Literary Elements
This literary element is revealed through a character's thoughts, actions, and interactions with others.
What is characterization?
A theme should be expressed as this, not as a single word.
What is a complete statement about life or human nature?
A storm appears immediately before a major conflict. This is most likely an example of this literary device.
What is foreshadowing?
An author's position on an issue is called this.
What is a claim?
What is the biggest mistake students make when analyzing evidence?
What is summarizing instead of analyzing?
An author includes recurring images of darkness and decay throughout a text to develop this literary element.
What is symbolism (or motif)?
The difference between a topic and a theme is that a theme includes this.
What is a message or lesson learned?
A bird trapped in a cage throughout a story most likely functions as this.
What is a symbol?
What makes evidence relevant?
What is that it directly supports the claim?
Why should evidence never stand alone in a paragraph?
What is because it must be explained and connected to the claim?
A character who serves as a contrast to another character is known as this.
What is a foil?
If a character sacrifices personal gain to help others, what theme might this develop?
Answers may vary
A narrator whose version of events cannot be fully trusted is called this.
What is an unreliable narrator?
A speaker cites expert testimony to strengthen an argument. Which rhetorical appeal is primarily being used?
What is ethos?
A student identifies symbolism correctly but earns limited points. Why?
What is because they failed to explain the symbol's significance?
How does dramatic irony increase tension in a text?
What is by allowing the audience to know information that characters do not?
A character learns that pursuing power at any cost leads to isolation. What theme is being developed?
Answers may vary
When a setting reflects a character's emotional state, authors are using setting to develop this.
What is mood?
Why might an author include a counterclaim?
What is to acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints?
What do high-scoring literary analysis essays do that lower-scoring essays often fail to do?
What is explain how literary elements work together to develop meaning?
This literary technique occurs when an author references another text, historical event, or myth to deepen meaning.
What is allusion?
Why might an author develop multiple themes within the same text?
What is to convey complex ideas about human experiences and society?
Why might an author include a foil character?
What is to highlight qualities, strengths, or weaknesses of another character?
A statistic alone does not create a strong argument. What additional component is needed?
What is reasoning/analysis?
Finish this statement: The purpose of literary analysis is not to explain what happened, but to explain ________.
What is why it matters and how the author's choices create meaning?*