Unit 4 Notes The theme of a literary work is its central idea, insight, or message. – This central idea is often expressed as a generalization about life or people. – A theme can be drawn from the specific experiences of the characters or from the outcomes of events. A stated theme is expressed directly in the story. More often, a theme is unstated, or implied. You infer the theme from characters’ experiences and from story events. Readers can sometimes find different themes in a work of literature. Each interpretation of a theme is valid, as long as it can be adequately supported with details from the text.

Literary Devices: the ways in which a writer plays with language to make his or her writing come alive. Simile: compares two things using like or as. Metaphor: compares two things by saying or suggesting that one thing IS another. Hyperbole: a great exaggeration. Personification: giving human qualities to a non-human thing. Figurative Language: writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally. Writers use figurative language to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.

A symbol is a person, place, or thing that represents something beyond its literal meaning. – For example, doves usually symbolize peace. – To add depth and insight to their literary works, authors can use these strategies: use existing symbols with commonly understood meanings Create their own symbols and develop the symbols’ meanings through descriptions, actions, and events of a story. For many stories, understanding the symbolism helps you understand the main message, or theme.