Poetic Devices
What is poetry?
A literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm.
Approximately how many paragraphs should an essay have?
At least five paragraphs.
From what point of view is this novel told? Who is the narrator of the novel?
The story is told through the first person lens. The narrator is Ponyboy Curtis.
Where does the story take place?
A rural village
What city and place does Billy Weaver stay on his business trip? Why?
Billy decides to stay at the Bed & Breakfast located in Bath, England. He was attracted to the welcoming and quiet ambiance of the home.
What is personification? Please provide an example.
Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human.
Example: The sun was smiling at me.
What is a hook? What does it look like.
The first sentence of the introductory paragraph. The hook can be a question, interesting fact, or quote.
Who are the greasers? Who are the Soc's?
Who is chosen for the lottery?
Tessie Hutchinson
Why does Billy think the Landlady is harmless?
She is welcoming and nice. She offers him a cheap deal and a discounted breakfast.
What is a metaphor? Please provide an example.
A metaphor is a comparison between two things that states one thing is another in order to help explain an idea or show hidden similarities.
Example: "Hope" is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson.
What is the first sentence of a body paragraph? What is its purpose?
The topic sentence which introduces a claim from your thesis.
What event causes Ponyboy and Johnny to run away?Why do they decide to flee?
The two boys ran away because Johnny killed Bob the soc out of self defense. They ran away because the boys figured the police would not believe that they acted out of self defense.
What is the lottery really?
A sacrificial ritual that every villager participates in. The "winner" of the lottery gets stoned to death.
What does Billy learn about the Landlady's pets?
What is enjambment? Give an example of a poem that has enjambment.
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza.
"We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks
What is a concrete detail? Why does a paragraph need this? What does it do?
Evidence to support a claim from your thesis
What was Johnny's final words to Ponyboy?
"Stay Gold"
What does the lottery symbolize?
It represents the danger of blindly following traditions.
What is funny about the tea Billy is given by the Landlady?
The tea tastes like bitter almonds because it is laced with cyanide.
Interpret the poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost. What is a possible message of the poem?
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
The poem discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate.
What is the most important sentence of the entire essay? Why?
The thesis statement which is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. It sets up the claims you will be making throughout the essay.
Name all seven greasers from the group
Dally, Johnny, Two-Bit, Ponyboy, Soda Pop, Steve, and Darry.
Example: The black box which symbolizes death, ignorance, doom.
What is foreshadowing? Name an example of foreshadowing the story.
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. For example, The ridiculously cheap rent that the landlady is offering to Billy No other hats, coats, umbrellas, or walking sticks in the hall