All Flashcards
How can setting reflect a character's inner state?
By creating an atmosphere that mirrors their emotions or struggles.
How does perspective influence the theme of truth?
Different perspectives can reveal multiple truths or highlight the subjectivity of truth.
How can a story's structure reinforce a theme of chaos?
A non-linear or fragmented plot can mirror the disorder and unpredictability of chaos.
How might a first-person narrator affect the theme of reliability?
The narrator's biases and limited knowledge can create an unreliable narration, questioning the truthfulness of events.
How does figurative language contribute to thematic development?
Symbolism and metaphors can deepen the meaning and add layers of complexity to the themes explored in the story.
How can setting symbolize a theme?
The setting can represent abstract ideas or concepts, such as a forest symbolizing the unknown or a city symbolizing chaos.
How does the order of events reveal character and theme?
The sequencing of events can highlight cause-and-effect relationships, revealing character motivations and thematic connections.
How does a narrator's perspective affect thematic interpretation?
The narrator's biases and beliefs can shape the reader's understanding of the story's themes, leading to multiple interpretations.
How can a 'heart of stone' be interpreted thematically?
It can represent themes of emotional coldness, lack of empathy, or the destructive nature of isolation.
How does the setting influence the plot?
The setting can create conflict, provide opportunities, or limit actions, thereby influencing the plot's direction.
How does dialogue reveal character?
Dialogue can reveal character's personality, background, and relationships with others, shaping our understanding of their role in the story.
Define character perspective.
The lens through which a story is told, shaped by background, beliefs, and experiences.
What is a narrator?
The voice that tells the story.
Define Point of View (POV).
The narrative mode (first-person, third-person, etc.).
What is a thesis statement?
Your main argument about the text in a literary analysis.
What is plot?
The sequence of events in a story.
Define dramatic situation.
The underlying conflict or tension that drives the plot.
What is literal reading?
Understanding the text at face value.
What is figurative reading?
Understanding the symbolic or deeper meaning of a text.
Define symbolism.
Objects or ideas that represent something else.
Define metaphor.
Comparing two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.
Define simile.
Comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.
What is imagery?
Language that appeals to the senses.
What are the key features of a short story?
Concise narrative, limited characters, single effect.
What is the function of exposition?
To provide background information and introduce characters.
What is 'in media res'?
Starting a story in the middle of the action.
What is the purpose of a flashback?
To reveal important background information.
What effect does first-person narration create?
It offers a limited, subjective perspective.
What is the impact of third-person omniscient POV?
It provides a broader, more objective view of events.
What is the role of rising action in a plot?
To build suspense and develop the central conflict.
What is the significance of the climax in a story?
It marks the turning point and highest point of tension.
What is the purpose of the resolution?
To resolve the conflict and provide closure.
How does a non-linear plot affect the reader?
It can create suspense, confusion, or a sense of disorientation.
What is the difference between plot and story?
Story is the raw material; plot is how the author shapes it.