"“All right,” thought the Devil. “We will have a tussle. I’ll give you land enough; and by means of that land I will get you into my power.”..."See in text(Part I)
The devil’s declaration that he will give Pahom land in order to exert power over Pahom is an example of dramatic irony, a plot device in which the audience or reader is made aware of an important detail of which the characters are unaware. We now know Pahom will be subjected to temptation by the Devil, and given his dissatisfaction with the amount of land he has, he will likely be easy to corrupt.
"how comfortably they lived there, how well they dressed, what fine clothes her children wore, what good things they ate and drank..."See in text(Part I)
The second component of this lengthy sentence features two instances of parallelism, a device in which multiple elements of a sentence contain identical grammatical structures. The structure of the phrase “how comfortably they lived there” is identical to the phrase “how well they dressed.” Similarly, the phrase “what fine clothes her children wore” and “what good things they ate and drank” also contain identical grammatical structures. Here, parallelism both emphasizes the wealthy sister’s privilege and the stark socioeconomic difference between the two sisters.
The immediate repetition of the consonant sound “s” in this sentence is an example of sibilance, a form of alliteration. Sibilance involves the repetition of the consonant “s” sound in groups of two or more words. When read aloud, these words generate a hissing sound. Though prose is not generally intended to be read aloud, as poetry often is, the use of sibilance can lend a musical quality to words in a sentence. Here, the repeated “s” sound in the words “sisters,” “sat,” “boast,” “dressed,” “clothes,” “things,” “promenades,” and “entertainments” encourages heightened attention to the many details of the initial scene being described—as well as the details about which the elder sister is bragging.
"Close to the village there lived a lady, a small landowner,..."See in text(Part II)
This first sentence contains alliteration, or the repetition of the same consonant sound. The repeating consonant sound “l” in “close,” “village,” “lived,” “lady,” “small,” and “landowner” emphasizes the words containing it, therefore encouraging readers to connect these words to overarching themes in the text. Here, each alliterative word builds to the noun “landowner,” the status that Pahom wishes to achieve.
"They are as simple as sheep, and land can be got almost for nothing...."See in text(Part IV)
L. and A. Maud’s translation of the dealer’s description of the Bashkirs includes a simile, a device in which two things are compared using the words “like” or “as.” Here, the visiting peasant assures Pahom that he can manipulate the Bashkirs into giving him land because they are “as simple as sheep.” This comparison suggests that they are not clever or strong-willed enough to recognize the value of their land. Given that readers are aware that the devil has been tempting Pahom throughout the story, the dealer’s comparison of the Bashkirs to sheep serves to foreshadow Pahom’s impending troubles.
The impact of dramatic irony, which was introduced at the beginning of the story when the devil declared his intention to ensnare Pahom, is in full effect here. Though Part VI ends with a tone of excitement and delight, the readers’ knowledge of Pahom’s grim situation creates apprehension while also inviting close attention to detail as the plot nears its climax.
"and that it was himself! He awoke horror-struck...."See in text(Part VII)
Pahom’s ominous dream is an example of foreshadowing, a device in which a narrator gives direct or indirect hints about what will happen later in the plot. Here, Pahom’s dream directly predicts the way he will die while also reminding readers of the fate promised by the devil at the beginning of the story. Foreshadowing therefore functions alongside dramatic irony to create anticipation before the climax of the plot.
The repetition of the word “lower” is an example of a diacope, a device in which the same word is repeated in rapid succession with few intervening words. Here, the diacope builds suspense because readers can better visualize the ominous setting of the sun that marks Pahom’s impending doom—as well as his failure to return to the hillock on time, all due to his intense greed.
