1. Theme a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader that may be deep, difficult to understand, or even moralistic.(UNCP) A central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work. (CNC) The theme can take the form of a brief and meaningful insight or a comprehensive vision of life; it may be a single idea such as "progress" (in many Victorian works), "order and duty" (in many early Roman works), "seize-the-day" (in many late Roman works), or "jealousy" (in Shakespeare's Othello). (CNC)

2. Persona/Personae In literature, the person who is understood to be speaking in a particular work. The persona is almost invariably distinct from the author; it is the voice chosen by the author for a particular artistic purpose. The persona may be a character in the work or merely an unnamed narrator; but insofar as the manner and style of expression in the work exhibit taste, prejudice, emotion, or other characteristics of a human personality, the word may be said to be in the voice of a persona.” (Encyclopedia Britannica)

3. Frames in literature FRAMING METHOD: Using the same features, wording, setting, situation, or topic at both the beginning and end of a literary work so as to "frame" it or "enclose it." This technique often provides a sense of cyclical completeness or closure.closure

4. Relating to past Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776: “A new method of thinking…all plans, proposals, etc. prior to the commencement of hostilities, are like almanacs of the last year; which, though proper then, are suspended and useless now.” (82) Alexis de Toqueville, Democracy in America 1835: “Of those who will come after no one has any idea; the interest of man is confined to those in close propinquity to himself.” (2:105: 46)

5. Allegory An allegory is a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols, that have both literal and figurative meanings (A Handbook to Literature, 2011)

6. Historical Allegory

7. Rip Van Winkle

8. Theme