Narrative Techniques
Identify the device that hints at something that may happen later
Foreshadowing
Identify Maya's struggle about whether to follow Andre
Internal conflict — Maya struggles with whether she should follow Andre or trust her own judgment and stay on the marked trail.
Define theme in student-friendly language.
Theme is the message or lesson about life that the author develops through the characters, events, and plot.
Identify the technique in “My hope's a lantern”
Metaphor — “My hope's a lantern” directly compares hope to a lantern without using like or as.
Explain the difference between identifying a technique and analyzing its effect.
Identifying tells WHAT technique the author uses. Analyzing explains HOW or WHY the author uses it and its effect on meaning, mood, tone, character, plot, or theme.
Explain the difference between flashback and foreshadowing
Flashback goes back to something in the past and and foreshadowing hints to something that might occur later or in the future
Explain how the dangerous trail creates an external conflict.
The dangerous trail creates an external conflict because Maya and Andre must deal with physical obstacles outside themselves, including muddy water and the falling branch.
State one theme of The Shortcut
Possible theme: Making a responsible decision is more important than taking a shortcut to achieve success quickly. Also accept: Good judgment is more important than being first.
Identify and explain the effect of “wind whispers warnings”
Personification: the wind “whispers,” giving it a human action. Also accept alliteration because of the repeated w sound in “wind whispers warnings.” Effect: It makes nature seem active and adds to the challenge surrounding the speaker.
Complete the chain: Technique → Evidence → Effect → ______
Meaning/Idea → Technique → Evidence → Effect → Meaning/Idea
Explain how Maya's memory of her grandfather's advice contributes to her characterization.
Maya's memory of her grandfather's advice helps develop her as a thoughtful/cautious character. It explains why she questions taking the shortcut and eventually realizes that making a wise decision is more important than finishing first.
Explain how the tree branch falling advances the plot and affects the characters' decisions.
The falling branch increases the danger and moves the plot toward its resolution. It confirms Maya's concerns and causes both characters to turn around and return to the safe trail.
Explain how Maya's experience → decision → realization develops that theme.
Experience: Maya faces pressure to take the shortcut. → Decision: She follows Andre but recognizes the danger and insists they turn back. → Realization: Being first isn't worth making an unsafe choice. → Theme: Good decisions are more important than quick success.
Explain how repetition contributes to the meaning of Still I Climb.
Repeating “step by step” emphasizes persistence and steady progress. It reinforces the idea that the speaker can overcome challenges by continuing to move forward.
How do both “The Shortcut” and “Still I Climb” develop an idea about responding to challenges? Use one detail from each text.
Both texts develop the idea that people must continue through challenges instead of giving up. In “The Shortcut,” Maya learns to trust good judgment when the shortcut becomes dangerous. In “Still I Climb,” repetition such as “step by step” shows the speaker continuing despite difficulty. The story develops the idea through characters, conflict, and plot, while the poem develops it through figurative language, imagery, and repetition.