Stylistic Devices Used in Communicating Ethical Violation and Punishment in Udo Ka Mma

The study focuses on stylistic devices as reflected in Igbo drama. The objective of the study was to identify the stylistic devices used in communicating ethical violation and punishment in Udo ka mma. The research design used was descriptive survey. Document observation of the text related to the subject matter was used for the retrieval of the primary data for analysis. Secondary data was sourced through the internet and other sources. Expert purposive sampling technique was used to select Udo ká mmá as sample for the study. The data were analysed using Maslow's expanded and modified hierarchical needs theory as theoretical framework. The study revealed that the playwright used linguistic devices like figures of speech, and non-linguistic devices like ominous signs to communicate ethical violation and punishment in the text. The study concluded that playwrights use linguistic and non-linguistic devices in their work of art to communicate various themes and subject matters. Ethical violation and punishment affect the culprit, non-culprit characters and the entire communities and needs to be appropriately communicated to people using stylistic devices for better effect. The study recommends that dramatic stylistic devices be used in addressing the challenges and survival strategies of the Igbo in the globalised world.