Chapter 5: Analyzing and Interpreting Literary Texts

Question 1

Literary Forms

Answer 1

Drama
Fiction
Nonfiction

Question 2

Drama examples

Answer 2

Comedies

Tragedies

Question 3

Fiction examples

Answer 3

Short stories,
Novels
Novellas
Vignettes

Question 4

Nonfiction examples

Answer 4

Biography
Autobiography
Journal/Diary

Question 5

Comedies

Answer 5

Written to show people in their humans state, restrained and made ridiculous by their limitations and animal nature.

Question 6

Tragedies

Answer 6

The death or destruction of a fictional or historical hero typifies this dramatic form.

Question 7

Short Stories

Answer 7

Written as a narrative, this form is often more focused than other forms of fiction, like the novel.

Question 8

Novel

Answer 8

A long form of fiction whose origins stem from medieval romances.

Question 9

Novellas

Answer 9

A form of fiction that is shorter than a novel but longer than a vignette. Novellas are sometimes serialized as exemplified by The Arabian Nights.

Question 10

Vignette

Answer 10

A form of fiction that creates an impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives an impression about a setting, idea, or character.

Question 11

Biography

Answer 11

An account of an individual’s life.

Question 12

Autobiography

Answer 12

A first-person account of the author’s life.

Question 13

Journal/Diary

Answer 13

First-person account of events in an author’s daily life as they occur, often including personal introspection and thoughtful commentary.

Question 14

Rhetorical and Literary Devices and Techniques

Answer 14

Tools that authors use to express ideas through language in the creation of literary works.

Also provide conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, within and across genres.

Question 15

Rhetorical Devices and Techniques

Answer 15

Analogy
Euphemism
Metaphor
Simile
Rhetorical questions
Oxymoron

Question 16

Analogy

Answer 16

A comparison that reveals relationships that creates understanding for the reader.

Question 17

Euphemism

Answer 17

A substitution with an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend.

Question 18

Metaphor

Answer 18

A figure of speech that makes a connection between two things taht are basically unalike but have something in common.

Question 19

Simile

Answer 19

A figure of speech that compares two things that are basically unlike yet have something in common. It is different from a metaphor in that the simile is stated using the words “like” or “as”.

Question 20

Rhetorical Questions

Answer 20

A figure of speech in the form of a question that is posed for its persuasive effect without the expectation of a reply. Encourage the listener to think about what the obvious answer might be. This device is used for the writer for assertion or denial.

Question 21

Oxymoron

Answer 21

Involves pairing words that have opposite or contradictory meanings, such as “wise fool” or “brave fear”

Question 22

Literary Devices and Techniques

Answer 22

Symbolism
Suspense
Foreshadowing
Imagery
Paradox
Soliloquy

Question 23

Symbolism

Answer 23

The writer integrates symbols to create deeper understanding and meaning. A symbol is a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself.

Question 24

Suspense

Answer 24

The tension or excitement readers feel as they are drawn into a story or become increasingly eager to learn the outcome of the plot.

Question 25

Foreshadowing

Answer 25

Technique that offers clues to the readers about upcoming events.

Question 26

Imagery

Answer 26

Refers to the words and phrases that create vivid sensory experiences for the reader.

Question 27

Paradox

Answer 27

A statement or figure of speech that seems to contradict itself but in fact, reveals some element of truth.

Question 28

Soliloquy

Answer 28

Used in drama, this literary device allows a character to reveal thoughts and feelings without directly addressing other characters.

Question 29

Points of view

Answer 29

First
Third-person
Omniscient
Limited
Unreliable narrator

Question 30

Tone

Answer 30

(Writers attitude toward a subject)
Casual
Formal
Optimistic
Pessimistic

Question 31

Mood

Answer 31

(The atmosphere that the write creates)
Anxious
Comic
Festive
Mournful
Ominous
Romantic

Question 32

Voice

Answer 32

The particular style of an individual author.

Considered a combination of a writer’s word choice, tone and voice across several works.

Ex: Flannery O’Connor is noted for her chatty and conversational voice in her writing

Question 33

First Person

Answer 33

The narration is told by one character and uses first person pronouns like “I” and “me”

Question 34

Third Person Limited

Answer 34

The reader experiences the narration through the senses and thoughts of one character and the use of third person pronouns “he” “she” “it”

Question 35

Third Person Omniscient

Answer 35

The reader experiences a narrator who is all knowing and is privy to the thoughts and actions of all the characters in the story.

Question 36

Structural Elements of Literary Prose

Answer 36

Exposition
Complication
Rising Action
Crisis
Climax
Resolution/Denouement

Question 37

Exposition

Answer 37

Establishes the setting or atmosphere.

Question 38

Complication

Answer 38

Onset of major conflict

Question 39

Rising Action

Answer 39

Events that lead to the climax

Question 40

Crisis

Answer 40

Point of greatest tension

Question 41

Climax

Answer 41

The turning point of the story

Question 42

Resolution/Denouement

Answer 42

The “untying” of events

Question 43

Types of conflict

Answer 43

Internal
1)Character vs Self

External

1) Character vs character
2) character vs society
3) character vs nature
4) character vs fate

Question 44

Plot

Answer 44

Authors use flashbacks, foreshadowing, and suspense - as well as subplots and parallel plots - to vary the structure and tempo of a narrative.

Question 45

Setting

Answer 45

Includes the time and place that is set for a narrative text. Setting can also include the social and moral environment that contributes to the background. Setting is one of the main elements of literature and plays an important role in what happens in the narrative and why.

Question 46

Characterization

Answer 46

Characters are the people who participate in the action of a literary work. Main characters, minor characters.

Characters are developed through description, their actions, and commentary provided by other characters.

Round or flat.

Round characters are multidimensional that often undergo a change during the course of the narrative. Also referred to as “dynamic”.

Flat characters also referred to as “static” lack dimension and are largely unchanged in a narration.