Elements of Fiction Review & Literary Lenses

Part 1: Elements of Fiction Review & Literary Lenses

• Literary Devices:

• Symbolism: Uses symbols to represent ideas or qualities (e.g., a dove symbolizes peace).

• Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements not meant literally (e.g., "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse").

• Meiosis: Understatement to diminish or dismiss something (e.g., calling a huge storm "a bit of rain").

• Contradiction: Statement opposing itself (e.g., "I can resist anything but temptation").

• Oxymoron: Contradictory terms together (e.g., "deafening silence").

• Tone: Author's attitude toward the subject (e.g., sarcastic, serious, playful).

• Mood: Emotional atmosphere of a piece (e.g., cheerful, somber, tense).

• Types of Humor:

• Satire: Uses humor to criticize or mock (e.g., "The Daily Show").

• Comic Irony: Opposite of expected occurs, creating humor (e.g., a fire station burning down).

• Types of Characterization:

• Direct Characterization: Author explicitly describes a character (e.g., "She was a kind and gentle woman").

• Indirect Characterization: Author shows character's personality through actions, thoughts, and dialogue (e.g., "He clenched his fists and glared at the ground").

• Identifying Lenses:

• Psychoanalytical Lens: Analyzes motivations and behaviors based on Freud's theories (id, ego, superego).

• Feminist (Gender) Lens: Examines literature through gender dynamics and women's roles.

• Marxist Lens: Analyzes class struggles and economic power dynamics.

• Historical Lens: Considers historical context of the work.

• Identifying Conflict Types:

• Internal Conflict: Conflict within a character (e.g., a character struggling with guilt).

• External Conflict: Conflict between a character and an outside force (e.g., a character fighting societal norms).

• Man vs. Man: Conflict between two characters.

• Man vs. Self: Internal struggle.

• Man vs. God: Conflict with a divine entity.

• Man vs. Fate: Struggle against destiny.

• Man vs. Nature: Conflict with natural forces.

• Making Inferences:

• Implicit: Suggested but not directly stated (e.g., sadness inferred from actions).

• Explicit: Clearly stated (e.g., "She was sad").

Part 2: Antigone

• Analyze key quotes from the play.
• Identify literary devices (tone, symbolism) in excerpts.
• Apply Freud's theories and other lenses to characters and themes.
• Identify various conflicts present in the play.
• Draw conclusions using implicit and explicit information.

Aristotle's Definition of Tragedy

• Hamartia: Tragic flaw leading to a hero's downfall.
• Peripeteia: Reversal of fortune.
• Hubris: Excessive pride leading to downfall.
• Anagnorisis: Moment of critical discovery.
• Catharsis: Emotional release for the audience.
• Nemesis: Retribution or punishment.

Part 3: Poetry

• Identifying Types of Poems: Familiarize yourself with different poem forms and authors.
• Poetic Devices: Understand metaphor, simile, imagery, and their purposes.
• Tone, Mood, Themes: Analyze how tone and mood contribute to theme.
• Rhyme Scheme and Meter: Identify poem structure.
• Device to Meaning Paragraph: Connect poetic devices to poem meaning.
• Theme Statement: Develop a theme statement with author, title, claim, reasoning, and evidence.

Poetry Exam Study Guide - Section 1:

• Motif: Recurring element with symbolic significance (e.g., light and darkness in "Romeo and Juliet").
• Theme: Central idea or message (e.g., friendship in "The Great Gatsby").
• Tone: Author's attitude (e.g., reflective in "The Road Not Taken").
• Mood: Emotional feeling evoked in the reader (e.g., eerie in "The Raven").
• Stanza: Grouped lines separated by a space.
• Rhyme Scheme: Pattern of rhymes (e.g., ABAB in Shakespearean sonnets).
• Enjambment: Continuation of a sentence beyond a line break.
• Diction: Word choice and style.
• Connotation: Implied meaning of a word.
• Denotation: Literal meaning of a word.
• Imagery: Descriptive language appealing to the senses.
• Simile: Comparison using "like" or "as".
• Metaphor: Direct comparison.
• Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things.
• Apostrophe: Addressing an absent person or object.
• Symbolism: Use of symbols to represent ideas.
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration.
• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds.
• Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds.
• Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.

Poetry Exam Study Guide - Section 2:

• English vs. Italian Sonnets:

• Similarities: Both 14 lines, often explore love and nature.

• Differences: English (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) vs. Italian (ABBAABBA CDCDCD).

• Additional Notes (from the text):

• Mrs. Behrend's Definition of Poetry: Poetry is expressing emotions and ideas rhythmically and metaphorically.

• Petrarch: Italian poet (14th century), known for sonnets about love for Laura.

• Shakespeare: English playwright and poet.

Poetry Exam Study Guide - Section 3 - Poet Backgrounds and Related Theme Statements

• Detailed information about various specific poems, authors, historical periods, themes, and notable aspects of the works.  These include "Because I Could Not Stop for Death", "Death Be Not Proud", "I Sit and Look", "Your Laughter", "Speaking in Tongues", "The Road Not Taken", "Fire & Ice", "We Real Cool", "An Ode We Owe", "Sonnet 18", "What Lips My Lips Have Kissed", and "Sonnet CIV", each with author, background, topics, and explored themes.

TPCASTT Method

• A method to analyze poetry - title, paraphrase, connotation, attitude, shift, title, theme.

Test your understanding of key literary devices, types of humor, and characterization techniques in this comprehensive quiz. From symbolism to satire, explore how these elements contribute to storytelling. Perfect for literature students looking to deepen their analysis skills.