Literary Elements
This the perspective from which a story is told.
What is Point of View.
This is the repetition of consonant sounds inside words.
What is consonance.
This is the question you should ask yourself first when answering FRQ 1 (or FRQ 2).
What is the author's intent?
In Frankenstein, the creature describes fire as both something that “gave light, as well as heat” and something that caused him pain when he touched it. This moment develops meaning through a comparison that continues across multiple lines, showing both the benefits and dangers of knowledge.
What is an extended metaphor.
If you were writing about a character who holds an idealized vision of the future and pursues it despite reality, you could choose this character from The Great Gatsby.
Who is Jay Gatsby.
This is the struggle or problem that drives the story.
What is conflict.
This is a scene that interrupts the story to show past events.
What is a flashback.
This literary device develops a comparison between two unlike things across multiple lines or throughout an entire poem, often deepening meaning by connecting complex ideas over time.
What is an extended metaphor.
In The Yellow Wallpaper, the narrator becomes obsessed with the wallpaper, describing a woman trapped behind its pattern. The wallpaper comes to represent the narrator’s own confinement and loss of control, making it an example of this literary device.
What is symbolism.
If you were writing about a character who lives under an oppressive system and quietly resists by gathering information and taking significant personal risks, you could choose this character from The Handmaid’s Tale.
Who is Ofglen.
This is the central message or deeper meaning the story explores.
What is theme.
This is when the author places two things side by side to highlight differences.
What is juxtaposition.
This literary device uses a concrete object, image, or action to represent a deeper, often abstract meaning beyond its literal sense, helping develop theme across a text.
What is symbolism.
In A Good Man Is Hard to Find, the family’s detour to visit an old plantation leads them down a dirt road where their car crashes, ultimately bringing them face to face with the Misfit. This sequence of events drives the story forward and builds tension, illustrating this literary element.
What is plot.
If you were writing about a character who begins with innocence but becomes shaped by rejection and isolation, ultimately revealing how society influences identity and morality, you could choose this character from Frankenstein.
Who is The Creature.
This is the author's attitude towards a subject.
What is tone.
This is a reference to something well-known (like history, literature, or pop culture).
What is an allusion.
This literary device presents a statement that seems self-contradictory or illogical at first but ultimately reveals a deeper truth about a character, situation, or idea.
What is a paradox.
In People of the Whale, the octopus is described in rich, layered detail, emphasizing its movement, texture, and presence in the water. This vivid description appeals to the reader’s senses and helps bring the scene to life, illustrating this literary element.
What is imagery.
If you were writing about a character whose charm and carelessness allow them to avoid consequences, revealing how privilege and wealth can shield individuals from accountability, you could choose this character from The Great Gatsby.
Who is Tom Buchanan.
This describes the way an author uses words to shape meaning. This includes diction (word choice), syntax (sentence structure), and figurative language (imagery, metaphors, etc.).
What is style.
This is when the author writes about a work of art.
What is ekphrasis.
In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the line “Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink” highlights this literary device by presenting a situation that seems impossible but reveals a deeper truth about suffering and deprivation.
What is a paradox.
In Hamlet, the line “I must be cruel, only to be kind” uses a pair of contradictory terms placed together to express a complex truth about Hamlet’s actions.
What is an oxymoron.
If you were writing about a character who serves as a foil to the protagonist, acting decisively where others hesitate and highlighting different responses to revenge and honor, you could choose this character from Hamlet.
Who is Fortinbras.
This element is described in two ways: direct and indirect.
What is characterization.
The author uses many conjunctions in a row.
What is polysyndeton.
In O Captain! My Captain!, by Walt Whitman the speaker celebrates a victorious journey while simultaneously mourning a devastating loss, creating a tension between triumph and grief that reflects this literary technique.
What is juxtaposition.
In Everyday Use, the story is told from Mama’s perspective, and her limited understanding of Dee’s motivations shapes how readers interpret the conflict over heritage and identity. This narrative choice highlights this literary element.
What is point of view.
If you were writing about a character who upholds and benefits from an oppressive system while also being constrained by it, revealing the complexities of power, complicity, and gender roles, you could choose this character from The Handmaid’s Tale.
Who is Serena Joy.