Literary Devices
What is symbolism?
Using symbols to represent ideas, emotions or deeper meanings beyond their literal sense
Define neurotic
extremely sensitive, obsessive or anxious
What is the main theme of the story?
The danger of over-reliance on technology, technology replacing parenting
What adjectives would you use to describe Johny's father's personality?
Unreliable, flaky, dysfunctional, selfish, irresponsible, prejudiced etc.
What is the exposition to the story?
Scientist accuses Tayloe of poisoning Barney, Tayloe is fired, only Barney and scientist alone on island now.
What is foreshadowing?
an author dropping subtle hints, warnings or clues about events that will occur later in a story.
Define facilitate
lead or run a meeting/event/discussion,
How would you describe Peter and Wendy's characters?
cold, manipulative, raised by the home instead of their parents
What is the climax of the story?
At the banquet when John raises Johnny's hand in the air
What is the central conflict in the story?
Man vs. Animal - intellectual battle between scientist and rat as Barney outsmarts the scientist, ultimately resulting in the scientist's death
What are the three types of irony and what do they mean?
Situational
Verbal
Dramatic
Define malice
the intention or desite to do evil, ill will
What does the African Veldt in the nursery symbolize?
The children's unchecked, violent thoughts and lack of empathy
What do we learn about the father-son relationship at the banquet?
Other parents know more about his son than he does, he has many interests he does not know about
What is ironic about the final journal entry?
Define deuteragonist
The person second in importance tot he protagonist in a story
Define plight
Why do you think the children go into hysterics when the parents want to close the nursery?
They are addicted to the technology, they have an emotional bond with it the way they should have an emotional bond with their parents
Explain the antecedent action in the story and why it is important to the plot
The flashbacks to John taking the principal's side over Johnny's, it helps us to say why there is so much distance between them
What is the main theme of this story?
The ability for humans to deal with an ever-changing world with science and technology at our fingertips, the dangers of conducting scientific experiments on animals
What is the difference between mood and tone?
Mood - overall atmosphere or emotion evoked in the reader, the reader's experience
Tone - author's attitude toward the subject, the voice of the piece driven by word choice, punctuation etc.
Define mollify
rerduce the anger or anxiety of someone/something
What is still relevant about this story today?
the dangers of modern addictions to screens, social media, technology creating a 'generation gap', living online etc.
What is the main message the author is delivering through this short story?
Irresponsible choices result in losing important relationships in one's life, leads to neglect and ignorance
What is ironic about the story?
the scientist wrote in the journal that he thought Barney was trying to save him in the well, but Barney was actually trying to trap him there. Barney was able to outsmart the scientist.