Literary Devices
Lather & Nothing Else
Possibility of Evil
Button, Button
Elements
100

“The razor waited patiently in the barber’s hand.”

Personification

100

Name all of the conflicts in “Lather and Nothing Else.” Identify the type of conflict for each.

Character vs Self, Society, & Character 

100

What street does Miss Strangeworth live on?

Pleasant Street

100

What is the mood of the story before Norma presses the button?

Suspenseful and uneasy.

100

What is characterization? What are the different types?

The way a writer develops and reveals a character’s personality, traits, thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Indirect/Direct

200

“The barber’s conscience was a battlefield.”

Metaphor

200

Why is the title “Lather and Nothing Else” significant to the story?

It reflects the barber’s decision to remain a barber and simply do his job rather than become a murderer.

200

What do Miss Strangeworth’s roses symbolize?

Her beautiful public appearance and the hidden evil beneath it.

200

What is one major theme in “Button, Button”?

Greed can lead people to make selfish and harmful choices.

200

What is the difference between mood and tone? 

Mood is how the reader feels, while tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject.

300

“Norma’s decision was a beautiful disaster.”

Oxymoron

300

What does the razor symbolize for the barber?

The choice between killing Captain Torres and choosing not to kill him. It also represents the barber’s power and moral decision.

300

What types of irony are found in “The Possibility of Evil”?

Situational irony and dramatic irony.

300

What type of narrator is used in “Button, Button”?


Third-person limited narrator.

300

What type of foreshadowing gives the reader a dark or unsettling feeling that something bad is going to happen?


Foreboding.

400

“The button tempted Norma like forbidden fruit.”

2

Allusion/Simile 

400

What is one theme in “Lather and Nothing Else”?


Moral choices can be difficult, especially when a person has the power to act on their anger.

400

What is the name of the boy who picks up Miss Strangeworth’s letter?

Dave Harris 

400

What type of irony occurs in the story? 

Situational Irony

400

“People should never judge a book by its cover.”

  • It uses “should,” so it tells people how to behave.
  • It is a cliché.
500

“The barber told himself, ‘What a peaceful way to spend the afternoon,’ while preparing to shave Captain Torres.”

Verbal Irony

500

What are the reasons the barber gives for choosing not to kill Captain Torres?

  • Professional Integrity: He takes pride in being a barber and believes his job is to provide “lather, and nothing else.”
  • Refusal to Become a Murderer: He does not want to become like Torres or stain his hands with blood.
  • Practical Consequences: He worries about hiding the body, being caught, and being executed.
  • Escalation of Violence: He knows killing Torres would lead to more violence and deaths.
500

What type of character is Miss Strangeworth: dynamic or static, and round or flat?


Static and round. She does not change, but she has multiple sides to her personality and is more complex than a one-dimensional character.




500

How does the story foreshadow Arthur’s death?

Arthur strongly opposes pressing the button and warns Norma about the consequences, foreshadowing that pressing it will lead to something terrible happening to him.

500

What are the three types of third-person narration, and what is the main difference between each?


Third-Person Limited: Focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one character.

Third-Person Omniscient: Knows the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.

Third-Person Objective: Shows only actions and dialogue without revealing thoughts or feelings.




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