Transcript Literary Elements PowerPoint

Figurative Language
is also called figures of speech.
It changes the literal meaning of words
• to express complexity,
• to capture a physical or sensory
effect, or
• to extend meaning.
There are a number of
figures of speech.
Some of the more common ones are:
Simile
Making a comparison between unlike
things, using “like” or “as.”
Forrest Gump’s famous simile is
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You
never know what you’re gonna get.”
Metaphor
Making a comparison between unlike
things without the use “like” or “as.”
An example is, “Your eyes are the
windows to your soul.” – Immanuel Kant.
Hyberbole
An exaggeration.
For example:
I told you a million times to be quiet.
You never speak to me.
The teacher gave us tons of work.
He ate a thousand pounds of pizza.
Personification
Giving human qualities to an
animal, thing or idea.
The wind screamed my name.
The window flew open.
The book jumped out of my locker.
Narrator
Someone who tells the story.
There are 3 types:
Protagonist - main character
Observer - person who is indirectly
involved in the story
Non-participant - not at all involved,
can be omniscient (knows everything)
Tone
The attitude an author takes toward the
audience, subject or character.
The tone is conveyed through the
author’s words and details.
Think of when someone says, “Don’t use
that tone with me!” Your tone can
change the meaning of what you say.
Theme
A theme is the main idea of a story,
or the message the author is
conveying. This message is usually
about life, society or human nature.
Flashbacks
A scene in a narrative that returns to an
earlier time.
Irony
is a literary device for conveying meaning
by saying the exact opposite of
what is really meant.
(Sarcasm is one kind of irony.
It is praise which is really an insult.
Sarcasm generally involves malice, the
desire to put someone down, for example
“This is my brilliant son who failed
out of college.”
Life is filled with ironies.
Listen to the following TRUE accounts…
1. The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after
the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At
a special ceremony, two of the most expensively
saved animals were released back into the wild amid
cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later,
they were both eaten by a killer whale.
2. Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn’t pay enough
postage on a letter bomb. It came back with “return
to sender” stamped on it. Forgetting it was the
bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.
Dramatic Monologue
• Dramatic says that it could be acted
out, and is a form of drama,
• while monologue defines it as a speech
that one person makes, either to
themselves or to another.
• A dramatic monologue is written to
reveal both the situation at hand and the
character herself.
Genre
Genre is a French word
meaning kind or type.
The major genres in literature are
poetry, fiction, drama and essays.
It can also refer to more specific
types of literature such as
comedy, tragedy, epic poetry or
science fiction.
Genre
Narrative text is a story.
(usually fiction)
Informational or expository
is written to inform, to explain, to
describe or to present information.
(usually nonfiction)
Persuasive Essay is writing
designed to convince reader to view
things from the author’s point of view.
Genre
Biographical text is an account
of an individuals life, written by
another person
Proverbs or Maxims
are old sayings which illustrate a truth.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”
doesn’t mean you have to eat apples everyday.
The general truth being communicated is that a
diet that is rich in fruits can keep one healthy and
not in need of medical care.
Literary Terms
Theme
Tone
Mood
Stanza
Drama
Foil Character
Mood
Mood is the emotion that YOU feel
while you’re reading.
Some literature makes you feel sad,
others joyful, still others angry.
Stanza
When a poem is divided into
groups of lines, often with a
regular pattern, these groups are
known as stanzas or verses.
Drama
This is another word for play.
That’s when characters tell a
story in a theatrical performance.
Foil Character
This may be an unfamiliar term.
A foil is a person who is paired with
another character to develop the latter’s
traits and personality by contrast.
A foil is much like the twin character in
class, rank, and background, but has
opposing characteristics that provide a
mirror to those of the paired character.
Combining Sentences
Sentences can be combined by
using three punctuation marks:
the dash (-), the colon (:), the semi-colon (;).
You can also use coordinating conjunctions
(and, or, but, so)
To combine sentences (clauses) that are
grammatically equal.
Combining Sentences
A dash (-)
is used to add more information about
some part of your sentence.
It is rather informal and although you
may see it when you read, it is better to
avoid this punctuation in your writing.
Combining Sentences
A colon (:)
is also used to add more information
and especially to give examples of
something in the sentence.
What follows a colon may be a clause (He is
a great athlete: he plays soccer, baseball
and basketball.) or a group of words that
cannot stand by themselves (He plays many
sports: soccer, baseball and basketball.)
Combining Sentences
A semi-colon (;)
is used to connect clauses and is the
most important punctuation mark for
combining sentences.
It can be used alone to connect clauses
(He’s not heavy; he’s my brother.)
It can also be used to connect clauses
together with special linking words such as
however, moreover, therefore.
Combining Sentences
Sample Question: Choose the answer that is the
most effective substitute for each underlined part
of the sentence. If no substitution is necessary,
choose “Leave as is.”
The Alaska rivers are clear and sparkling in
summer however; they are frozen in winter.
(A) in summer, however they are frozen in winter.
(B) in summer, however, they are frozen in winter.
(C) in summer: however they are frozen in winter.
(D) Leave as is.
Combining Sentences
Solution: What punctuation mark joins the two
thoughts into one sentence?
A semicolon joins them, but the semicolon is in the
wrong place. “However” goes with the second
sentence, so the semicolon needs to be placed
before it. The correct answer is B.
The Alaska rivers are clear and sparkling in summer
however; they are frozen in winter.
(A) in summer, however they are frozen in winter.
(B) in summer, however, they are frozen in winter.
(C) in summer: however they are frozen in winter.
(D) Leave as is.
Writing on the CAHSEE
There are three strands:
Writing Strategies
Writing Conventions
Writing Applications
Writing on the CAHSEE
Writing Strategies
12 test questions that ask you to read a rough
draft of an essay and make modifications to
improve the thesis statement or topic sentences.
You will also have to use synthesize information or
revise the writing to improve the logic and
coherence of the paragraph.
Combining sentences is included
in this section.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Writing Conventions
15 test questions that test your
understanding of grammar
and your knowledge in the
mechanics of punctuation
(e.g. semicolons, colons, ellipses, hyphens).
You will also have to identify and use clauses and
understand sentence construction (parallel
structure, proper placement of modifiers, etc.).
Writing on the CAHSEE
Writing Application
On the writing portion of the
CAHSEE exam, you will be given a
“Writing Task” which is an essay question.
You may be asked to do one of the following:
Biographical Narrative
Response to Literature
Expository Essay
Persuasive Essay
Business Letter
Writing on the CAHSEE
Biographical Narrative:
This writing is often
about a real person who is
important to you.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Response to Literature:
You read a passage
[literature], and write an
essay [response] based on
that passage.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Expository Essay:
Exposition is most often nonfiction,
meaning that it deals with real
people, things, events and places.
The question may ask you to write
about a moment in history and its
importance in today’s world.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Persuasive Essay:
A persuasive essays ask you to
defend a position or issue you support.
An issue is something about
which people disagree.
The individuals who score these essays want you to
include arguments of those who disagree with you, then
explain why your argument is stronger.
A sample question may ask you to write an essay for your school
paper in which you convince the readers of the importance of getting
rid of the trash and making the school more attractive.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Business Letter:
When you’re writing a
business letter,
your purpose may be
to inform, to suggest,
to complain or to argue.
Writing on the CAHSEE
#1. Remember
Make sure to answer all parts
of the writing task.
If the question is asking you to
describe the main characters
personality and emotions,
make sure to address both.
Writing on the CAHSEE
# 2. Remember
Make sure you have the correct structure with
a strong introduction, body and conclusion.
Use specific details and examples from the
passage to demonstrate your understanding of
the main idea’s and the author’s purpose.
Vary your sentences to make your writing
more interesting.
Writing on the CAHSEE
# 3. Remember
Check for mistakes
in grammar, spelling, punctuation,
capitalization and sentence
formation.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Other Key Points
Always include
the name of the story,
article, or essay
when you write a
response to literature.
Writing on the CAHSEE
Other Key Points
When you give evidence
to support your argument,
it should be explicit and direct
(or specific textual details and
quotes to support the thesis and
main idea) instead of implicit or
indirect (in the form of summary).