Signposts in Literature

What is a signpost? A signpost is something in a text that alerts readers to significant moments in that text. When we question a signpost, we are able to explore it and find evidence to support our interpretations.

Contrasts & Contradictions Signpost #1

How does an author show us how a character is changing and developing?

Why would the character act this way?

Contrasts & Contradictions A sharp contrast between what we would expect and what we observe the character doing Behavior that contradicts previous behavior or well-established patterns

Clues to the Signpost A character behaves or thinks in a way we don’t expect An element of a setting is something we would not expect

Literary Elements Character development: how a character changes over the course of a story Internal conflict: struggle within a character Theme: universal message about life Relationship between setting (time and place) and plot (sequence of events)

La Luna Let’s look for contrasts & contradictions in La Luna, a Pixar short about a boy coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances.

As You Read Mark any contrasts & contradictions you see. Use sticky notes or make a record in your reading notebook. Jot down your thoughts about why the character would act that way.