Essential Literary Concepts and Textual Analysis
Literary Devices Identification
- 1. Hyperbole
- 2. Second Person
- 3. Flashback
- 4. Ambiguity
- 5. Alliteration
The Crucible
Setting
- Salem, Massachusetts, 1692
Themes
- Religion
- Jealousy
- Justice
- The Supernatural
- Good vs. Evil
Characters
- Abigail Williams: Parris’s niece; she initiated the witch trials by falsely accusing others of witchcraft and saved herself by lying throughout the story.
- John Proctor: A Salem farmer and former lover of Abigail Williams; he is intelligent and independent.
Summary
A group of teenage girls from Salem, Massachusetts, is discovered dancing in the woods by the town minister. Knowing that the punishment for their behavior will be severe, the girls claim that they were possessed by the spirits of community members who are trying to initiate them into witchcraft. Because of all the accusations, a court is set up to determine who is guilty or innocent. John Proctor has an affair with Abigail, and his wife knows about it, but Abigail wants to get Elizabeth out of the picture, so she accuses her of witchcraft.
The Jungle
Themes
- Suffering
- Power
- Society and Class
- Poverty
- Evil of Capitalism
Characters
- Protagonist: Jurgis Rudkus
- Antagonist: Phil Connor (and “the man”)
Historical Background
The novel is set in Packingtown, where poor immigrants, mostly from Eastern Europe, used to live. This town was surrounded by meatpacking factories with poor conditions and neighborhood environments. Thanks to this book, the nation’s food and meat industries changed, and it aimed to expose the way workers were treated.
The Giver
Characters
- Protagonist: Jonas, a sensitive and intelligent teenager chosen to be the new Receiver of Memory.
Themes
- Importance of Memory
- Rules
- Choices
- Suffering
- Isolation
- And more
Character Motivation
- Hope for Humanity
- Encouragement
- Love
- Etc.
The Pit and the Pendulum
Genre
- Horror Fiction / Short Story
Historical Background
The story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition.
Literary Movements
Gothic
- Characterized by grotesque characters, bizarre situations, and violent events.
- Originated in Europe and was popular in the U.S. during the 19th century.
- A famous proponent was Edgar Allan Poe.
Realism
- Features detailed portrayals of actual life.
- Writers based their work on contemporary life, often focusing on the middle/lower classes.
- Presented life honestly.
- (Mark Twain)
Academic Concepts
- Ethos
- Hasty Generalization
- Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
- Alliteration
Vocabulary
- Postulate
- Perennial
- Perpetuation
- Predilection
- Rankle
- Enthrall
- Pristine
- Supplant
- Licentious
- Exude
- Discord
- Anomalous
- Ordinance
- Rudiment
- Façade
- Distinction
- Copious
- Autonomy
- Protrude
- Dissipation
English Grammar
- Aunt Susan
- Mark, South Miami High School
- Midwest South
- a)
Plural Forms
- cupful / cupfuls
- cactus / cacti
- salmon / salmon
- louse / lice
- phenomenon / phenomena
- criterion / criteria
- runner up / runners-up
- antenna / antennas
- crisis / crises
- analysis / analyses