Lit Devices Tips and Tricks for Second Semester

Grammar/Conventions Avoid O Contractions O Wishy washy language O Sentence fragments O Comma splices Include O Quotations around specific diction O Italics for novels; quotations for poems O Commas before quotes O Subject/verb agreement O Pronoun/antecedent agreement

Rules O Must use simile, metaphor, personification O Cannot repeat any other terms from last semester O No reading logs necessary – though you might want to take notes in some form or other O SAVE ALL YOUR GRADED WORK!

Citations O Under the example, include proper MLA citation for the text O Don’t have it? Find it! O Writer’s Inc. (or can show you how O Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Medium of Publication. O Incorrect citation will earn you an REV

Citations Symbol: Any object, person, place, or action that has both a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, attitude, belief, or value. Example: “If a body catch a body coming through the rye” (Salinger 98). Salinger, J D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Penguin, Print. Function: In J. D. Salinger’s angst-filled coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield takes readers on a three-day reflective adventure through the streets of New York. When he visits his sister Phoebe, he misquotes the famous Robert Burns song “Comin thro’ the Rye” as Phoebe asks what he wants to do with his life. He states, “If a body catch a body coming through the rye” (Salinger 98).

What earns a “10” O Sophisticated definition O Strong example of the term (not a stretch) O ONE SENTENCE summary with the genre. Two sentences of context. O Use of the term as an active verb when applicable O Explicit connection of the specific example (quoted in the function discussion) to the overall purpose of its presence. O Other references or quotes to support this analysis O STRONG diction and varied syntax

How do I earn a “10” O Start with the end in mind, not the term. O Think backwards – what are you trying to prove? O Chunk the parts (What, How, Why/So what) O Stay focused!!! Prove the term’s function…that’s it! O Use specific details and word choice – say what you mean O Avoid: very significant, important, interesting, does this very well

Example Symbol: Any object, person, place, or action that has both a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, attitude, belief, or value. Example: “If a body catch a body coming through the rye” (Salinger 98). Salinger, J D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Penguin, Print. Function: In J. D. Salinger’s angst-filled coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield takes readers on a three-day introspective adventure through the streets of New York. When he visits his sister Phoebe, he misquotes the famous Robert Burns song “Comin’ thro’ the Rye” when Phoebe asks what he wants to do with his life. He quotes, “If a body catch a body coming through the rye” (Salinger 98). This misquotation echoes the title and represents Salinger’s message to the reader. Here, Salinger establishes the symbolic representation of the title to its meaning. Holden wishes to be the person who catches all the children before they fall off the edge of a cliff; he wants to save their innocence. Being the catcher in the rye symbolizes to Holden, and thus the reader, the safety net between corruption of the adult world and the innocence of youth. This representation is further emphasized when Holden states, “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all” (Salinger 99). Salinger uses this symbol to illuminate the harsh realities of the world will always eventually poison the innocence of children. Ultimately, people become adults or “phonies” and lose their childlike essence, which is what makes the world pure. Salinger’s message clearly is communicated through the symbol of the catcher in the rye by creating a vivid image of Holden yearning to keep that youthful innocence in tact. Salinger, in titling his book after this image, and showing Holden’s wish for childhood to last as long as possible communicates the theme that entering the harsh world of adulthood creates a nostalgic desire for one’s innocence. Quote with parenthetical citation MLA Citation What – 1 sent summ with context How is it being used? Why/So What?

Let’s try… O Set up your paper in the format for a lit device entry. O Choose one of the short stories we have read OR use the book you are reading for your next LD. O Create a theme statement for the story…if an idea doesn’t come right away, you probably need to analyze further. O Now, look back at your notes/close reading when analyzing. What lit devices seem to connect to the theme you developed? O Ask why the author uses it…how does it illuminate the theme? O After you have written the device, revise and edit!