Literary Text Analysis

Moral dilemma a choice with two options that are morally wrong
Unreliable narrator a biased, untrustworthy, instable storyteller
Omniscient narrator all-knowing God-like storyteller
Theme the lesson/advice about life expressed by the text
Archetypes repeated character types (ex. Hero, tragic flaw, damsel in
distress, etc.,) Click on the links to view other resources: 1, 2
Syntax the organization, pattern, and/or placement of sentences to
achieve a desired purpose
Diction deliberately choosing words that the author knows will affect
the reader, usually emotionally.
Historical Context what was going on in history during the time that
the text was written that may have contributed to the conflict in the
text.
rhyme/rhyme scheme - A rhyme scheme is a way of describing
the pattern of end rhymes in a poem. Each new sound at the
end of a line is given a letter, starting with A, then B, and so
on. If an end sound repeats the end sound of an earlier line, it
gets the same letter as the earlier line.
Simile - The definition of a simile is a figure of speech where two
unlike things are compared using the word "like" or "as" followed
by a figurative example.
An example of a simile is "He is as hungry as a horse."
Metaphor - The definition of a metaphor is a word or phrase used
to compare two unlike objects, ideas, thoughts or feelings to
provide a clearer description.
An example of a metaphor is calling the dependable father a rock.
Personification - Personification is giving human characteristics to
non-living things or ideas.
An author describing the sun smiling on a field of flowers is an example of
personification.

Imagery - using words to describe what the reader can see, smell,
taste, touch, or feel (5 senses).
Example: He fumed and charged like an angry bull.

Oxymoron - The definition of an oxymoron is a combination of
contradictory words.
An example of oxymoron is "definite maybe."
Hyperbole - an exaggeration which may be used for emphasis
and humor. Hyperboles are used in speaking and writing for
effect or to make a boring story more interesting.
An example of hyperbole is saying you are so hungry you could eat a
horse.
Idiom - The definition of an idiom is the language or expressions
used by a specific group of people.
An example of idiom is the phrase "a dime a dozen."
Extended metaphor - A metaphor that continues over multiple
sentences, and that is sometimes extended throughout an entire
work.
Voice the writers personality shining through in the text
Tone the authors attitude about the subject (nonchalant, sarcastic,
frustrated, angry, serious)
Symbolism using objects to represent ideas, events, or relationships
An example of symbolism is Christians making the cross a representation of
Jesus
Allegory a piece/text where everything in the piece is representative
of something else
Allusion a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place,
person, or something that happened.




Shift - the turning point - the shift introduces a change in the
speakers understanding of what he is narrating, signaling to
readers that he has reached an insight.
Alliteration - happens when words that start with the same
sound are used close together in a phrase or sentence. The
sound is usually a consonant and the words dont have to
always be right next to one another.
An example of alliteration is to write, ...winds whipping wildly.

Oxymoron - The definition of an oxymoron is a combination of
contradictory words.
An example of oxymoron is "definite maybe."
Hyperbole - an exaggeration which may be used for
emphasis and humor. Hyperboles are used in speaking and
writing for effect or to make a boring story more interesting.
An example of hyperbole is saying you are so hungry you could
eat a horse.

Idiom - The definition of an idiom is the language or
expressions used by a specific group of people.
An example of idiom is the phrase "a dime a dozen."
Extended metaphor - A metaphor that continues over multiple
sentences, and that is sometimes extended throughout an
entire work.

Assonance - the act of repeating a vowel sound in a phrase
or sentence, often in poetry.
An example of assonance in a sentence would be the repeated use of the
/oo/ sound in the sentence, True, I do like Sue.
Consonance - The definition of consonance is a pleasing
combination of sounds or two things that are in agreement.
a. An example of consonance is when you have two words that both
have a "ch" sound that are right next to each other in a sentence.
b. An example of consonance is when existing policies on tardiness
are in agreement with the new policy on being late or absent.

Paradox - a statement that is self contradictory because it
often contains two statements that are both true, but in
general, cannot both be true at the same time.
Example: You can save money by spending it.

Connotation an implied meaning that is associated with a
word in addition to its literal meaning. This association can be
cultural or emotional.
An example of connotation is the name Hitler being associated with
negative images.
Denotation the dictionary definition of a word.
Irony - The definition of irony is the use of words where the
meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning or what is
expected to happen.
a. An example of irony is someone who talks a lot having nothing to
say when asked a question.
b. An example of irony is a whaling ship being used to save marine
animals after a tsunami.
Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is defined as a word that
sounds like the common sound of the object it is describing.
An example of onomatopoeia is a train being called a choo choo.
Creative spacing or Word placement in poetry placing
words on the page in a way that enhances the meaning of the
poem.




Directions: Answer all questions. Choose 2 questions to answer in short answer format.
1. What is the theme of the text?
2. What is another text with a similar theme?
3. What archetype does the main character in this text reflect?
4. How does the language used by the author reflect the historical context/setting of the text?
5. Which paragraph has the most significant contribution to the ending in this literary piece? Why?
6. Is there a moral dilemma and how does it represent the cultural beliefs of the characters culture?
7. How does the moral dilemma in this text similar to or different from that of another text we read?
8. How does this difference represent the different cultural beliefs present in each text?
9. How does the narrators viewpoint affect the tone of this text?
10. How does the author use diction to manipulate the readers emotions?
11. How does the author use syntax to emphasize his/her point or create a desired point?
12. Identify one symbol used by the author in the text. What does the symbol represent in the text
and what does this symbol help the reader understand about the events in the text?
13. Identify an allusion used in the text. Why did the author make this comparison? What does it
reveal to us?
14. How does the author use graphic elements like word length, word position, word position, etc.,
to emphasize his/her message in the poem?