Literary Analysis
Read the following excerpt from "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe:
"It was open --wide, wide open --and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones;"
What does this passage reveal about the narrator's state of mind?
What is unstable or paranoid?
Read the following excerpt from a science article:
"First, the water cycle begins with evaporation from bodies of water. Next, the water vapor condenses to form clouds. Finally, precipitation falls back to Earth."
What text structure is used in this passage?
What is sequence or chronological order?
Which of the following is the best thesis statement for an essay about the impact of social media?
a) Social media is popular.
b) Social media has both positive and negative effects on society.
c) Facebook was founded in 2004.
What is b?
Read the following excerpt from "The Giver":
"The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared."
What theme is suggested by this quote?
What is the importance of shared experiences or the burden of knowledge?
"Her voice was as smooth as butter" is an example of which figure of speech?
What is a simile?
In the novel "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, the community is described as colorless and without music.
What does this contribute to the overall tone of the novel?
What is oppressive?
Compare these two statements about renewable energy:
Which statement presents a specific view of solar energy?
What is statement 2?
You're writing an essay explaining how a bill becomes a law. What type of essay would this be?
What is an expository essay?
Which transition word would best fit in the blank: "The experiment failed. __, we need to redesign our approach."
a) Furthermore
b) However
c) Therefore
What is c? Therefore
In the sentence "The wind howled and clawed at the windows," what literary device is used?
What is personification?
Read the following excerpt from "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton:
"'I'm a greaser,' Sodapop said. 'I am a JD and a hood. I blacken the name of our fair city. I beat up people. I rob gas stations. I am a menace to society. Man, do I have fun!'"
How does this dialogue contribute to character development?
What is irony or sarcasm to highlight societal prejudices?
Read the following excerpt from a speech:
"Imagine a world where clean water is a luxury, where forests are barren, where the air is thick with pollution. This is the future we face if we don't act now on climate change."
What persuasive technique is primarily used here?
What is pathos or emotional appeal?
Read the following descriptive paragraph:
"The ancient oak tree stood sentinel at the edge of the forest, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like arthritic fingers. Its bark, rough and deeply furrowed, told tales of centuries gone by."
What writing technique is demonstrated here?
What is descriptive writing?
When writing about the theme of courage in "To Kill a Mockingbird," which quote would serve as the best textual evidence?
What is "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand."?
"I've told you a million times to clean your room!" is an example of which type of figurative language?
What is hyperbole?
In "The Diary of Anne Frank," Anne's conflict with her situation is best described as which type of conflict?
What is character vs. society?
You're researching the life of Malala Yousafzai for a project. Which type of source would likely provide the most comprehensive and objective information about her life?
What is a biography?
In a paragraph about the causes of the American Revolution, which order of ideas would demonstrate the best coherence?
a) Stamp Act, French and Indian War, Boston Tea Party
b) Boston Tea Party, Stamp Act, French and Indian War
c) French and Indian War, Stamp Act, Boston Tea Party
What is c?
In analyzing the character of Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games," what two aspects of her personality would be most relevant to compare?
What is her protective nature towards her family and her defiance against the Capitol?
Which of the following is an example of onomatopoeia?
a) The cat purred contentedly.
b) The dog was incredibly fluffy.
c) The bird soared through the sky.
What is a? The cat purred contentedly.
In "The Hunger Games," the mocking jay pin that Katniss wears serves as a symbol throughout the series.
What literary device does this represent?
What is symbolism?
Read the following opening of a news article:
"As the sun set on the small town, an eerie silence fell over the empty streets. The once-bustling shops were shuttered, and not a soul was in sight."
What does this introduction establish?
What is atmosphere or setting?
You're writing an essay about the pros and cons of homework. What type of essay would this be?
What is an argumentative or discussion essay?
Which of the following best expresses the central idea of a text about the Industrial Revolution?
What is "The Industrial Revolution brought about significant technological advancements but also led to social and environmental challenges."?
Read the following headline: "Vegetarian Restaurant Opens: It's a Big Mis-steak!"
What type of wordplay is used here?
What is a pun?