The Use of Literary Devices in Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known under his pseudonym as Dr Seuss, wrote and illustrated over 60 books before his death in 1991 (Sahadeo). His whimsical and creative children's books have sold over "650 million copies worldwide," with his works accounting "for a total of 33 places on the 150 rank list" on the USA Today's Best-Selling Books List in March of 2021 (Sahadeo and Yasharoff). As is customary with most children's books, Seuss' works are brim-filled with figurative language and rhyme. Seuss also had a penchant for making up nonsensical words, as featured in his many works, and is even credited with inducting new words into the common lexicon, such as the term, 'nerd,' according to an article by The Week (DeMaria). This analysis will examine the reasoning behind the most popular literary devices Dr Seuss used in his works, followed by a figurative language-based close reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
Literary devices encompass a broad spectrum of language play, including tools such as rhyme, personification, alliteration, amongst many more, of which Seuss utilises in his books. Dr Seuss' writing takes form in poetic verse rather than prose. Writing any story provides its own challenges; however, according to Phillip Nel, author of Dr Seuss: American Icon, writing in "verse adds an extra layer of limitations [where Seuss] as a poet, must be constantly aware of metre, rhyme, and the rhythms of language" (Nel 29). Seuss uses these literary devices consistently in his work, thus transposing the essential elements of writing prose—pacing, balance, and description—into poetry, using "rhythm to maintain the pace of the story" and varying "metre to reflect the differences in character and mood" (Nel 30).
Through the use of these aforementioned literary devices, Seuss utilises writing in verse as a method of "exploiting the limitations of the poetic form" (Nel 30). In doing so, Seuss plays with language, reimagining words and their parts of speech to suit the need required explicitly by the verse. Nicole Hewes, author of "More Than Just Nonsense Verse?: The Language of Dr Seuss and Children's Literacy," discusses Seuss' use of anthimeria, or the "substitution of one part of speech for another" (Hewes). The author writes, "Geisel subverts the notion that a word can only function as a single part of speech and therefore demonstrates the endless possibilities of language manipulation" (Hewes). By writing in verse, Seuss takes advantage of poetry and language's endless potentialities and absurdities and uses it to its fullest potential. While similar language play is seen across his works, it can be exemplified in his 1957 book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! reimagines Christmas through the eyes of the Grinch, who attempts to cancel the holiday and steals all the Christmas gifts and decorations from the nearby town of Who-ville, only to come to understand that the true meaning of Christmas does not lie in material gifts, but in spirit. The book is rhymed and uses a plethora of literary devices, most prominently displayed in the Grinch's hatred of the Whos. For example, as the Grinch recounts Christmases past, Seuss uses repetition: "And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the Noise! Noise! Noise! / That's one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!" (Seuss). By repeating the word "noise," not only does it emphasise the Grinch's hatred of it, but the textual exaggeration of capitalising both the first letter of and later the entirety of the word adds further exaggerates it. Other examples of repetition are seen with the words "feast" and "sing." Another instance of language play is found in Seuss' manipulation of pacing. As the Grinch steals toys from the Whos, he finds presents of "Popguns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! / Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums!" (Seuss). Hewes writes that this quote demonstrates Seuss' "control over the pace of his lines" (Hewes). By rapidly listing the items the Grinch finds and matching the number of syllables in both lines, it reflects his excitement at stealing the Whos toys. Though there are plenty of other instances of Seuss' masterful use of language manipulation in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, these examples demonstrate Seuss' creativity regarding language and his dedication to the craft.
By writing in verse, Seuss has enriched his works with whimsicality and imagination that would have been absent should he have written in prose. His distinctive style of verse through his use of rhythm, rhyme, and metre has broadened the field of poetry, most specifically in children's literature, and fostered a love for verse for readers at young ages. It is said that "Geisel's commitment to viewing children as equals influenced how he constructed and edited his verse," and that ideal is no doubt reflected across his works (Hewes). Seuss' mastery of the English language and linguistic experimentation takes complex ideas and themes about the world and makes them comprehensible for children without compromising their imagination, creativity, or maturity.
Happy Reading!
Works Cited:
DeMaria, Meghan. “Dr. Seuss Invented the Word 'Nerd,' and 42 Other Author-Invented
Words.” The Week, The Week, 27 Feb. 2015, https://theweek.com/speedreads/
541616/dr-seuss-invented-word-nerd-42-other-authorinvented-words.
Hewes, Nicole, "More Than Just Nonsense Verse?: The Language of Dr. Seuss and Children's
Literacy" (2012). Senior Scholar Papers. Paper 563. https://digitalcommons.colby.edu
/seniorscholars/563
Nel, Philip. Dr. Seuss: American Icon. Bloomsbury Academic, 2005,
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dr_Seuss/IjvHQsCn_pgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pr
intsec=frontcover.
Sahadeo, Andy. “Dr. Seuss' Best-Selling Books, from 'Green Eggs and Ham' to 'Cat in the
Hat'.” Fox Business, Fox Business, 2 Mar. 2021, https://www.foxbusiness.com
/lifestyle/dr-seuss-best-selling-books.
Seuss, Dr. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Random House, 1957.
Yasharoff, Hannah. “Dr. Seuss Dominates USA Today Bestseller's List amid Controversy,
Takes Six of Top 10 Spots.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 10
Mar. 2021, https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/03/04/
dr-seuss-books-sales-spike-after-some-banned-racist-imagery/6917679002/.