Themes & Central Ideas
In Examination Day, this is what the government fears most about its citizens.
What is intelligence?
In "Burn," Eliza uses this word to emphasize her controlled, deliberate action rather than impulsive reaction.
What is "erasing"?
In Examination Day, this is the moment when the true horror of the government's system is revealed.
What is the phone call informing the parents that Dickie exceeded acceptable intelligence standards?
With the Might of Angels uses this narrative format to give readers intimate access to Dawnie's thoughts and feelings.
What is first-person diary entries?
This is the type of evidence you must include when writing a literary analysis paragraph.
What is direct quotes with page numbers or specific references?
In the suspense unit, this is the central idea about blind traditions shown in The Lottery.
What is the danger of following traditions without questioning them?
In Examination Day, the father's inaccurate answer about the sun's distance reveals this about his character through word choice.
What is his fear and unwillingness to speak truth to authority?
In the suspense unit, these are the five main elements that make up a complete story structure.
What is exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, and resolution?
In Examination Day, this narrative perspective creates suspense by limiting readers' knowledge to only what the family experiences.
What is third-person limited point of view?
In analyzing tone in "Burn," this is what you should examine to understand Eliza's emotional state.
What is word choice and the way the lyrics are delivered?
In "Burn," Eliza's response to Alexander's betrayal demonstrates this theme about how people react to injustice.
What is the complexity of emotional responses to betrayal?
In the suspense unit's story analysis, this is what the reviewer means when discussing how Jackson portrays cruelty in The Lottery.
What is the exploration of evil in human nature?
In With the Might of Angels, Gertie demonstrates this character trait by standing between Dawnie and the students who are harassing her.
What is loyalty and courage?
In "Burn" and "First Burn," Lin-Manuel Miranda conveys Eliza's emotional state through this literary technique.
What is her own point of view and word choice in the lyrics?
When writing about suspense in Examination Day, this is the literary technique the author uses through the birthday celebration.
What is foreshadowing or irony?
In With the Might of Angels, this is how Dawnie's perseverance develops as she faces ongoing discrimination.
What is becoming harder over time as each new act of prejudice adds emotional weight?
In With the Might of Angels, when Dawnie describes herself as "small" and "trying," this is revealed about her self-perception.
What is her vulnerability and lack of confidence?
In "Burn" and "First Burn," this is what Eliza is doing in both versions despite her different emotional states.
What is removing herself from Alexander's life and legacy?
The review of The Lottery in the suspense unit shows how the author conveys this through the townspeople's perspective.
What is the normalization of ritual violence?
In With the Might of Angels, Pinkney uses this technique when Dawnie repeats ideas about history, voice, and being heard.
What is repetition?
This central idea connects Examination Day, the suspense stories, and With the Might of Angels through their exploration of power and control.
What is that those in power will eliminate threats to their authority?
The difference between "Burn" and "First Burn" can be described as this shift in emotional tone and expression.
What is from sadness and composure to anger and accusation?
In Examination Day, Mr. Jordan's decision to accept the government's burial offer demonstrates this about his character development.
What is his resignation and acceptance of authority despite his grief?
In With the Might of Angels, the shift from diary entries to the Epilogue changes the perspective from this to this.
What is from immediate and personal to distant and reflective?
This is the main difference between analyzing a theme and summarizing what happens in a story.
What is that analyzing a theme requires explaining the lesson or message, while summarizing only describes events?