“Marine Corps Issue”

David McLean

Allusion

A reference to a literary work, a famous person, place or event.

Allusions help readers identify when/where the story takes place and makes the plot more realistic.

Examples – Apocalypse Now, a movie about the Vietnam War

James Dean, famous actor from 1950’s

Characterization

Types of characters: Round vs. Flat Static vs. Dynamic

Round: a well-developed character with many personality traits

Flat: characters with simple description, often only one or two unique traits.

Static: a character who remains the same through a story

Dynamic: a character who changes or learns a lesson throughout a story

Flashback

A conversation, episode, or event that occurred before the beginning of the story.

Helps to give reader information to understand a character’s current situation

Johnny looks back at his first memory of his father

Paradox

A statement that seems to contradict itself, but is really true.

Johnny’s mom “laughed an unhumorous laugh” (McLean 624)

How can a laugh be unhumourous? What does that show us about the situation?

Point of View (Review)

Points of view: First-person: character in the story; “I” Third-person: narrator not in the story Third-person omniscient: all-knowing

narrator sees into the minds of all characters

Third-person limited: narrator tells what only one character thinks, feels, and observes.