Would an example of parallelism in "Beloved" be the mention of the "chokecherry tree" on her back, since it's mentioned a couple of times? Or would parallelism be more like the dog leaving and not coming back to the house twice because of the ghost? (I'm sorry; I struggle with this parallelism thing)
Did you read the examples in the linked article that Ms Sue gave you yesterday?
http://literarydevices.net/parallelism/
Also there's this: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/parallelism.htm
Parallelism is in the phrasing, not in the repeated actions in a story or poem or speech, etc.
Parallelism is in immediate phrasing, not scattered throughout the work.
Could it be paralleled to a real-life event?
It is NOT in actions or events. It's in the wording.
Have you heard or read any of JFK's or Martin Luther King's speeches? Look them up, especially JFK's inaugural speech and MLK's I Have a Dream speech.
No need to apologize! Understanding literary devices like parallelism can be challenging at times. I'm here to help you out.
In the novel "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, both examples you mentioned can be considered instances of parallelism, but they represent different types of parallelism.
The mention of the "chokecherry tree" on the protagonist's back, which recurs throughout the novel, can be seen as an example of thematic parallelism. In this case, the repetition of the tree symbolizes the burden and trauma that the character carries with her, connecting various parts of the story and emphasizing its significance.
On the other hand, the dog leaving and not returning twice due to the presence of a ghost can be seen as an example of situational or narrative parallelism. It is a repetition of events that mirrors and reinforces the supernatural element in the story, highlighting the impact of the ghost's presence on the characters and their environment.
To identify parallelism in a literary work, look for repeated elements, patterns, or events that serve to emphasize a theme, enhance the structure, or create an effect through repetition. These repetitions can occur in various forms, such as words, phrases, images, motifs, or actions.
Remember, parallelism can take different forms and can be interpreted differently based on the context and purpose of the story.