Litany: A Literary Device

Litany: Etymology, Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Etymology of Litany: The word “litany” originates from the Greek “litaneia,” meaning a form of supplication or prayer. It entered English through Old French “letanie” and Latin “litania,” ultimately tracing back to the Greek “litaneuein,” meaning “to pray or entreat.”

Literal Meaning:	Conceptual Meaning:
Prayer Form:	A litany in its literal sense refers to a form of prayer or supplication, often characterized by a series of petitions or invocations, followed by a repetitive response.
Repetition:	In literature, the literal meaning of a litany can be extended to include any repetitive or ritualistic pattern of language or structure, evoking a sense of solemnity, rhythm, or emphasis.
Ritualistic Expression:	The concept of a litany transcends its literal form to signify any structured or formulaic expression, whether in religious contexts or in literary works, serving to emphasize themes, emotions, or ideas through repetition and invocation.

Litany: Definition as a Literary Device

A litany in literature is a repetitive or ritualistic pattern of language or structure used for emphasis, rhythm, or thematic reinforcement. It involves the repetition of phrases, words, or motifs to create a sense of solemnity, urgency, or significance within a text. By employing a litany, writers can evoke a mood, emphasize themes, or highlight the intensity of emotions or ideas present in the narrative.

Litany: Examples in Everyday Life

Example	Explanation
1. Shopping lists	A series of items repeated in a list to ensure nothing is forgotten.
2. Mantras in meditation	A repetitive phrase or sound used to focus the mind and calm the body.
3. Prayer chants	A repetitive phrase or verse used in religious rituals to invoke a sense of connection with the divine.
4. Advertising slogans	A catchy phrase repeated to reinforce a brand’s message and stick in customers’ minds.
5. Political campaign slogans	A short, repetitive phrase used to summarize a candidate’s platform and appeal to voters.
6. Song refrains	A repeated phrase or verse in a song that becomes memorable and catchy.
7. Motivational affirmations	A series of positive statements repeated to oneself to boost confidence and motivation.

Litany in Literature: Shakespearean

1. “Hamlet“
   • Example: Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be, or not to be” (Act 3, Scene 1).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins, Arden Shakespeare, 1982.
2. “Macbeth”
   • Example: Lady Macbeth’s invocation to the spirits (“Come, you spirits”) (Act 1, Scene 5).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Sandra Clark and Pamela Mason, Bloomsbury Arden Shakespeare, 2015.
3. “King Lear”
   • Example: Lear’s lamentation over Cordelia’s death (“Never, never, never, never, never”) (Act 5, Scene 3).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Edited by R.A. Foakes, Arden Shakespeare, 1997.
4. “Othello“
   • Example: Othello’s repetition of “Handkerchief, confessions, handkerchief!” (Act 3, Scene 4).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. Othello. Edited by E.A.J. Honigmann, Arden Shakespeare, 1997.
5. “Romeo and Juliet”
   • Example: Juliet’s repetition of Romeo’s name in her soliloquy (“Romeo, Romeo, Romeo”) (Act 2, Scene 2).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Edited by G. Blakemore Evans, Cambridge University Press, 2003.
6. “Julius Caesar”
   • Example: Antony’s repetition of “Brutus is an honorable man” (Act 3, Scene 2).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. Edited by David Daniell, Arden Shakespeare, 1998.
7. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
   • Example: Oberon’s litany-like speech to the fairies (“Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania”) (Act 2, Scene 1).
   • Reference: Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Edited by Harold F. Brooks, Arden Shakespeare, 1979.

Litany in Literature from Short Stories and Poems

From Short Stories:

1. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
   • Example: The recitation of the lottery rules by Mr. Summers.
   • Quote: “Mr. Summers said, ‘Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?'”
2. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
   • Example: The narrator’s repetition of “It is the beating of his hideous heart!” while confessing.
   • Quote: “Villains!” I shrieked, “dissemble no more! I admit the deed! –tear up the planks! here, here! –It is the beating of his hideous heart!”
3. “Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville
   • Example: The narrator’s repeated attempts to understand Bartleby’s behavior.
   • Quote: “I am seriously displeased. I am pained, Bartleby. I had thought better of you.”
4. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
   • Example: The protagonist’s description of the wallpaper’s pattern.
   • Quote: “I never saw a worse paper in my life. One of those sprawling flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin.”

From Poems:

5. “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
   • Example: The repeated imperative to “rage against the dying of the light.”
   • Quote: “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
6. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
   • Example: Prufrock’s internal monologue, filled with self-doubt and hesitation.
   • Quote: “In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo.”
7. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
   • Example: The repeated refrain of “Nevermore” by the raven.
   • Quote: “Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore.'”
8. “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks
   • Example: The repeated refrain “We real cool” in the poem.
   • Quote: “We real cool. We / Left school.”
9. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
   • Example: The repeated final line of “And miles to go before I sleep.”
   • Quote: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, / But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.”
10. “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson
    • Example: The repeated descriptions of Death’s carriage ride.
    • Quote: “Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me –”

Litany in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

1. Repetition and Rhythm: Litany relies heavily on repetition, which creates a rhythmic effect, drawing the reader into a meditative or hypnotic state.
2. Musicality: Litany’s use of repetition and rhythm creates a musical quality, making it a powerful tool for poets and writers to create a sonic experience.
3. Incantatory Power: Litany’s repetitive structure can evoke an incantatory effect, conjuring emotions and ideas, and even creating a sense of magic or ritual.
4. Prayer and Devotion: Litany’s roots in prayer and devotion make it a natural fit for exploring themes of spirituality, faith, and personal reflection.
5. Memory and Remembrance: Litany’s repetitive structure can aid memory and remembrance, making it a powerful tool for exploring themes of history, trauma, and personal experience.
6. Emotional Intensity: Litany’s use of repetition can build emotional intensity, creating a sense of urgency or desperation, and drawing the reader into the emotional experience.
7. Stream-of-Consciousness: Litany’s fluid, repetitive structure can evoke a stream-of-consciousness effect, mirroring the natural flow of thoughts and emotions.
8. Feminist and Postcolonial Theory: Litany’s use of repetition can subvert dominant narratives, creating a space for marginalized voices to be heard, and challenging traditional notions of language and power.
9. Psychoanalytic Theory: Litany’s repetitive structure can evoke the unconscious mind, exploring themes of repression, trauma, and the psyche.
10. Performance and Performativity: Litany’s use of repetition and rhythm can create a performative effect, blurring the lines between reader and performer, and creating a sense of communal experience.

Litany in Literature: Relevant Terms

Literary Device	Description
1. Refrain	A repeated line or phrase, often used in poetry or songs.
2. Anaphora	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
3. Epistrophe	Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.
4. Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds, creating a musical effect.
5. Alliteration	Repetition of consonant sounds, creating a musical effect.
6. Incantation	A rhythmic and repetitive phrase or word, often used in ritual or magic.
7. Mantra	A repeated word or phrase, often used in meditation or spiritual practices.
8. Chant	A repetitive and rhythmic phrase or word, often used in rituals or ceremonies.
9. Repetition	Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis or effect.
10. Catalog	A list of items or ideas, often used to create a sense of rhythm or repetition.

Litany in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Wadsworth Publishing, 2011.
2. Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester University Press, 2009.
3. Cuddon, J.A. A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
4. Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. University of Minnesota Press, 2008.
5. Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. Harper Perennial, 2014.
6. Leitch, Vincent B., et al., editors. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. W.W. Norton & Company, 2018.
7. Lodge, David. The Art of Fiction. Penguin Books, 1992.
8. Rivkin, Julie, and Michael Ryan, editors. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Blackwell Publishing, 2017.
9. Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. Routledge, 2014.
10. Wolfreys, Julian. Introducing Literary Theories: A Guide and Glossary. Edinburgh University Press, 2002.