Literary Devices List 2 Theme The Search for Meaning

Literary Devices List 2

Theme

The Search for Meaning

What is a Theme?

Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.

In other words…Theme is what the story teaches readers.

Themes

A theme is not a word, it is a sentence.You don’t have to agree with the theme to

identify it.

Examples

Money can’t buy happiness.Don’t judge people based on the surface. It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

Big World of the Theme.Applies to the “Real” World.

Identifying Themes

Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).Themes are implied.

Themes are bigger than the story.

SmallWorldof theStory

Themes are about the big picture.Not “love”Not “revenge” Think BIGGER. Find “Real” World advice.“Love can sometimes be hard”“Revenge creates more problems than solutions.

Big World of the Theme.Applies to the “Real” World.

SmallWorldof theStory

Theme vs. Subject

• Subject: what a work is about. It can usually be expressed in one word. For example, “Love” is a subject of Romeo and Juliet• Theme: What does the work say about the subject? It should be a complete sentence or statement. For example, “In Romeo and Juliet, we learn that teen romance can be a stronger force than family ties.”

Theme must go beyond the book

• • To be a true theme, the truth or comment must apply to people or to life in general, not just the characters in the book.

• For example, “In Beauty and the Beast, Belle learns that true beauty comes from within,” only applies to the story.

• Instead, express the theme like this: “In Beauty and the Beast, we learn through Belle and the beast that true beauty comes from within.”

Multiple themes are possible!

• Many books have more than one theme, so do not think that there is one “right” theme to any book you read. In fact, most great literature has multiple themes.

Themes must be supported!

• Just because works can have multiple themes, it does not mean that the theme can be anything that you want.• In order for a theme to be justified, there must be specific, concrete evidence from the text. For example, if your potential theme statement is that “Poverty creates tough, self-reliant people,” then the book should contain examples of poor characters who develop toughness and self- reliance.

Finding the theme

• Asking questions• What is the subject?• What does the book say, or teach us, about the subject?• How does the work communicate the theme? In other words, what specific details, characters, actions, incidents, etc, suggest the truth of the theme statement?

Sample Theme Statements

• Persistence pays off• Honesty is better than cheating• It’s more important to be nice than to be

popular• Be careful what you wish for• Love is the most important force

Review

1. Theme is what we can learn from a story.2. Themes must be inferred (figured out by the

reader after thinking what the moral is). 3. Themes are about the BIG world.

On a piece of paper,

• Write the theme of the following:– 1. The last story we read– 2. The last movie you saw– 3. Your favorite song– 4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omk6TAxJYOg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omk6TAxJYOg&safe=active



AESOP’S FABLE THEME WORKSHEET

http://www.slideshare.net/elkissn/finding-the-theme-of-a-text

The narrator is the person or character who tells a story.

The writer’s choice of narrator determines the story’s point of view, which directs the type and amount of information revealed.

Who would be the narrator of the story of your life?

Who would be the narrator of WWII?

Who would be the narrator of the history of mankind?

Narrative Perspective

Author’s Point of View

Dialogue and Narration

• Dialogue = when characters speak.

• Narration = when the narrator speaks.

• “Quotation marks” separate narration from dialogue.

Example

“Help” my cousin Jack said. 1 2

Identifying Narrative Perspective

It's about the narrator (who tells the story)

We're not looking at dialogue.

We don't care what characters say.

Only the narrator's voice matters.

Pronoun Case

First-Person I, me, my, mine, we, us, ours,

Second-Person you, your

Third-Person he, she, her, they, them

(also character's names)

We are trying to figure out the narrator's view point on the story.

Perspectives and Signal Words

Secret

“I am in the room”

I = 1st Person

“You come in the room.”

You = 2nd Person

“Then he or she came in the room.”

He or She = 3rd Person

First-Person

Narrator is a part of the story (character).

Often uses I or we.

Example

I went home. Tim came over. I couldn't play.

Second-Person

Usually for instructions

Uses “You”; from “your” perspective.

Examples

First, gather your materials. Add 1 cup sugar to flour.

Third-Person

• Narrator usually isn’t involved.

• Tells other's stories.

• Lots of “He,” “She,” & character names.

Three Types of Third-Person Narration

Does the narrator tell…

Thoughts and Feelings of Characters?

Third-Person Omniscient

Narrator is all knowing.Narrator tells thoughts and feelings of

more than one character.

Omni = All Scient = Knowing

ExampleTim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay knew Tim would be mad, but she wanted to live her life.

Third-Person Limited

Narrator is limited to one character.

Tells thoughts & feelings of one character

Example

Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay just left without saying anything. She left a note and then left him.

Third-Person Objective

Narrator does not reveal any character’s thoughts or feelings.

Only character’s dialogue and actions are narrated.

ExampleTim slammed the door. He walked upstairs & read a note from Shay. He kicked her trash can & started crying.

Tips on Identifying

• Check 1st or 2nd-person before worrying about objective, limited, or omniscient.

• Ask, “Who’s story is the narrator telling: his, mine, or someone else’s?”

• Focus on narration not dialogue.

“Popular Mechanics”

“The Cask of Amontillado” Who is the narrator?

“Green Eggs and Ham”

Mr. Sabolcik’s Dairy:

Cookbook

(c) 2012 Mr. Sabolcik, West Forsyth H.S.

Diction: The author’s choice of words and how it impacts what is being said. Vocabulary (slang vs. formal) Colloquialisms (y’all, y’inz)

There are two important ways we can identify and understand an author’s use of diction.

Denotation and Connotation(c) 2012 Mr. Sabolcik, West Forsyth

H.S.

The dictionary definition of the word.

Has the same meaning no matter the context.

For example: The dictionary defines “Snake” as “A long limbless reptile

(suborder Ophidia or Serpentes) that has no eyelids, and jaws that are capable of considerable extension.”

Therefore, the denotation of the word snake is above.


The set of ideas associated with it in addition to its explicit meaning (its denotation).

The context determines what it means.

A word has a different meaning to different people.

Also, the emotions attached to a word.


Connotation vs. Denotation

Almost every word has two kinds of meanings…

Denotation:the straightforward dictionary

definition

Connotation:the ideas and feelings associated with

the word

There are three types of connotations:

a. POSITIVE – a good thing

b. NEGATIVE – a bad thing

c. NEUTRAL- not good or bad; indifferent; used when you or the author don’t want to show strong emotions either way

For Example

Positive Neutral Negative

That’s a glamorous necklace.

That’s a nice necklace.

That’s a gaudy necklace.

The model was slender.

The model was thin.

The model was scrawny.

Practice

For the following pairs of terms, write a short explanation of why you might like to be described by one term, but not the other. Also, identify whether the word you picked has a positive, negative or neutral connotation.

firm or stubborn flexible or wishy-washy original or weird scholar or bookworm arrogant or proud

For each set, choose the word with the positive connotation. drug addict . . . druggie, drug fiend, substance abuser handicapped . . . crippled, disabled, differently abled house . . . . . . home, abode, domicile, residence thin . . . . . . thin, slender, slim, skinny, lean, beanpole attractive . . . pretty, beautiful, handsome, fair reporter . . . . journalist, broadcaster, newshound unattractive . . plain, dull, ugly


On a scrap piece of paper, write a sentence of what the following words mean: SHARK HOUSE IMPRESSION STALE ATTRACTIVE BRIGHT


SHARK Someone who is really good at playing cards.

HOUSE Whenever you put a bunch of cards on top of each other.

IMPRESSION When you stick your hand in the mud and there is a print

after you take it out. BRAINS

The guy or girl that organizes the theft. (The “brains” of the operation)

ATTRACTION Whenever two atoms want to come together and share

electrons. BRIGHT

All of my students! They’re very bright and get all As.(c) 2012 Mr. Sabolcik, West Forsyth

H.S.

chef vs. cook

plagiarizer vs. cheater

thrifty vs. tightwad

stay-at-home mom vs homemaker vs housewife

ambitious vs. greedy

substance abuser vs druggie

journalist vs reporter

eccentric vs weirdo


A recipe is denotative; an advertisement connotative (uses happy or sad words)

The connotation of words can help us figure out the subtext of what an author or character is trying to say. “Reading between the lines.”

Word choice is really important!



A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

Example: I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s. This is an allusion to what?


“When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn’t necessary.” A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“He was a real Romeo with the ladies.” Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

“Chocolate was her Achilles’ heel.” The Illiad by Homer. And Greek mythology.

“He was a Good Samaritan yesterday when he helped the lady start her car.” The Biblical story of the Good Samaritan.


“The side lines is lined with casualtiesWho sip the life casually,

then gradually become worseDon’t bite the apple, Eve” -Jay-Z

“Tonedeff’s slays giants, as if my legal name’s David.” –Tonedeff



1. Be able to identify them when we see them.

2. Be able to connect them to whatever they came from.

3. Understand the function they serve. Help us understand characters more.

How educated someone is, or what culture they are from. Draw parallels to ideas in other works of literature.

Many allusions to novels with death may foreshadow death in the story we are reading.



On a scrap piece of paper, write the following:

• Mood is ______________.• Tone is _______________.By yourself, try to fill in the blanks with

the knowledge you already have.

Mood is…… the emotions and feelings a

reader has when reading a work of literature.

Highlight all the words you know.

Write this in your notes!

For each of the following paintings and songs, use your MOOD handout to find

appropriate words to describe the mood of each piece.

Use the following model:

The mood of [painting/song name] is ______ and _____ because of _____.

• “Man with Guitar”• “The Scream”

“Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte” by Georges Seurat

• Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photograph: “V-J Day in Times Square”

On the same piece of paper (to be turned in at the end of class), write the following…

The mood of [poem name] is _________, _________, and ________.

I know this because of ___________.

Write at least 3 supporting sentences for each poem. Be sure to include key words or

phrases that PROVE your point.

Tone is…

…the attitude(s) an author feels about characters, subjects, or

situations in the story.

Write this in your notes!

For each of the following readings/poems, use your TONE handout to find appropriate words to describe the mood of each piece.

Use the following model:

The tone of [name of reading] is ______ and _____ because of _____.

On a separate piece of paper (to be turned in at the end of class), write the following…

The tone of [piece] is _________, _________, and ________.

I know this because of ___________.

Write at least 3 supporting sentences for each poem. Be sure to include key words or

phrases that PROVE your point.

• #1:http://www.theonion.com/audio/mosquitos-life-cut-short,27999/

• #2: http://storycorps.org/listen/stories/joseph-lutrario/

• #3: Sample Complaint Letter (Handout)

http://storycorps.org/listen/stories/joseph-lutrario/



THERE IS A

DIFFERENCE!

MOOD AND TONE WORKSHEET PRACTICE

A Surprise! It is the difference between what we expect to

happen, and what actually does happen. It is often used to add suspense and interest. It is also used to keep the reader thinking about

the moral of the story.

Helpful PictureHelpful Picture


How is this picture ironic?How is this picture ironic?

Irony

VerbalIrony

SituationalIrony

DramaticIrony

Verbal Irony

Situational Irony

Dramatic Irony

The simplest kind of irony. You use it everyday when you say one thing

and really mean another. It is often similar to a sarcastic response. Example: When you appear to be sick and someone

asks you if you’re okay. You say “Of course!” But in the meantime you are vomiting and fainting.

You use it everyday when you say one thing and really mean another.

Your turn! Write a sentence with verbal irony. Be prepared to defend your sentence.

Occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of what you thought it would be.

Example: The teacher’s daughter is a High School

drop out. The mayor’s wife gets caught stealing. The chef won’t eat his/her own cooking. The barber always needs a hair cut himself.

Occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of what you thought it would be.

Your turn! Write a sentence (or two) with situational irony. Be prepared to defend your answer.

Occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story, on the screen, or on the stage do not know. It’s like the audience is more aware of what’s going on than the people in the production.

This is used to engage the audience and keep them actively involved in the storyline.

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/in-on-a-secret-that-s-dramatic-irony-christopher-warner

Occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story, on the screen, or on the stage do not know. It’s like the audience is more aware of what’s going on than the people in the production.

Your turn! Write a sentence that includes dramatic irony. Be prepared to defend your sentence.

In all of the Friday the 13th movies, we know Jason is in the woods. The characters do not. When they go out into the woods we are afraid for them because we know that they are in danger. We scream for them to run, we get excited when they fall, we cringe when we know that Jason is right behind the tree.

Irony is a kind of a surprise. It is the difference between what is expected to happen, and what actually does happen.

Irony is like a glitch, a twist, or a last minute switch in the game. It is an interruption of events that cause an unexpected outcome.

There are three types of irony: Verbal Situational Dramatic

Explain the Irony of the Following Images!

Tell whether it is situational, dramatic, or verbal irony!

Also, you must be able to identify each.

On a separate sheet of paper, complete the following sentence: Flashback is _______________________.

• Now try breaking the word FLASHBACK apart. • FLASH: a quick glimpse. • BACK: a look back in the story at something that previously

happened.

Flashback is a scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Basically, it’s when the story goes back in time to

something that happened before that moment. After it is done, we return to the present.

Find the flashback!Find the flashback!Little Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding Hood

The wolf went up to Little Red Riding Hood and told her that he knew a shortcut. Little Red Riding Hood thought back to what her mother told her. “Don’t talk to any strangers and watch out for the wolf in the woods!” But it was too late, she had already listened to the wolf’s directions.

Flashback

Documents

Literary Devices List 2 Theme The Search for Meaning