1. Freshmen English Coronado High School

2.  Expository—To explain.  Digging deep to show insight.  This is not a book review. You do not need to judge the quality of the work. Instead, work to explain how it WORKS as a text.  This is not really “your opinion” of something. Do not use the phrases “I think”, “I believe,” etc.

3. “The lovers’ dreams themselves reveal most clearly that dreams are life and vice versa. Not only does Romeo see his death before he and Juliet have even met, later, during their relationship, it haunts them both. When Romeo leaves Juliet’s room, as she looks down on him, she says, “Methinks I see thee, now thou are below./As one dead in the bottom of a tomb” (3.5.55-6). Worried that she will never see Romeo again, she tries to believe that this is only a fleeting vision, but [the reader] knows that Romeo will die in the bottom of tomb.”

4. How do you know if your views are right?

5.  Read slowly and carefully.  Plan on reading the work several times.  Ask questions to establish the literal meaning first; then work on interpretation.  Annotate as you read.  Identify themes and patterns.

7.  Intro  Thesis  Body  Conclusion This is where the textual support goes.

8.  Examples from the text Direct quotations Explanation of scenes/action  Assume that your audience has read the text and you do not just need to summarize. Paraphrases  Other critics’ opinions  Historical and social context

9.  The Text (Primary Source) As you write, consistently refer to the text to support your purpose. Use the author’s own words—quotes.  Use present tense—even if the work is hundreds of years old. Example: Shakespeare writes that, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” No right or wrong interpretation as long as you can support it from the text.  Secondary Sources Literary Criticism

10. Responding to literature with a critical temperament means always being willing to analyze, interpret, question, synthesize, and evaluate.

11.  ANALYZE What does the passage mean, literally?  INTERPRET: What does it mean figuratively? Are there symbolic overtones? Can it mean more than one thing? What passages in the text lead you to believe this is a valid interpretation?

12.  QUESTION: What problems are suggested by the reading? What's confusing? If you had the author here, what would you ask? What philosophical question(s) does the reading inspire?

13.  SYNTHESIZE: How does this reading compare or contrast with what you’ve read previously? How does it fit into your view of this type of work?  EVALUATE:  Why is reading this text ultimately important?  What life lessons can you take from it?

14.  It’s literary  It’s an analysis  It’s—  An Argument!  Uses evidence from the text  May also involve research on and analysis of secondary sources

15. Essential Elements of the Story Structure of the Story Rhetorical Elements Meaning of the Story Explain how the story works…

16.  (1) Essential Elements of the Story Plot: Relationship and patterns of events Characters: people the author creates  Including the narrator of a story or the speaker of a poem Setting: when and where the action happens Point of View: perspective or attitude of the narrator or speaker Theme: main idea—what the work adds up to

17.  Exposition: Introductory material giving setting, tone, characters  Rising Action: series of complications leading up to the climax  Conflict: Person vs…Person, Nature, Society, Supernatural, Self  Crisis/Climax: Turning point in the conflict— moment of highest interest and/or emotion  Falling Action: Events after the climax which close the story.  Resolution (Denouement): Concludes the action

18. Introduction Rising Action Crisis/Climax Falling Action Resolution Complications leading to Conflict(s)

19.  Protagonist Main character  Antagonist Character or force that opposes the main character  Foil Character that provides a contrast to the protagonist  Round Three-dimensional personality  Flat Only one or two striking qualities—all bad or all good  Dynamic Grows and progress to a higher level of understanding  Static Remain unchanged throughout the story

20.  First Person Narrator is a character within the story—reveals own thoughts and feelings but not those of others  Third Person Objective: narrator outside the story acts as a reporter—cannot tell what characters are thinking Limited: narrator outside the story but can see into the mind of one of the characters Omniscient: narrator is all-knowing outsider who can enter the mind of more than one character.

21.  Time period  Geographical location  Historical and cultural context Social Political Spiritual  Instrumental in establishing mood  May symbolizes the emotional state of characters  Impact on characters’ motivations and options

22.  Main idea or underlying meaning of the literary work. What the author wants the reader to understand about the subject In fables, this may also be the moral of the story

23.  Questions, issues or problems: what is right or wrong; good or bad; worthwhile or unimportant  Abstract ideas: love, death, honor  Conflicts: freedom vs. restraint, poverty vs. wealth  Common topics: self-realization, mortality, fall from innocence, search for the meaning of life.

24.  (2) Structure of the Story: design or form of the completed action May philosophically mirror the author’s intentions How the author uses the elements of the story to reveal his/her theme Look for repeated elements in action, gestures, dialogue, description as well as shifts in direction, focus, time, place, etc.

25.  (3) Rhetorical Elements: Identify the author’s use and explain their importance Foreshadowing  Use of hints or clues to suggest event that will occur later in the story  Builds suspense—means of making the narrative more believable Tone  Author’s attitude—stated or implied—toward the subject  Revealed through word choice and details

26.  Mood Climate of feeling in a literary work Choice of setting, objects, details, images, words  Symbolism Person, place, object which stand for larger and more abstract ideas  American flag = freedom  Dove = peace

27.  Irony: contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually is Verbal Irony—contrast between what is said and what is actually meant Irony of Situation—an event that is the opposite of what is expected or intended Dramatic Irony—Audience or reader knows more than the characters know

28.  Figurative Language: language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words Simile Metaphor Personification Oxymoron Hyperbole

29.  (4) Meaning of the Story (Interpretation) Identify the theme(s) and how the author announces it. Explain how the story elements contribute to the theme. Identify contextual elements (allusions, symbols, other devices) that point beyond the story to the author’s life/experience, history or to other writings.

30.  Honors Quotes are past due Outline due 4/15 Turn in Rough by 4/19 Peer Editing in Computer Lab 4/20-4/21 Final Draft due 4/25

31.  Adapted from a powerpoint by Mack Gipson, Jr.  Tutorial and Enrichment Center  Gayla S. Keesee  Education Specialist  Paper example from Writing Literature Essays: 20 Student Models