Figurative Language & Literary Devices
A poem repeatedly references water to symbolize cleansing and renewal. What figurative strategy is the author relying on, and what deeper meaning does it create?
What is:
The author uses symbolism, which deepens meaning by linking water to rebirth or forgiveness.
A story is told by a narrator who uses “I” and reveals personal thoughts. What POV is this?
What is:
First-person point of view
A teacher wants to activate prior knowledge before reading a text. Which graphic organizer supports this goal?
What is:
A KWL chart
A story centered on mythology, oral tradition, and heroic quests belongs to which literary era?
What is:
Classicism / Classical era
A teacher asks students, “What message does the author want readers to walk away with?” What literary element is being evaluated?
What is:
Theme
A writer describes time as “a patient thief waiting in the shadows.” What two literary devices are at work, and how do they affect tone?
What is:
Personification and metaphor, creating a dark and ominous tone.
A student confuses setting with plot. What question could help them distinguish the two?
What is:
“How would the story change if it occurred in a different time or place?”
A student stops during a read-aloud to say, “I don’t know this word—let me use context clues.” What skill is being modeled?
What is:
Metacognition—thinking about one’s thinking
A poem focused on emotion, nature, and the supernatural aligns with which literary movement?
What is:
Romanticism
Students infer that a poem about a woman confronting her past uses water as a symbol for rebirth. What critical approach does this represent?
What is:
Critical literary analysis using symbolism
A passage uses words like “slumped,” “dragged,” and “grey” to influence the reader’s emotional response. Which concept is being manipulated, and why is this important in literature?
What is:
Connotation—because emotional associations shape tone and reader interpretation.
A character battles guilt after betraying a friend. What type of conflict is this, and why?
What is:
Internal conflict, because it occurs within the character’s mind.
A class discusses how a text connects to their personal lives and current events. Which response-to-text approach is this?
What is:
Personal connection / student response strategy.
A novel emphasizing everyday life, ordinary characters, and social critique belongs to which movement?
What is:
Realism
While reading historical fiction, students identify how the time period influences a character’s decisions. Which analytical skill is this?
What is:
Evaluating the influence of setting and societal expectations.
A student argues that an author’s repeated use of storm imagery reflects the protagonist’s internal conflict. Which skill is the student demonstrating, and why is it accurate?
What is:
Critical literary interpretation correctly connects figurative imagery to thematic conflict.
A narrative reveals one character’s thoughts but not others, yet it’s not told by the character. Which POV is this, and what effect does it create?
What is:
Third-person limited, creating focus on one character’s internal perspective.
A student reads a text with 92% accuracy. At what reading level are they functioning, and how should instruction support them?
What is:
Instructional level—text is challenging but manageable; teacher provides guided support.
A text depicts characters whose destinies are shaped by heredity and environment, often pessimistically. What movement is being represented, and why?
What is:
Naturalism, because it highlights determinism and environmental influence
Students compare two protagonists from different eras to examine how cultural context shapes character development. Which higher-level skill is being used?
What is:
Cross-textual critical comparison. (Blending contexts across literary movements.)
In a novel, the protagonist’s thoughts reveal insecurity, but their dialogue appears confident. What technique is the author using, and how does it contribute to character complexity?
What is:
Indirect characterization—it highlights contradictions that make the character more realistic and layered.
A reader notes that the rising action of a story is unusually brief and the climax happens early. What understanding about plot structure should they apply?
What is:
Not all stories follow a traditional plot diagram; authors may alter structure to achieve specific effects.
During a test-prep scenario, a teacher must choose an effective fluency strategy for struggling readers. Which should they avoid and why?
What is:
Popcorn or Round Robin reading—these practices increase anxiety and do not improve fluency.
A novel breaks traditional narrative structures, using fragmentation and inner consciousness. Which movement is this, and what historical shift does it reflect?
What is:
Modernism, reflecting early-20th-century experimentation and questioning of traditional norms.
Students rewrite the ending of a play and perform their version to demonstrate understanding. What type of assessment is this, and why is it effective?
What is:
A performance-based assessment—it shows higher-order thinking, creativity, and applied comprehension.