ela 20 oct exam
literal
facts, plain, direct language (“She is short.”)
figurative
not literal = exaggerated (“She is as short as penguin.” –
simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, idioms, etc.)
diction
word choice (chosen words impact meaning i.e. like versus love)
denotation
a literal dictionary definition (i.e. house = a place to live)
connotation
a deeper meaning which can be positive or negative (i.e. home = safe, warm, love OR abuse, danger, fear – depends on reader’s experience)
context
the situation can change meaning as well (words change meaning in different sentence contexts)
conflict + types
a problem
Internal conflict [as person versus self], or
External conflict [person vs. other person, society, nature,
technology, supernatural]
narrator + types
entity who tells the story (the narrator impacts tone &
authenticity)
First person “I/my/me”,
Second person “I/my/me” but talks to audience directly using “you”,
Third person “he/him/his” or “she/her/hers” or “they/their/theirs”
o Limited 3rd type (limited to one character’s thoughts)
o Omniscient 3rd type (like a God, shares all characters’
thoughts)
o Objective 3rd type (scientist type, shares no character
thoughts)
idiom
idioms are common figurative expressions - "no strings attached", “even the monkey falls out of the tree” have both literal and figurative meaning
foreshadow
a clue to the story’s twist (ending)
irony
an unexpected outcome/ending – the story twist)
Situational irony - a policeman is robbed, fireman’s house burns down
Verbal irony (like sarcasm) has meaning with unexpected twist
Dramatic irony when reader, unexpectedly, knows more than characters
juxtaposition
when two contrasting words or images are used for an ironic or symbolic emphasis (a black cat in a snowy field stands out because of the colour contrast)
symbol
when a concrete object (heart) represents an abstract idea (love)
metaphor
when one noun (person/place/thing) is compared to another.
The tenor or subject of a metaphor is literal (“The basketball court”)
While the vehicle or comparison noun is figurative (“is a battle field”).
There must be two nouns present to label something metaphor/simile.
simile
is the same as metaphor but uses “like” or “as” to lessen the comparison.
“The basketball court is a battlefield” (metaphor) versus “The basketball court is like a battlefield” (simile)
hyperbole
is a figurative exaggeration. It is never literal! “I died of embarrassment!” or “I’m starving!” are common examples
personification
where something gets human characteristics. It can be
anything, alive or lifeless, that is not human. “The trees danced in the wind”, “My dog is my baby boy!”, “The weather is angry today!” for example.
paragraph structure
A hook to catch the reader’s attention: like an interesting question or quote you know about the topic
Topic sentence(s): identify the title of the text you’re analyzing and author/artist, but also present a well-developed theme (a main idea) about the topic. You should not mention specific story/art evidence yet.
A “Road Map” organizational sentence: Briefly tell the reader your plan for evidence of the above theme. For example, “This idea is developed through the colours used, symbols, and character’s position in the visual.” For example, “The theme is demonstrated by the author’s use of situational irony, metaphor, and omniscient narration.” Be sure to develop each of these elements in the body of your paragraph in the same order you present them in your road map.
Body of Paragraph: Develop each device listed in your road map, one by one, and be sure to include transition words to cue your reader (such as “Furthermore,” “However,” “Finally,” “Moreover,” etc.) You should explain each element, used to back up your theme, with 2-3 sentences before transitioning to the next point.
Closing sentence(s): Summarize your ideas briefly and then either speak to the relevance of the work you are analyzing, and/or make a personal connection to the artwork/story, points developed, or theme.
mood
is the emotional feel of a scene, created through specific language meant to put the reader is a specific emotional state.
tone
Tone is the way the author expresses their attitude toward the setting and scene through their use of narrative devices such as description and vocabulary.
atmosphere
is the combination of mood and tone, and is created through the author’s specific attitude or approach to writing a scene.