“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a 1946 American Christmas fantasydrama film directed by Frank Capra. The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams to help others, and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched and how different life in his community of Bedford Falls would be if he had never been born.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” employs a variety of literary devices to enhance its storytelling, create deeper meanings, and connect with theaudience on multiple levels. Below, we explore 10 key literary devices used throughout the film, presented in a detailed table format for clarity.
1. Foreshadowing
Movie Scene
Device Example
George saves his brother Harry from drowning
Sets upthe importance of George’s self-sacrifice and his brother’s role in his life.
Creates a warm, inviting atmosphere, contrasting George’s internal turmoil.
Character Analysis Through Literary Devices
Character Studies
In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” literary devices play a significant role in revealing the traits and developments of the main characters. Here’s a deeper look into how these devices highlight nuances of each key character.
Symbolizes Potter’s immobility and impotence in affecting George’s ultimate moral stance.
Character Dynamics
The relationships between characters in “It’s a Wonderful Life” are intricately designed to drive thenarrative forward. The dynamics between George and other key characters like Mary, his brother Harry, and Mr. Potter, use literary devices to deepen the thematic elements of thestory.
George and Mary: Their relationship is a bedrock throughout the film, highlighted by symbolism in scenes like their dance at the high school, which foreshadows their life dancing through troubles together.
George and Mr. Potter: This relationship is steeped in irony and contrast, as George embodies community and compassion, while Potter represents greed and self-interest. Their interactions highlight the film’s core themes of decency and moral integrity versus corruption.
George and Clarence: Their dynamic is a blend of mentorship and guidance, with Clarence’s role as George’s guardian angel employing allusion (Clarence references literary figures like Mark Twain) and imagery (bright, ethereal light during key scenes) to underscore his guidance.
These relationships are crucial for pushing thenarrative forward and deepening the audience’s understanding of the central themes. In the next section, we’ll examine how these themes are brought to life through various literary devices.
Thematic Analysis
In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” themes such as community, sacrifice, and redemption are explored deeply through the use of various literary devices. Here’s how these elements are highlighted:
The petals symbolize hope and the small yet significant reminders of why life is precious, driving the redemption arc forward.
These themes are interwoven through thenarrative, enriching the film’s message and its emotional depth. In the next section, we’ll look at how cinematic techniques complement these literary devices to enhance the storytelling experience.
Cinematic Techniques That Enhance Literary Devices
In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” cinematic techniques not only visually captivate theaudience but also enhance and complement the literary devices that drive the film’s narrative. Here is an analysis of how visual and sound techniques align with and reinforce the literary elements.
The use of discordant tones during scenes featuring Mr. Potter highlights the emotional and moraldissonance between him and George, underscoring theirony in Potter’s judgments.
Ominous music cues help to foreshadow the coming difficulties for George, setting a tense atmosphere that primes theaudience for the challenges he will face.
These cinematic techniques are not just aesthetic choices but are carefully selected to deepen the audience’s engagement with the film’s themes and character arcs, making the literary devices more impactful.
Key Scene Analysis
Scene Selection
Key scenes in “It’s a Wonderful Life” utilize both literary and cinematic techniques to underline the film’s thematic and emotional messages. Below are breakdowns of several pivotal scenes, with YouTube links provided for a visual reference.
George Saving His Brother Harry
Scene Breakdown: The scene where George saves Harry from drowning is not only crucial for theplot but uses visual symbolism and sound to emphasize the themes of sacrifice and brotherhood.
George and Mary’s Telephone Conversation
Scene Breakdown: This emotionally charged scene, where George and Mary share a phone call while listening to Sam Wainwright, employs close-ups and a soft, romantic score to highlight their deep connection and the tension George feels between personal desires and commitments.
The Run on the Bank
Scene Breakdown: The run on the Bailey Building and Loan showcases dramatic high-angle shots and a frantic score to emphasize the panic and high stakes, while George’s calming presence and persuasive speech highlight his leadership and commitment to the community.
These scenes are central to understanding the film’s impact and are dissected here for their contributions to both thenarrative structure and the emotional resonance of the movie.
Conclusion
To wrap up our exploration of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and its use of literary devices, let’s engage with a fun quiz to test your understanding of the concepts discussed:
What literary device is used to show George Bailey’s past life to both him and theaudience?
This interactive element aims to deepen your appreciation for how intricately the film weaves together literary and cinematic techniques to create a timeless story that resonates with audiences year after year.
