted no ghost to tell us that.” (1,2)
Explanation:This refers to Shakespear’s Hamlet (1599 ?) where
the ghost of Hamlet’s father tells him about his uncle being his
murderer– the truth.
• “SONG : . . . Their Lethes, their Styxes and Stygians . . .”(1,2)
Explanation : In Greek mythology “Lethes” “Styxes” and “Stygians”
are rivers flowing in the underworld – Hell. Reincarnated souls
drink from “Lethe” to forget all about past before they get a
rebirth whereas Styx is the river in Hell which the souls cross while
crossing Hades. Tony while satirizing the methodists and the
educationists of the age says that let them “brag” of these notions
of hell while they present themselves nothing but fools.
• “Tony : Not so low , neither. There’s Dick Muggins the exciseman,
Jack Slang the horse doctor, Little Aminadab that grinds the
music-box, and Tom Twist that spins the pewter platter.” (1,1)
Explanation: “Aminadab” is the name of a Hebrew prophet and is
used mostly for a person of colour or when referring to a Jew.
Here the “Little” means the person Tony is referring to is a child.
• “Mrs.Hardcastle: Lord, Mr. Hardcastle, you’re for ever at your
Dorothys and your old wifes. You may be Darby, but I’ll be no Joan,
I promise you. . .” (1,1) Explanation : This is a reference to a
popular ballad by Henry Woodfall (1739-1805). This ballad tells a
story about an old married couple – Darby and Joan.
• “Hardcastle: . . . Since that, I no more trouble my head about
Heyder Ally or Ally Cawn , than about Ally Croker. Sir, my service to
 you.”(2,1) Explanation : Heyder Ally was the famous Sultan of
Mysore ( 1717- 82) where Ally Croker was a famous ballad
alternatively called “ Allicia Croker ” by Larry Grogan in 1725.
• “Hardcastle : . . . Your generalship puts me in mind of Prince
Eugene when he fought the Turks at the battle of Belgrade. You
shall hear”(2,1) Explanation : Prince Eugene of Savoy was a
general of the Imperial army and statesman of Roman Empire. In
1697 Thousands of Turkish soldiers were dead in a brutal war by
Prince Eugene.
• “Hastings : (To him) Cicero never spoke better. . .” (2,1)
Explanation: Cicero (106-43 BC) was a famous Roman statesman
and orator , popularly known for his mastery in Latin prose.
• “Tony : Ecod ! you had reason to weep, for you have been dosing
me ever since I was born. I have gone through every receipt in the
complete Housewife ten times over; and you have thoughts of
cursing me through Quincy next spring. But , ecod! I tell you, I’ll
not be made a fool no longer.”(2,1) Explanation : There are two
Allusions in Tony’s dialogue where he makes a reference of Eliza
Smith’s The Compleat Housrwife – a guide for housewives for a
perfect command on household and some medical cures. He also
refers to “Quincy” which is John Quincy’s Pharmacoepia
Officinalis et Extemporanea – book based on wide range on
diseases and how to take care or cure them at home. Though it
was prevalent at the time that these books were useless and had
no real solutions.
• “ Miss Hardcastle : . . . Don’t you think I look something like Cherry
in the Beaux’ Stratagem?” (3,1) Explanation : The Beaux
Stratagem (1707) is a comedy by George Farquhar . Cherry is an
important character in the play who is daughter of innkeeper and
 falls in love with Archer and greatly contributes to comic spirit and
humour of play.
• “Hardcastle : There are a set of prints, too. What think you of the
Rake’s progress , for your own apartment ?” (4,1) Explanation:
Hardcastle here refers to William Hogarth’s (1697- 1764) series of
paintings eight in number , that depicted life of a character Tom
Rakewell whose life was eventually ruined due to his particular
chaotic way of life.

4 METAPHOR :
M.H Abrams and George Galt Harpham define Metaphor in A Glossary
of Literary Terms (1957) on pp 133 as ,
“ In a metaphor , a word or expression that in literal
usage denotes one kind of thing is applied to a distinctly
different kind of thing, without asserting a comparison.”
Goldsmith wrote She Stoops to Conquer not for merely laughter but it
is highly satirical and he uses most of his metaphors to comment on his
time of theatre and Drama . He incorporates metaphors which serve
the purpose of satire and commentary on contemporary age issues .
Examples from the text :
• “A doctor comes this night to show his skill.” (Prologue)
Explanation: “Doctor” here refers to Goldsmith who is on his
journey to cure the diseased world of comedy which is engulfed
by the sentiments and weeping emotions.
• “A kind of magic charm ― for be assur’d . . .” (Prologue)
Explanation : “Magic Charm” in the line means laughter which is
lost in “sentimental comedy” . Goldsmith being the doctor
prescribes a potion i.e “ magic charm” .
 • “ He in five draughts prepar’d , presents a potion: . . .” (Prologue)
Explanation : Here “five draughts” means the 5 acts of the play –
She Stoops to Conquer .
• “ One hope remains – hearing the maid was ill, . . .” (Prologue)
Explanation : Here the “maid” is the theatre of the time dwelled in
sentimentalism , thus referred as ill .
• “Miss Neville: A fortune like mine , which chiefly consists in jewels ,
is no such mighty temptation. . .” ( 1,1) Explanation : “Jewels” is a
metaphor that is used several times in the play and is
representation of marriage market of the time and objectification
of women. In 18th century England old families with old wealth
would search for new families with new money . Thus Miss Neville
‘s inherited wealth from his father represents this market of the
time.
• “Marlow : . . . But ,to me, a modest woman , dressed out in all her
finery , is the most tremendous object of the whole creation.” (2,1)
Explanation : Objectification of women.
• “Marlow : Yet , George , if we open the campaign too fiercely at
first , we may want ammunition before it is over. . .” (2,1)
Explanation : “Ammunition” here is a metaphor for stock of fine
dresses.
• “Hastings: So then , like an experienced general , you attack them
on every quarter . . .” (2,1) Explanation : Goldsmith uses a blend of
simile and metaphor here. He uses a military metaphor – “attack”
here .
• “ Marlow : . . . just by the way of trial , of the nectar of your lips . .
.” (3,1) Explanation : “Nectar” refers to beauty and sweetness of
Miss. Hardcastle’s lips .

5 IRONY :
M.H Abrams and George Galt Harpham defines Irony and types of irony
in A Glossary of Literary Terms (1957) on pp 185 as,
“ In most modern critical uses of the term “irony” , there
remains the root sense of dissembling , or of hiding what
is actually the case– not ,however , in order to deceive ,
but to achieve special rhetorical or artistic effects.”
Verbal Irony : on pp 186,
“ Verbal irony . . . is a statement in which the meaning
that a speaker implies differs sharply from the meaning
that is ostensibly expressed.”
Examples from the text:
• “Hardcastle : . . . Ay , you have taught him finely!” (1,1) (Ironic
comment on his wife and her son’s upbringing)
• “Hardcastle : . . . O , there he goes. ―A very consumptive figure,
truly!”(1,1) ( Ironic comment on Tony and his bad habit of alcohol.)
Dramatic Irony : on pp 187
“Dramatic Irony involves a situation in a play or a narrative in
which the audience or reader shares with the author knowledge
of present or future circumstances of which a character is
ignorant . . .”

Examples from text:

• Tony’s practical joke on Marlow and Hasting about the “old
mansion” as an “inn”. Audience knew that this will result in a
chaotic and comic world but characters remain unaware of it.
• Marlow and Hasting’s behaviour towards Hardcastle as they take
him merely an innkeeper . Audience understand the jokes though
characters only get annoyed.
Situational Irony :
“ It involves a discrepancy between what is expected to
happen and what actually happens.”
Examples from text :
• The “letter” that Hasting writes for Tony accidently turns up in
hands of Mrs. Hardcastle and she ruins the plan of elopement of
Hasting and Miss. Neville.
• The “jewels” which Tony steals from her mother’s cupboard in
order to give it to Hasting end up being in her mother’s hand
again by the mistake of Marlow.

6 Satire :
M.H Abrams and George Galt Harpham describes Satire in A Glossary of
Literary Terms (1957) on pp. 352 as ,
“Satire can be described as the literary art of diminishing
or derogating a subject by making it ridiculous and
evoking toward it attitudes of amusement , contempt,
scorn or indignation.”
Goldsmith satirizes the contemporary comedy and English society of
the time. Right from the time of Prologue the weeping essence of the
comedy of that age is ridiculed by Goldsmith. Throughout the play ,
many more features of society have been criticised like marriage ,
romantic love, objectification of women etc. Examples from the text :
• “Hardcastle : . . . But is not the whole age in a combination to
drive sense and discretion out of doors? . . .”(1,1). This is a satire
on age where Goldsmith says that good sense and right thinking
are not what people of that time possessed.
 • “SONG” in Act I scene 2 , The song criticizes the methodist
preachers and school masters which presented a contrasted faith
then that of Anglicans.
• “Marlow : Pardon me, madam. . . The folly of most people is
rather an object of mirth than uneasiness.” (2,1) Goldsmith
satirizes the sentimental comedy by saying that this play is meant
for light-hearted laughter on the shortcomings of humans and not
a serious environment is in need.
• “Miss Hardcastle : As most profest admirers do : said some civil
things of my face , talked much of his want of merit . . . “ (5,1)
Here is a satire on the romantic love or “undying love” that most
men claim of having that Miss Hardcastle is already aware of.

7 APTRONYMS :
Q L Hu in his thesis “A Study on Aptronym in Literature” defines
Aptronym as ,
“Aptronym is a figure of speech , which was defined by
David Crambs as “a name of befitting the occupation ,
role or nature of a person or character.It is widely used in
literary works for the sake of humour or sarcasm”. . .”
Goldsmith uses aptronyms for adding the effect of comedy and also
reveal the nature of certain characters. Examples from the text :
• “ Mrs. Hardcastle : . . . and little Cripplegate , the lame dancing-
master. . .”(1,1)
• “ Hardcastle : . . . when I went to make a bow , I popped my bald
head in Mrs. Frizzle’s face !” (1,1) “ Frizzle” ― To curl or crisp as
hair.
• “ Tony : . . . Well, Stingo, what’s the matter ? (1,2) “Stingo” is a
slang for strong beer.
 • “ Hardcastle : You , Diggory , whom I have taken from the barn ,
are to make a show at the side-table; . . .” (2,1) “Diggory” taken
from word “digging” as Diggory has been taken from the field and
made a servant.
• “ Mrs. Hardcastle : . . . and have all the fashions as they come out,
in a letter from the two Miss Rickets of Crooked Lane . . .” (2,1)
Rickets is a disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C that results
in deformation hence “Crooked Lane” .
• “Miss Neville: . . . I shall certainly be locked up, or sent to my aunt
Pedigree’s which is ten times worse. . .” (4,1) “Pedigree” means
good breeding or ancestry which means that Miss Nevilles aunt
would be of high class.
• “Mrs. Hardcastle : . . . and we’ll put off the rest of his education ,
like Dr. Drowsy’s sermons, to a fitter opportunity.”(4,1) A teacher
whose sermons let people fall asleep.

8 THEME :
M.H Abrams and George Galt Harpham defines Theme in A Glossary of
Literary Terms (1957) on pp230 as ,
“ . . . the term is . . . usefully applied to a general concept
or doctrine , whether implicit or asserted , which an
imaginative work is designed to involve and make
persuasive to the reader.”
Some prominent themes of She Stoops to Conquer are as :
• Deception :
In the very first act , scene 2 , the theme of deception comes into
play when Tony misleads Marlow and Hasting to Hardcastle’s home
as inn. Second deception comes in face of Hasting in Act 2 when
after knowing the truth still keeps his friend in dark about the “old
mansion” . Miss Neville also deceives her aunt Miss Hardcastle by
continously assuring her of her love for Tony whereas she loves
Hastings. Kate also proliferates in act 3 the idea of deception while
carrying out another device of “Disguise” and pretends to be the
barmaid to win Marlow’s heart. Other lesser deceptions prevalent in
the play are Hardcastle’s not telling Tony about his age , Tony
Lumpkin disguising himself as cart driver and deceiving Mrs
Hardcastle on the ride and Sir Charles Marlow and Hardcastle
watching secretly the conversation of Kate and Marlow. Every small
deception helps in building the plot and leads to the bigger
deceptions.
• Authority and Class Distinction :
A distinction between the classes ,different statuses and who
holds the power is depicted from the very beginning of the
play.The title itself leaves audience with two questions on the
Social Strata as why does she have to “stoop” and “conquer”
something ? Kate says in Act 4 ,
“ . . . I stooped to conquer; . . .”
which ultimately puts the working class of society on a lower
platform. The Power seems to be the Man’s authority majorily in
the play , where Hardcastle decides for the family and Marlow
and Hasting rule their romantic world and Tony seems to wander
vigorously with only some outbursts from her mother. Miss
Hardcastle depicting the authoritative rule of the Male party says
in Act 1 , Scene 1 , “ I find such pleasure ,sir , in obeying your
commands . . .”
• Culture — City v.s Countryside :
 “Goldsmith creates a clash of cultures between country and city. We
laugh at the reactionary nature of Hardcastle but also at the empty
superficiality of Marlow: neither way of life is presented as ideal.
Goldsmith undercuts the surface sophistication of city types by
contrasting them with Tony Lumpkin, a man often of blunt and
unsophisticated common sense. This is evident from the very first
scene, where Hardcastle presents himself as old in age and manner
in contrast to the youth of his daughter and city ideals embraced by
Mrs Hardcastle. ” (Source: www.revisionworld.com)

9 SOLILOQUY AND ASIDE :

M.H Abrams and George Galt Harpham defines Soliloquy and Aside in
A Glossary of Literary Terms (1957) on pp 368 and 369 ,
“Soliloquy is the act of talking to oneself , whether
silently or aloud. In drama it denotes the convention by
which a character , alone on the stage , utters his or her
thoughts aloud.”
• There are total 4 Soliloquies in the play with Act 3 , Act 4 and Act 5
having no Soliloquies .
• Act 1 has three Soliloquies spoken by Hardcastle , Miss Hardcastle
and Tony Lumpkin.
“HARDCASTLE. (solus.) Ay, there goes a pair that only spoil each
other. But is not the whole age in a combination to drive sense
and discretion out of doors? There's my pretty darling Kate! the
fashions of the times have almost infected her too. By living a
year or two in town, she is as fond of gauze and French frippery as
the best of them.” (1,1)
“MISS HARDCASTLE. (Sola). Lud, this news of papa's puts me all in
a flutter. Young, handsome: these he put last; but I put them
foremost. Sensible, good-natured; I like all that. But then reserved
 and sheepish; that's much against him. Yet can't he be cured of
his timidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife? Yes, and
can't I--But I vow I'm disposing of the husband before I have
secured the lover.”(1,1)
“TONY. (solus). Father-in-law has been calling me whelp and
hound this half year. Now, if I pleased, I could be so revenged
upon the old grumbletonian. But then I'm afraid--afraid of what?
I shall soon be worth fifteen hundred a year, and let him frighten
me out of THAT if he can.”(1,2)
• Act 2 has one soliloquy spoken by Miss Hardcastle :
“MISS HARDCASTLE. (Alone.) Ha! ha! ha! Was there ever such a
sober, sentimental interview? I'm certain he scarce looked in my
face the whole time. Yet the fellow, but for his unaccountable
bashfulness, is pretty well too. He has good sense, but then so
buried in his fears, that it fatigues one more than ignorance. If I
could teach him a little confidence, it would be doing somebody
that I know of a piece of service. But who is that somebody?--
That, faith, is a question I can scarce answer.” (2,1)
“A related stage device is the aside , in which a character
expresses to the audience his or her thought or intention
in a short speech which , by convention , is inaudible to
the other characters on the stage.”
She Stoops to Conquer has total of 33 asides :
• Act 1 : No Aside.
• Act 2 : 16 Asides , For example :
“Hardcastle : (Aside) Their impudence confounds me.”
• Act 3 : 3 Asides , For example :
“ Marlow : (Aside) All’s well , she don’t laugh at me.”
• Act 4 : 10 Asides , For example :
 “ Hardcastle: (Aside) I begin to loose my patience.”
• Act 5 : 4 Asides , For example :
“ Tony : Father-in-law , by all that’s unlucky , come to take one of
his night walks.”

References:
1. Abrams, M.H and Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms .
Cengage Learning India Pvt. Ltd , 1957 , pp 13 , 133 ,185-
187 ,230 , 352, 362 , 368, 369.
2. Goldsmith , Oliver . She Stoops to Conquer . Peacock
Books , 1773 .
3. Heinrich , Ludwig . Prince Eugene of Savoy Versus the
Turks at the Battle of Peterwardein. Warfare History amd
Military Heritage Magazine , 2016.
4. Lu , Q. A Study on Aptronym in Literature. 2009 ,
www.globalthesis.com. Accessed on 30 January 2019.
5. Ranger , Paul. She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith.
Macmillan Education Ltd. 1773.
6. She Stoops to Conquer Analysis Pages. www.owleyes.org
Accessed on 31 Jan 2019.
7. She Stoops to Conquer (O.Goldsmith).
www.revisionworld.com Accessed on 31 Jan 2019.
8. Timothy, Abidum. Summary and Analysis of She Stoops to
Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. www.slideshare.net
Accessed on 1 Feb 2019.
9. www.wikipedia.com Accessed on 1 Feb 2019

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