Definitions
Define point of view and give an example.
What is:
Identifies who is telling the story and what information the reader can access.
Ex: The ten different povs from ATTWN.
Define theme and give an example.
What is:
The larger idea, insight, or question explored through a story. Develops through characters, conflict, plot, and setting.
Ex: In ATTWN, a recurring theme is the impact of guilt on a person.
Define metaphor and give an example of it.
What is:
An implied comparison without using like or as.
Ex: Her smile was sunshine.
Define situational irony and give an example.
What is:
The actual outcome of the event is extremely different from the expected outcome.
Ex: A fire station burns down.
Identify the literary device: there could be more than one!
"By Jove, he'd sailed pretty near the wind once or twice! But he'd always got away with it! There wasn't much he drew the line at really..."
What is:
Foreshadowing/suspense.
Define setting and give an example.
What is:
When and where a story takes place, including the physical location and time period. Can also include social and cultural conditions.
Ex: The island in ATTWN.
Define mood and give an example.
What is:
The general idea atmosphere and emotions the author wants the reader to feel. Setting and imagery are key to helping develop a mood.
Ex: In ATTWN, Christie wants us to feel anxious for the characters and concerned about who might die next. She also wants us to be curious about who the murderer might be.
Define simile and give an example.
What is:
An implied comparison using like or as.
Ex: He was as fast as a snail.
(Also verbal irony!)
Define dramatic irony and give an example.
What is:
When the reader knows information the characters do not.
Ex: We know the internal monologues of the characters in ATTWN.
Identify the literary device: there could be more than one!
"But this house was the essence of modernity. There were no dark corners -- no possible sliding panels -- it was flooded with electric light -- everything was new and bright and shining."
What is:
Imagery/setting
Define conflict and give an example.
What is:
The problem, challenge, or struggle that drives a story. There are 6 types of conflict: character vs. character; character vs. self; character vs. nature; character vs. society; character vs. technology; and character vs. fate. There is also internal conflict and external conflict.
Ex: The characters in ATTWN trying to figure out who the murderer is before it's too late.
Define tone and give an example.
What is:
The attitude or emotional quality conveyed by the narrator's language.
Ex: In ATTWN, the tone is eerie.
Define imagery and give an example.
What is:
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses; it paints a clear picture to the reader of what the scene looks like.
Ex: the flowers were a bright, fiery, cherry red that shone like the sun against the pale, tall, green grass.
Define verbal irony and give an example.
When you say the opposite of what you mean.
Ex: Saying "that was awesome!" after shattering your phone screen.
Identify the literary device:
Lombard answered: "I left them to die." His amused eyes looked into her horrified ones.
What is:
Characterization.
Define plot and give an example.
What is:
The sequence of events that make up a story. Usually includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.
Ex: The characters in ATTWN are lured to an island by a Mr. Owen. While on the island, one by one they start to be murdered in the same way as a popular nursery rhyme predicts. They have to find the murderer before it's too late.
Define characterization and give an example.
What is:
The way an author describes or shows what a character is like.
Ex: In ATTWN, Lombard is characterized as someone who does not value human life or have the ability to feel empathy.
Define foreshadowing and give an example.
What is:
Hinting at future events in a story to create suspense.
Ex: a sudden turn for the worse in the weather might signal that some major negative plot point is about to occur.
Define symbolism and give an example.
What is:
Using an object or element to represent an abstract idea.
Ex: an owl representing wisdom.
Identify the literary device:
"'Yes. Of course, you're very young... you haven't got to that yet. But it does come! The blessed relief when you know that you've done with it all -- that you haven't got to carry the burden any longer. You'll feel that too, someday."
What is:
Theme.
- The burden of guilt
- The impact of guilt on a person
Define suspense and give an example.
What is:
A narrative device that creates tension and anxiety in readers, causing them to question what will happen next.
Ex: In ATTWN, Christie often ends her chapter sections with cliffhangers in order to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and questioning who might die next and who the murderer is.
Define internal monologue and give an example.
What is:
A character's thoughts, self-talk, or inner speech.
Ex: She thought to herself, "I am going to ace this test!"
Define connotation and denotation and give an example of both.
What is:
Connotation: refers to the implied or emotional meaning of a word. Ex: a four leaf clover meaning luck.
Denotation: a word's literal meaning. Ex: a four leaf clover is a clover with four leaves.
Define red herring and give an example.
What is:
Used to mislead or distract the reader from the main issue or plot point.
Ex: in a mystery novel, someone confessing to a murder they did not actually commit.
Identify the literary device:
For the whole of chapter eight they search the island for the murderer. The search is fruitless, leading them to conclude that the murderer is one of them.
What is:
Red herring.