Themes in Literature
Literary Terms YOU need (but maybe don't like)
Isn't it ironic...(more tricky terms :-)
All About the A's
The Commonly Confused
100
How power can corrupt individuals or societies.
YOU MUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE:
Power vs Curruption
Claudius in Hamlet
Serena Joy/ Aunts in Handmaid's Tale
100
Two answers needed: Repetition of vowel sounds & Repetition of consonant sounds.
Assonance & Consonance
100
Intended to teach or instruct, often with a moral or political lesson.
Didactic
100
Language that has multiple meanings or is open to interpretation.
Ambiguity
100
Mood vs Tone (You explain the difference)
Tone = author’s attitude; Mood = reader’s feeling.
200
You must give an example:
Characters separated from society or loved ones, physically or emotionally.
Alienation & Isolation
Baba in Kite Runner
Gatsby
OfFred
Holden
200
A narrative in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or morals.
allegory
200
Overly concerned with formal rules, minute details, or displaying academic learning ostentatiously.
Pedantic
200
Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.
Anaphora
200
Ironic vs. Sarcastic → Explain the difference
Irony involves contrast between expectation and reality; sarcasm is often bitter mockery.
300
Give a literay example of: Fate vs. Free Will
300
Narrative style that presents a character’s thoughts as they occur.
Framed Narrative
300
Grimly mocking or cynical in tone.
Sardonic
300
The omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence (e.g., "I came, I saw, I conquered").
Asyndeton
300
Elegy vs Eulogy- Explain the difference
Elegy
A poem (or serious, reflective piece) mourning the death of someone or something lost. Example: "O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman (mourning Lincoln).
Eulogy
A speech given at a funeral or memorial service, praising and remembering someone who has died.
400
Give the theme & an example of: Discrepancy between how things seem and how they truly are.
Appearance vs. Reality
400
Daily Double!!!!!
Replacing the name of a thing with something closely related (e.g., "the crown" for royalty).
Metonymy
400
A logical argument composed of a major premise, minor premise, and a conclusion.
Syllogism
400
A rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel construction (e.g., "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times").
Antithesis
400
Symbol vs Motif
Explain the difference
Symbol
An object, character, color, or event that represents a larger, often abstract idea.
Example: The green light in The Great Gatsby symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes and the American Dream.
Motif
A recurring element (idea, image, word, or symbol) that reinforces or develops a theme throughout a work.
Example: The repeated references to eyes and vision in Invisible Man emphasize perception and identity.
500
Give a liteary example of the following themes (you must be able to explain your choices)
The Individual vs. Society
Conflicts between personal desires and societal expectations or rules.
Mortality & Immortality
Reflections on death, aging, and the desire to overcome mortality.
Resistance & Rebellion
Characters pushing back against control, oppression, or expectations.
Answers will vary, MS Jen wil agree or disagree
500
A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
Aphorism
500
Informal language or slang used in everyday speech.
Colloquialism
500
A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
Aphorism
500
Daily Double: Paradox vs Juxtaposition
Paradox = a contradictory idea or statement that invites deeper thought.
Juxtaposition = a contrast in placement (no inherent contradiction, just a comparison).