Theme Team
What’s the main message or lesson of a story called?
Theme
When the author directly tells us what a character is like, it’s called ______ characterization.
Direct (characterization)
What point of view uses “I” or “we”?
First-person
What’s the term for the feeling of not knowing what will happen next?
suspense
What does symbolism mean in a story?
When something stands for a bigger idea.
What is introduced in the exposition of a story?
The exposition introduces the setting and characters.
What should you look at to find the meaning of an unfamiliar word?
The words or sentences around it.
What’s the theme of The Monkey’s Paw?
Be careful what you wish for / Wishes can have unintended consequences
What type of characterization shows traits through a character’s actions, thoughts, and dialogue?
Indirect characterization
What point of view knows what all of the characters think?
third person
What’s it called when a story gives hints about the future?
Foreshadowing
In The Monkey’s Paw, what does the storm symbolize?
Danger or bad luck.
What is the climax of a story?
The most exciting or intense moment // the turning point.
What is atmospheric tension?
A dark or eerie setting that builds fear.
What’s the theme of The Tell-Tale Heart?
Guilt can make you go crazy
In The Tell-Tale Heart, what does the narrator keep repeating to prove to the reader that he is NOT crazy?
He can hear everything very well // he is a very good and careful planner
Who is the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart?
the younger man // the killer
What warning does the sergeant give about the paw?
Bad things happen if you use it
What’s a simile?
A comparison using “like” or “as.”
What’s an internal conflict?
A struggle inside a character’s mind or heart.
If a word has the root “videre,” what does it relate to?
Seeing or vision
What’s one way to find a story’s theme?
Look at what the character learns or how they change.
In "The Monkey's Paw," what does Mr. White’s wish tell us about him? (Character Trait)
Why can’t we always trust a first-person narrator?
They might lie // they might be crazy
What event is hinted at by the storm in The Monkey’s Paw?
Something bad is coming, The Monkey's Paw will lead to problems for the White family
What’s personification?
Giving human traits to something not human.
What’s an external conflict?
A struggle with something outside — another person, nature, or a force.
If “foreboding” describes a feeling in The Monkey’s Paw, what mood does it create?
A feeling that something bad will happen.
Why are themes called “universal ideas,” according to your notes?
They show truths about life or human nature that apply to everyone.
How does Mrs. White change after Herbert dies?
She becomes desperate and consumed by grief/sadness
How does first-person narration make a story scarier?
We see their creepy thoughts or fears up close
In The Tell-Tale Heart, what sound foreshadows the narrator’s guilt?
The beating heart
What’s the difference between mood and tone? Mood is how it feels to the ________ Tone is how the ________ feels.
Mood is how it feels to the reader; tone is how the author feels.
In The Monkey’s Paw, what moment is the climax?
When they wish for Herbert to come back and hear the knocking at the door.
What are word roots, and why do they matter?
What are word roots, and why do they matter?
What is a motif, and how can it help reveal a story’s theme?
A motif is a repeated image, idea, or symbol in a story that helps show its deeper meaning or theme.
In The Monkey’s Paw, how do Mr. White’s actions show indirect characterization? (Actions --> Traits)
He ignores warnings and makes risky wishes, showing he’s curious and greedy.
Why does Poe use a first-person unreliable narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart?
It lets readers experience the narrator’s madness and question what’s real.
How does pacing build suspense in The Tell-Tale Heart? (Think...how is the story written?)
Short, quick sentences make the heartbeat and tension feel faster and scarier.
Identify two types of figurative language: “Lightning danced across the sky as thunder roared like an angry beast.”
Personification and simile
What is the falling action of The Monkey’s Paw?
When Mr. White makes his final wish and the knocking stops.
What makes The Monkey’s Paw a 'supernatural' story?
The magical paw that grants wishes and causes tragedy