Anaphora ImageryParallelism RepetitionForeshadowing Alliteration Personification SimileExternal Conflict Shift in ToneInternal Conflict

A special type of repetition with a

repeated element at the beginning.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief...”

Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“Before that we lived on Loomis… and before that we lived on Keeler. Before Keeler is was Paulina, and before that I…” (3).

Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

The coordination of sentence syntax, word order and ideas. Also

known as parallel structure.

“The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don’t have to pay rent to anybody, or share the

yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and there isn’t a

landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom” (3).

Hints about events to come; used to create interest or suspense.

“But even so, it’s not the house we’d thought we’d get” (3).

The protagonist’s struggle against an outside force.

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Supernatural

“We had to leave the flat on Loomis quick. The water pipes broke and the landlord wouldn’t fix them…” (4).

Comparison of two things using “like” or “as”

“And inside would have real stairs, not hallway stairs, but stairs inside like the houses on T.V.” (4).

Human-like qualities are given to inanimate

objects.

“…windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath …front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in” (4).

Words or phrases that create pictures, or

images, in the reader’s mind. These images are

primarily visual.

“But the house on Mango Street…” ¶ (4).

Word, sound, phrase or idea used for emphasis. Used often in persuasive speeches. The author is

usually trying to convey a message.

“small” is repeated 5 times in 1¶ (4).

The word there is repeated 5 times (5).

When the protagonist is in conflict with himself/herself.

“The way she said it made me feel like nothing” (4).

The repetition of initial consonant sounds

.“great big yard and grass growing…” (4).

“had been boarded up because” (4).

A piece of literature that deals with the

protagonist growing from childhood to adulthood;

coming of age

The House on Mango Street

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Secret Life of Bees

Harry Potter series

13 Going on 30

The attitude a writer takes toward his/her subject,

characters and readers. Through tone the author

can amuse, anger or shock the reader.

Occurs when the author’s attitude shifts from one

direction to another.

Ex. From happy to sad

Sequence of events or actions in a story. Plots

can be simple or complicated, loosely constructed or

close-knit.

Exposition – Introduces characters, setting and basic situation

Rising Action –

All of the events leading up to the climax; conflicts occur during this stage.

Climax –

Highest point of emotional intensity, interest or suspense. Usually marks the turning point.

Falling Action –

All of the events after the climax leading to the resolution.

Dénouement – (Resolution) Conflict is resolved or unraveled and mysteries and secrets connected to the plot are explained.

A short descriptive literary sketch; a brief

incident or scene.

Each chapter in THOMS is a vignette. They do

not go into great detail, but gives a brief

synopsis of events in her life.

View point in which the story is told.

First Person

When one character, usually the protagonist, describes what he/she

hears, sees, experiences; the “I” view

a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc.

When something stands for something else or

when something takes on another abstract

meaning.

Rain – Insecurities

Mother’s Hair – Security

Bread – Women’s Work

Figure of speech using exaggeration or

overstatement for special effect.

“The boys and girls live in separate worlds” (8).

Saying one thing in terms of something

else; usually compares without using “like” or

“as”

“Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied

to an anchor” (9).

Reference to a person, a place, event or literary

work which a writer expects the reader to

recognize and respond to.

“Chinese year…” (10)

“baptize myself…” (11)

“Zeze the X…” (11)

Central message or main idea about life that is

revealed through a literary work. THIS IS NOT A

PLOT SUMMARY!!

Hard work and perseverance can break through cultural

expectations and/or boundaries.

“I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place

by the window” (11).

The act of creating and developing a character

through: action, thoughts, physical descriptions, other’s views, direct

evaluation, etc.

“…because the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their woman strong”

(10).Belief that woman are

inferior to men

Main character in a story; generally faces conflicts

and obstacles

Esperanza

A major character who opposes the protagonist

Society/Cultural Expectations

An event that occurs that directly contradicts the

expectations of the characters, the reader or

the audience.

“I would like to baptize myself under a new

name…something like ZeZe the X will do” (11).

ZeZe the X is just a different.

The physical arrangement of words in a sentence.

“My great-grandmother” She goes from a run-on

in the previous paragraph to a fragment…she was

emphasizing her grandmother’s strength.

When the author implies without directly telling the

reader.

“And then she closed her eyes and he sold it” (12).

Refers to a literary work that the author believes

the reader should recognize.

“Cathy who is the queen of cats has cats and cats and cats. Baby cats, big cats, skinny cats, sick

cats” (13).Allusion to Dr. Seuss

An event or scene taking place before the present time in the narrative is

inserted into the chronological structure of

the work.

“One day we were passing a house that

looked…like the houses I had seen in Mexico” (17).

a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with

special meaning and held in common by members

of a group

The nun stereotypes Esperanza when asking

where she lived.