Most Common Literary Elements and Techniques

Conflict--Internal/external--problems, arguments, decisions
Characterization-ADJECTIVES..what kind of person is he/she?
Setting--how are the time and place of events significant?
Irony--the opposite of what the author leads you or characters to believe will happen
Metaphor--comparison without "like" or "as"
Simile--comparison using "like" or "as"
Symbolism--something that stands for something greater than itself
Point-of-view--the perspective from which a story is told
*Mood--atmosphere or feeling of a literary work
Personification--giving human characteristics to inhuman things
Flashback--insertion of event from the past
Imagery--descriptive words--helps you imagine the scene
Foreshadowing--hint of events to come later
Repetition--the repeating of lines or phrases
*Tone--the author's attitude towards a topic

Multiple-Choice Strategies

1. Read ALL of the choices before choosing an answer
2. If they refer you to a specific line, focus on that line, but read a line or two before and after
3. Look for words such as IMPLY or IMPLIES--this means the answer is not in the text itself, you have to think about the answer based on the text
4. Pay attention to questions with numbers/dates
5. Pay attention to cause and effect
6. Use process of elimination for questions you don't understand--especially vocabulary
7.GO BACK AND DOUBLE-CHECK ALL MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWERS BEFORE YOU TURN IN THE EXAM

Last 2 classes..

Today--we will review the outlining strategies for Tasks 1 and 2 and Critical Lens. We will go over a sample critical lens essay. We will spend most the period working on outlining and drafting a CONTROLLING IDEA ESSAY (our worst task so far).

Next class--we will go over some more sample essays. We will work on outlining again. We will go over strategies for answering multiple-choice questions and go over literary elements and techniques.

Critical Lens and Controlling Idea Hints

1. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A THESIS BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE ASKED (for controlling idea, something about the topic, for crit. lens-your interpretation of the quote)
**sometimes it is good to break up the thesis into parts you are proving
2. Give examples from the story that prove your thesis (ALL parts)
3. Do not tell the whole story over again--only cite specific parts that relate (with enough to be understandable)
4. For controlling idea, try to cite a specific passage (in quotes)
5. Use LITERARY ELEMENTS to support your thesis and how they helped the author
6. Use TOPIC SENTENCES AND TRANSITIONS to organize and move from one topic to the next

Help for Tasks I and II

1. After reading the task, first decide whether they want you to write a mainly INFORMATIONAL or PERSUASIVE ESSAY. (most task 2s are persuasive).
2. When taking listening notes--look at the task and make sure you are getting the information relevant to the topic
3. Listen for TRANSITIONS--to hear when the author changes topics (these are the main points)
***Remember, the speaker usually gives the audience info about him/herself, the occassion/purpose (why they are writing this and why now)and the situation (time and place in which they are writing)--THESE ARE NOT THE MAIN POINTS--however some of these details can be included
4. Make sure you have: A THESIS STATEMENT which reflects what they asked you to write in the task (if it says OR--choose 1 side) and TOPIC SENTENCES that are followed by support in the body paragraphs
5. You should have at least one: quote, expert testimony, or fact or figure in each body paragraph and explain how it is important
6. For Task 2--mention that you are using the chart (specifically-state author, title, or "chart/graph")

Analysis of Walter

Character of Walter--
Selfish--uses all the money for himself, he is really only concerned about his life
Pretends to be someone he is not/low self-esteem- gives Travis the money, tells George he's been to NY, makes it sound like he knows about business
easily-defeated--he gives up immediately after every set back---to an extreme
Superficial--more concerned with money and materialistic things--he has a good family, a job--he wants things...to prove he is worth something.
Driven--always something better in life
Unrealistic idea of what the American dream is

**Dynamic character--one who changes throughout the story
static character--stays the same

In the end he has to decide between what is more important to him: the life he wants, or his pride. To admit to the world, that his family isn't worthy of living in the white neighborhood, and having money, or moving and being broke and facing more difficulty. Death of his dream, where Proctor's death is literal.

Walter and "the show"--blackface minstrel reference

Early in the 1830’s, minstrel shows featuring white performers wearing “blackface” (black makeup) and performing racially stereotypical comic skits, songs and dancing became a popular form of entertainmentin America. The first distinctly American theatrical form, blackface minstrelsy pandered to the racism ofwhite audiences by serving up grotesque and demeaning portrayals of African Americans in the name of humorous entertainment

SPARK Educator Guide – Lorraine Hansberry Theatre

Analysis of Walter as a Character--to be turned in today!

Analyze the character of Walter at 3 different points in the play. By analyze, I mean, give ADJECTIVES (at least 2 for each section), that would describe him, and examples that would prove these to be true (things he says, things he does).

Leave blanks in your notes for your answers

1. The beginning of the play (from scene 1, until he finds out Mama bought the house)
2. The middle of the play (when Mama gives him the money)
3. The end of the play (when he finds out about his investment to the end)