LITERACY ANALYSIS

THEMEIs the meaning, moral, or message about life that the writer conveys to the reader.

“universal truth”- valid all time/places complete sentence

Are usually not relevant in the story, but are relevant by

Title, setting, or characters Important phrases or statements The ways the characters change and the

lessons they learn about life

SUMMARY

Complete but concise presentation of a longer text. (shortened version) Includes main idea and important

details

MORAL

The lesson learned or message given from a story

http://www.aesops-fables.org.uk/the-trees-and-the-axe.htmhttp://www.aesops-fables.org.uk/the-two-frogs.htmhttp://www.aesops-fables.org.uk/aesop-fable-the-two-crabs.htm

TONE

The writers attitude toward the subject

AngrySad Humorous

MOODThe atmosphere

Relevant through detailed description

EXAMPLES The sky hung heavy and gray The fog rolled in from the harbor The sun singed the earth

(Setting helps create mood of the story)* remember setting is the time and place

VOICE

The author or narrators distinctive style or manner of expression

Can reveal much about their personality

STYLE

How something is said or written (not what is said) Word choice Sentence length Figurative language Tone

IRONY

Contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens

When a criminal breaks into a police station and robs it.

SYMBOLISMA person, place, object, or an action that stands for something beyond itself.

Prison: a place of confinement Flag: a state or country

CHARACTER The people or creatures that take part

in a story

CHARACTER TRAITS part of a character’s personality

(Not emotions or feelings)

EXAMPLES

BraveLoyal SmartKind Honest

CHARACTER MOTIVES Strong feelings, needs, wants, or desires that

move characters to action EXAMPLES

HungerFearRevenge

CONFLICT

A problem or struggle involving two or more opposing forcesExternal: problem between other characters in the story

Person vs. Person Person vs. Nature Person vs. Society Person vs. Machine Person vs. something supernatural

Internal: the characters self doubt

CAUSE AND EFFECT Cause: is an event or something that happens Effect: is the result of the event

You studied hard…you passed the test The poked a balloon with scissors…the balloon popped.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Simile

A comparison of two things with a common quality

Expressed using words like or as

EXAMPLEThe willow is like an etching,Fine-lined against the sky.The ginkgo is like a crude sketch, hardly

worthy to be signed. -Eve Merriam

Metaphor A comparison of two things that share a common quality, but

does not use the words like or as

EXAMPLESWho knows if the moon's a balloon, coming out of a keen cityin the sky-filled with pretty people? -EE Cummings

"Life is a journey, travel it well.” -United Airlines

Personification When a poet describes an animal, object or

idea as if it were human or had human qualities.

EXAMPLES Opportunity knocks on the door The sun greeted me this morning The sky was full of dancing stars

Hyperbole The truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous

effect

EXAMPLE With his gang’s help, he (Bill) put together the

biggest ranch in the Southwest. He used New Mexico as a corral and Arizona as a pasture. He invented tarantulas and scorpions as practical jokes. He also invented roping. Some say his rope was exactly as long as the equator; others argue it was two feet shorter.

— Mary Pope Osborne, Pecos Bill

Imagery The use of words or phrases that

appeal to the five senses

EXAMPLEShe sprinkles raindrops on my face on a sunny day.

Pat Mora

Alliteration Repetition of consonant sounds at the

beginning of words.

Used to show emphasis and to give writing musical quality .

EXAMPLE Use of the s and f sounds

And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing a sparkStruck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet…

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Paul Revere's Ride

Onomatopoeia The use of words whose sounds suggest

their meaning. EXAMPLES

Bang Hiss Sweep

The only other sound’s the sweepOf easy wind and downy flake

-Robert Frost

Assonance Is the repetition of identical or similar vowel

sounds in neighboring words.

EXAMPLE And in the air the fireflies

Our only light in paradiseWe'll show the world they were wrongAnd teach them all to sing along

-Nickelback

Idiom Expression not meant to be taken

literally

Eex: It’s raining cats and dogs

Allusion

A clue or hint that shows a connection to someone or something.

EXAMPLE: "He was the Romeo to her Juliet." “Chris brown is the next Michael Jackson.”