Coherence: A Literary Device

Etymology of Coherence

The term “coherence” has its etymological roots in the Latin word “cohaerentia,” derived from “cohaerens,” which means “sticking together” or “connected.”

In an academic context, coherence refers to the quality of logical connection and consistency within a text, discourse, or argument, where ideas, themes, or elements are united in a manner that facilitates understanding and clarity.

Meanings of Coherence

Aspect	Meaning
Logical Consistency	Logical connection and consistency of ideas, ensuring they make sense.
Clarity and Understanding	Promoting clear and accessible communication for better understanding.
Unified Composition	Structuring content for a seamless flow and a unified narrative.
Smooth Transition	Ensuring smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, or sections.
Cohesive Relationships	Establishing cohesive relationships between parts of a text for better flow.
Thematic Unity	Aligning all elements with a central theme for purpose and direction.
Rhetorical Effectiveness	Enhancing communication by organizing ideas logically.
Textual Harmony	Creating a harmonious and meaningful whole in literature and discourse.
Aesthetic Value	Adding completeness and harmony to art and literature for aesthetic appeal.

Definition of Literary Device of Coherence

Coherence, as a literary device, refers to the quality of logical connection and consistency within a text or discourse, ensuring that ideas, arguments, or elements make sense and are well-structured in relation to one another.

It plays a crucial role in promoting clarity and understanding in written or spoken communication, making the content accessible and meaningful to the audience.

Coherence is essential for creating a unified composition, enhancing smooth transitions between sections, and establishing cohesive relationships between different parts of a work, ultimately contributing to the overall effectiveness and thematic unity of a literary or rhetorical piece.

Types of Coherence

Type	Concise Definition	Example
Textual Coherence	Refers to the logical and semantic connection between sentences and paragraphs in a written text, ensuring that ideas flow smoothly and are linked together in a comprehensible manner.	In a well-structured essay, each paragraph logically follows the previous one, creating textual coherence.
Thematic Coherence	Involves the alignment of all elements within a work with a central theme or purpose, providing a sense of direction and thematic unity.	The novel’s thematic coherence is evident in how all subplots contribute to the central theme of love and sacrifice.
Structural Coherence	Focuses on the organization and arrangement of elements within a composition, ensuring a clear and unified structure.	The symphony’s structural coherence is achieved through the careful arrangement of movements and themes.
Cohesive Coherence	Establishes cohesive relationships between different parts of a text, enhancing the overall flow and comprehensibility of the content.	The use of transition words and phrases ensures cohesive coherence in the academic paper, guiding the reader through the argument.
Rhetorical Coherence	Pertains to the effective organization and presentation of ideas and information to achieve clarity, impact, and persuasion in spoken or written communication.	The persuasive speech demonstrated rhetorical coherence by presenting compelling arguments in a logical sequence.
Aesthetic Coherence	In the realm of art and literature, this type of coherence contributes to the overall aesthetic value by creating a sense of completeness and harmony in the composition.	The abstract painting’s aesthetic coherence is evident in its harmonious blend of colors and shapes.

Common Examples of Coherence

1. Essay Writing: In well-structured essays, coherence ensures that ideas flow logically from one paragraph to the next, creating a unified and comprehensible argument.
2. Speeches and Presentations: Rhetorical coherence is essential in speeches and presentations, as it helps speakers organize their ideas and deliver them in a clear and persuasive manner.
3. Fiction and Literature: Thematic coherence is evident in novels and stories when all elements, including characters, subplots, and themes, align with the central theme or purpose of the work.
4. Academic Research Papers: Textual coherence ensures that academic papers are logically structured, with sentences and paragraphs connected in a coherent manner, allowing readers to follow the argument.
5. Art and Visual Arts: Aesthetic coherence is found in artworks, where the composition, colors, and elements create a sense of completeness and harmony, contributing to the overall artistic impact.
6. Music Composition: Structural coherence is crucial in music, where the arrangement of musical elements, such as melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, ensures a unified and harmonious composition.
7. Conversations and Dialogues: In everyday conversations, coherence allows individuals to express themselves clearly, with ideas and responses logically connected for effective communication.
8. Websites and User Interfaces: Coherence in user interfaces ensures that elements and navigation are logically structured, making websites and applications user-friendly.
9. Film and Video Editing: In film, coherence is achieved through well-edited sequences that create a cohesive and meaningful narrative.
10. Legal Documents: Legal texts require textual coherence to ensure clarity and precision in conveying complex legal concepts and arguments.

Examples of Coherence

Example#1: JEFFERSON: The Declaration of Independence

“Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce
in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.”

Analysis: The passage from Thomas Jefferson’s “The Declaration of Independence” displays coherence through its logical progression and thematic consistency. Firstly, it establishes a context of addressing the British brethren and their unjust actions. Then, it traces the efforts made to communicate concerns and appeals for justice, creating a clear cause-and-effect relationship. This progression enhances the reader’s understanding of the issues at hand. Additionally, the consistent use of terms like “usurpations” and “separation” reinforces the central theme of seeking independence, maintaining coherence by repetition of key concepts. Finally, the concluding statement about considering the British as “Enemies in War, in Peace Friends” serves as a coherent resolution to the narrative, reinforcing the declaration of independence.

Example#2: ARENDT: Total Domination

“Total domination, which strives to organize the infinite plurality and differentiation of human beings as if all of humanity were just one individual, is possible only if each and every person can be reduced to a never-changing identity of reactions, so that each of these bundles of reactions can be exchanged at random for any other. The problem is to fabricate something that does not exist, namely, a kind of human species resembling other animal species whose only “freedom” would consist in “preserving the species.”Totalitarian domination attempts to achieve this goal both through ideological indoctrination of the elite formations1 and through absolute terror in the camps; and the atrocities for which the elite formations are ruthlessly used become, as it were, the practical application of the ideological indoctrination — the testing ground in which the latter must prove itself — while the appalling spectacle of the camps themselves is supposed to furnish the “theoretical” verification of the ideology.”

Analysis: Hannah Arendt’s passage on “Total Domination” demonstrates coherence through its exploration of the concept’s various facets. Arendt initially defines total domination as an attempt to homogenize humanity by reducing individuals to unchanging, interchangeable bundles of reactions, which serves as a clear thematic foundation. The text then elaborates on the methods used to achieve this goal, specifically, ideological indoctrination and terror in the camps. The transition between these two methods is logical and coherent, as Arendt explains how the atrocities in the camps are the practical application of ideological indoctrination. The paragraph maintains coherence through the consistent focus on the central theme of totalitarian domination and the cause-and-effect relationships between different elements of this concept, providing a structured and comprehensible narrative.

Example#3: THOREAU: Civil Disobedience

“After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority but because they are physically the strongest. But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it. Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong but conscience? — in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a  corporation with a conscience.”

Analysis: Henry David Thoreau’s passage from “Civil Disobedience” maintains coherence through a consistent line of argumentation. Thoreau begins by discussing the practical reasons for majority rule, namely, the physical strength of the majority, which sets the context for his exploration of the limitations of such a system. He then introduces the concept of conscience as an alternative to majority rule and expounds on the idea that individuals should prioritize their own moral judgment over legislated laws. This progression is coherent and structured, as it builds upon the initial premise of majority rule and leads to the conclusion that a corporation of conscientious individuals embodies the true essence of conscience. Throughout the passage, Thoreau maintains a thematic and logical thread, ensuring the paragraph’s coherence.

Suggested Readings

1. Connors, Robert J. The Erasure of the Sentence. Southern Illinois University Press, 2000.
2. Flower, Linda, and John R. Hayes. A Cognitive Process Theory of Writing. Southern Illinois University Press, 1981.
3. Halliday, M. A. K., and Ruqaiya Hasan. Cohesion in English. Longman, 1976.
4. Kolln, Martha, and Loretta Gray. Rhetorical Grammar: Grammatical Choices, Rhetorical Effects. Pearson, 2016.
5. Williams, Joseph M. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace. Pearson, 2017.
6. Zinsser, William. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. HarperCollins, 2006.