Distortion - Examples and Definition of Distortion

Definition of Distortion
Distortion is a literary tool that twists, exaggerates, changes, and makes something pretty exceptional from what it absolutely is. Writers can distort a thought, an idea, a situation, or an image. They may additionally use symbolism, satire, and personification to provide distortion. For instance, in his novel Animal Farm, George Orwell uses personification and symbolism to distort stereotypes and historical figures. Read on to learn extra approximately distortion in literature.

Examples of Distortion in Literature
Example #1: 1984 (with the aid of George Orwell)
“Don’t you see that the complete goal of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end, we will make thoughtcrime literally impossible, due to the fact there may be no words in which to express it. Every concept that could ever be needed might be expressed by means of precisely one word, with its that means rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten.”

“[…] Every year fewer and fewer words, and the variety of consciousness continually a little smaller. Even now, of course, there’s no reason or excuse for committing thoughtcrime. It’s simply a question of self-discipline, reality-control. But ultimately there won’t be any want even for that.”

“[…] In truth there can be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy approach no longer thinking – not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.”

In the above excerpt taken from 1984, George Orwell has used distortion of several statistics as a manipulative device. He expresses that that is an essential a part of human thought, as it either limits or systems the thoughts of individuals. Orwell has rather centered on political language to distort the tale’s standards and events by naming them differently than their names in our reality.

Example #2: Gulliver’s Travels (by Jonathan Swift)
Swift uses distortion in his writings, such as the use of diminution to launch an assault on human grandeur. For instance, in Book I of Gulliver’s Travels, Swift offers the Lilliputian king as greedy and powerful, and people as diminutive mortals. In reality, the writer ridicules their king, because kings are symbolic figures of grandeur and power. However, the Lilliputian king is just six inches tall. By manipulating the fact of their physical smallness, the writer emphasizes the moral smallness and pettiness of the Lilliputians.

Example #3: Catch 22 (through Joseph Hellen)
Hellen has used distortion oftentimes in ironic situations to get his message across in his novel, Catch 22. He has used distortion of justice, that is influenced by means of problematic personal integrity and greed. For instance, in part-5, Yossarian asks Orr if it's miles viable that he could remain on the land. In truth, anybody who is crazy could stay on the land. Doc replies that Orr can without a doubt remain at the land; however, first he would ought to send a request. Orr is loopy and does no longer make a request. If he asks to live at the land, it manner he is not loopy; thus, those who want to get out of fight duty aren't loopy, nor can they get out.

Example #4: Shrek (by using William Steig)
Shrek is contradictory to conventional fairy tales, because the writer did now not use a quite princess and pompous prince as his leading characters. Rather, he uses an Ogre as a hero, and a less-than-attractive woman because the damsel in distress. This is a totally reverse situation, with the writer the use of distorted characters, creating humor in addition to an strange storyline.

Distortion satire can be seen in a number of reversal of conditions.

Fiona beats robin-hood, who tries to store her from the ogre. This shows distorts the situation, showing Fiona to be a damsel in distress, who finally ends up rescuing herself.
The ogre takes the area of a prince, as he is going on a quest to store the princess with a secret.
Donkey lives with the ogre, taking him as a friend – that's absurd, because ogres are gruesome.
Donkey falls in love with a dragon this is probable to devour him. This is a reversal that is improbable for the readers – that donkey and dragon could live collectively peacefully.
Finally, the distortion satire is complete while Fiona herself will become an ogre at sundown.
Function
The use of distortion is observed ordinarily in novels, brief stories, and advertising. Its basic reason is to create humor, and lay emphasis on a point, a thing, or someone via distorting reality. Sometimes, distortion may also highlight a incredible movement or characteristic through comparison and contrast. It additionally criticizes, makes fun, and offers comic comfort to readers. In addition, distortion describes an essential characteristic of the tale as being worse or better than it truely is.