Imagery

Imagery is vivid imagery that evokes one of the five senses (sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell). Abstract imagery refers to emotions or ideas that cannot be touched, but which can still be felt (i.e. friendship, tension, harmony).

Imagery is created through descriptive word choice, or diction, as well as figurative language.

Sound elements

Rhyme is when two words have the same ending sound, such as "dune" and "moon." If the rhyme is not exact, it is referred to as slant rhyme.

Assonance is when two words have the same vowel sound, such as "vie" and "dive." Just because two words have the same vowel does not mean they have the same sound.

Consonance is when two words have the same consonant sound, such as "mammal" and clam." The consonant can occur in any part of the word.

Alliteration is when the beginning of two words sound the same, such as "she" and "sells." The beginning letter may be a vowel, consonant, or consonant blend.

Refrain is repetition of a word or phrase.

Figurative Language

A comparison of two unlike things, not meant to be taken literally.

A simile is an indirect comparison using like or as.

A metaphor is a direct comparison that does not use like or as.

Personification is a metaphor, comparing a nonhuman thing to a human by attributing it human properties, such as emotion or thought.

Context

Context means the conditions under which something occurs. The historical context would be the time and place that the work of fiction was written (like the setting of the author). The cultural context is like the social context of the author. The cultural context influences the author's perspective.

For a story or novel that you've read, tell us about the historical or cultural context in which it was written and how it affected the story.

Ethical appeal

An ethical appeal addresses people's sense of morality or values.

Emotional appeal

An emotional appeal uses strong feelings, rather than facts and evidence, to persuade. One could appeal to an audience's pity, fear, vanity, etc.

Author's perspective

The unique combination of ideas, values, and beliefs that influence the way a writer looks at a topic. it is usually revealed in subtle way.

Author's purpose

The author's reason for crafting a particular work. It could be to inform, to persuade, to entertain, or to express thoughts or feelings.

Narration

 Narration is the act of telling a sequence of events, often in chronological order. The narrator is the speaker who is telling the sequence of events. The narrator is not necessarily the same as the author, especially in fiction. The narrator may be from 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person point of view. A 3rd person point of view may be limited or omniscient. Narrators always have a type of bias. If the bias is large enough, the narrator may be considered unreliable.

Character

an individual represented in a narrative text. Characters may be round or flat, as well as dynamic or static. Important characters include the protagonist and antagonist. Characters also have different motivations.

Characterization

 the method used by a writer to develop a character. Characterization may be direct or indirect.

Mood

is the emotional effect of a story, the atmosphere.

Setting

is the time, place, or social context in which a story occurs.

Plot

a series of related events. It consists of the exposition, conflict (internal or external), complications (tension), a climax, and a resolution. The plot may be in a chronological sequence or use flashback. There may also be foreshadowing. Plot may create tension or suspense.