Poetry
G - What is a stanza?
A group of lines in a poem
Q - What is figurative language?
Language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to create comparisons, images, or deeper meanings.
H - What is a theme?
A message or lesson about life or human nature that a text develops.
A - What is character development?
The way a character's personality, beliefs, emotions, relationships, or behavior change or become clearer throughout a text.
P - In the word “teacher,” what does the suffix “-er” do?
It changes the verb “teach” into a noun meaning a person who teaches.
U - Why might a poet repeat a line or phrase?
To emphasize an important idea, feeling, or theme
B - “The river flows like a stream of glass.” What type of figurative language is this?
Simile
V - Turn the topic “freedom” into a theme.
Possible answer: “People may deeply value freedom when they experience restrictions.”
I - Can two characters have different perspectives about the same event?
Yes.
F - If “hope” means to want or expect something and “hopeful” means full of hope, what does the suffix “-ful” contribute?
It means “full of.”
D - A poet describes “the whisper of leaves,” “the roar of thunder,” and “the crack of a branch.” What type of imagery is primarily being used?
Hearing
N - What is a metaphor?
A direct comparison between two unalike things
T - A character initially doubts her own abilities. After facing a difficult situation, she trusts herself and takes action. What theme could this support?
Difficult situations can help people discover confidence in themselves.
Y - Why can internal thoughts be useful for understanding a character's perspective?
They reveal what the character thinks and feels, even when the character does not say those things aloud.
E - What is the best strategy for determining an unfamiliar word's meaning?
Use context clues and analyze known prefixes, suffixes, roots, or word parts.
K - A repeated line appears after descriptions of both happiness and suffering. What should a reader do when analyzing the repetition?
How the repeated line connects to both experiences
J - What is symbolism?
When an object, person, place, action, or image represents a larger idea or meaning.
L - A character makes a mistake, feels responsible, and refuses to leave until she helps fix the problem. What theme might these events develop?
Taking responsibility for one's actions can require courage and perseverance.
R - How can dialogue develop a character?
Dialogue can reveal a character's beliefs, emotions, relationships, personality, and perspective.
X - In a sentence, a character is described as “inert,” and the surrounding text says she is “lying so still.” What does inert most likely mean?
Motionless or not moving.
S - A poem describes a beautiful world outside a cage but repeatedly returns to images of physical pain inside the cage. What larger idea could this contrast help develop?
Freedom is ideal and captivity causes suffering.
W - A character describes a frightening experience as leaving “a lingering residue like stale smoke.” What does this comparison suggest?
The experience was so powerful that its emotional effect remains even after the event is over.
C - When asked to identify a theme, why should you avoid choosing an answer that is too specific to one character?
A theme should express a universal message about life that can apply beyond one specific character or event.
O - How can setting influence character development?
The setting can place characters in situations that challenge them, reveal their traits, or cause them to change.
M - If “unfair” means not fair, what does the prefix “un-” contribute?
It means “not” or indicates the opposite.