Literary Term Preparation

Examples for List #1:

allegory- Consider the short story, "the Allegory of the Cave." The cave takes on a greater meaning by symbolizing ignorance. 

alliteration - Alice's Aunt ate apples and acorns around August.

allusion- His nose was growing like Pinocchio's, is referencing to another piece of literature.

ambiguity- "I rode a black horse in red pajamas," is unclear. Is the person wearing the pajamas or is the horse?

anachronism- Having cell phones during the Jurassic era is out of place, time, sequence, and history.

analogy- Shoe is to foot as hat is to head.

analysis- Breaking down a story into is component parts; exposition, climax, etc.

anaphora - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream" speech continuously repeats a phrase. 

anecdote - At the beginning of a speech about fire safety, the speaker tells a short cautionary tale about a serious injury that occurred as a result of not following protocol.

antagonist- The Green Goblin is the bad guy/antagonist to Spider man. 

antithesis - Speech is silver, but silence is gold.

aphorism- Youth is a blunder; Manhood a struggle; Old age regret. Similar to proverm, states a life lesson in a few words.

apologia- Formal written defense like a letter. 

apostrophe- When hamlet talks to the skull like it's a real person.

argument - Definding a side or giving proposition. Consider arguing over gay marriage.

assumption- A reader drawing a conclusion based off of assumption or using context clues from the story. 

audience- the listeners of the story, consider a play in theater. 

characterization- "His clothes were trashed and his eyes heavy. He wreaked of alcohol and stumbled inside." Details whithin a story describing it's characters. 

chiasmus-  “Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Literary Terms #2

Circumlocution - noun an indirect way of expressing something; a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things

Classicism - noun a movement in literature and art during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe that favored rationality and restraint and strict forms

Cliche - noun a trite or obvious remark

Climax - noun the decisive moment in a novel or play;arrangement of clauses in ascending order of forcefulness; the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding; the most severe stage of a disease; the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse; verb end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage

Colloquialism - noun a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech

Comedy - noun light and humorous drama with a happy ending; a comic incident or series of incidents

Conflict - noun an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals); an incompatibility of dates or events; opposition between two simultaneous but incompatible feelings; opposition in a work of drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that motivates the development of the plot); a state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests; a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war; a disagreement or argument about something important; verb go against, as of rules and laws; be in conflict

Connotation - noun an idea that is implied or suggested; what you must know in order to determine the reference of an expression

Contrast - noun the act of distinguishing by comparing differences;the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness); the perceptual effect of the juxtaposition of very different colors; the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared; a conceptual separation or distinction; verb put in opposition to show or emphasize differences; to show differences when compared; be different

Denotation - noun the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to; the act of indicating or pointing out by name

Denouement - noun the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events

Dialect - noun the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

Dialectics - noun a rationale for dialectical materialism based on change through the conflict of opposing forces

Dichotomy - noun being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses

Diction - noun the manner in which something is expressed in words; the articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience

Didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)

Dogmatic - adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative

Elegy - noun a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

Epic - adj. very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale); constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic; noun a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds

Epigram - noun a witty saying

"all that David Copperfield kind of crap"

Salinger's Catcher In The Rye states in it's opening passage that he isn't going to relay his "humble beginnings" like that of David Copperfield. In other words, Salinger is displaying the contrast in writing styles, tone, diction, characterization, etc. that Dickens has to his own. Salinger is trying to explain that he is not going to beat around the bush and drop flowers and rainbows over his life. Dickens novels in comparison, does the opposite. Dickens fills his stories with in depth descriptions of everything from plot to the characters. Dickens style is lengthy and vivid. His words paint a picture in your mind that are everlasting. He's very successful at achieving a connection between the reader and his characters. He makes the audience feel as though we know the characters personally because he describes them with the up most detail. He's very precise in his diction and syntax. Dicken's complex imagery and characterization has become his style in almost all of his work. Now referring back to Salinger's Catcher In The Rye, Salinger purposefully compares his character to Dicken's character in order to achieve a solid contradiction between the two. This comparison achieves the authors intentions of showing that Salinger's character is more conservative, lacking emotion, pessimistic about the world, and confrontational with the negatives he sees in his life. Creating this distance between the protagonist from Dicken's ultimately sets the stage for Salinger's character. He flawlessly achieves to characterize his character by simply stating he is the opposite of Dicken's David Copperfield. Salinger successfully gives a huge amount of detail about his own character through the use of comparison with Dicken's, and he does all this in merely a few sentences.

AP Prep Post #1: Siddhartha

1) What does Siddhartha mean when he refers to the "path of paths" that must be found? (p. 17) Why is he so certain that neither the Brahmans nor the Samanas have found it?
ANS: Brahmans is a member of the highest Hindu social class. Although i am not fully able to state the answer to this question, using context clues i have come up with the understanding that Siddhartha has taken the initiative to separate from the "path" of what he is expected to do. He is isolating himself, going against the crowd, in order to find his "own" path of self discovery or enlightenment different than those around him. 

2) Does Gautama adequately answer Siddhartha's contention that "no one is granted deliverance through a teaching"? (p. 32) Why doesn't Siddhartha become one of Gautama's followers?
ANS: Although i offer no real answer to this question connected with the plot, I am able to make an inference that this line is important to the story. The use of "deliverance" is very exact in it's meaning of not actually being delivered but rather being "set free". This question is basically stating that being told a lesson or teaching, doesn't mean you will apply it, and it certainly doesn't guarantee that it will work or fix you're problems. This concept brings me to religion is a prime example. Just because your taught not to lie doesn't mean you will always tell the truth, and it doesn't mean your automatically condemned a good person and erases all your other sins.  

3) What is the connection between Siddhartha losing his friend Govinda to Gautama and Siddhartha's "awakening"? What does it mean that "the awakening man was on the way to himself"? (p. 37)
ANS:  I do not know the circumstances of the loss of Siddhartha's friend, but i do know that mourning the loss of a loved one can open ourselves to being vulnerable and seeing the world without an optimistic lens. Negative things that happen to us are often the best and ultimate form of learning. We learn more about ourselves in the bad times than we ever could in the good. You gain a new appreciation for the things around you, and you being to learn that nothing is eternal, and in a split instance you are able to lose your child-like ignorance and realize there is, are, and always will be bad in the world. I think the "awakening" in this question is referring to that moment when an individual overcomes that initial struggle of pushing past a bad experience. In this case, i think Siddhartha awakened the moment he realized his worth, and accepted who he was as a person, and reveled in it. 

4) After waking up by the river, why does Siddhartha say, "I have nothing, I know nothing, I can do nothing, I have learned nothing. How wondrous this is!"? (p. 84)
ANS: I think Siddhartha abandoned beliefs that people around him hold so dearly to be true, and breaking away from normal customs is unheard of within his culture. Sidhartha is searching for something. Im not sure what, but he has broke away from the norm to find it. When he says he has, does, and learned nothing, this wasn't meant literal. He means he has a clean slate, a blank start, to start a new foundation of the life he wants to live and he's going to start by filling it his own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. It's "wondrous" because it's something he never thought possible until he took the chance to embrace change. 

5) How can we know who is the right teacher for us? Can wisdom be taught?
What is the relation of words to wisdom? Do words tend to enhance or limit wisdom?
ANS: This particular question i think exploits certain themes and other central messages of the story and is asking to draw parallels from the story that apply to your own life. This would serve as a good essay question. 

More Prep: To master the AP exam, I feel I must prepare more on literary devices. Im nervous for the Essay portion and I want to be able to pull out all my "tricks" to apply to it by studying up on devices, vocabulary, and  my overall writing style. Also, i think another problem is that i don't have a broad enough variety of literature under my belt which I'm hoping to fix this semester as well. Lastly, the multiple choice specifically i struggled with last year, not so much the question, but time was the issue! In short, I want to be more sophist acted with my writing and work in this course so i am able to apply that to the AP Exam. 

Masterpiece Building Blocks

 Topic: The basis of my masterpiece is centered upon Journalism.
Interest: Ever since I was little I have always had a passion for writing. It has now grown into a mindset for me. It's not just about the words on a paper. I want to uncover stories and explore the world's greatest unknowns. I am perusing my passion for writing making journalism my major as I head into my next great adventure in college.
Explain: Learning more about journalism will give me the tools I need to become a powerful journalist. It's going to help me in reaching my dream of traveling the world and uncovering stories to share with the world.
Tools: Journalism requires an endless supply of valuable social skills, interview experience, psychological understandings/developments, patience, and a great deal of understanding the world through neutral eyes.
The plan: I picture my masterpiece being in the form of a video and partially me talking/explaining my journey  through the world of journalism. I have given this a lot of thought, and at first I could not buckle down a solid approach for this, but after much consideration, I think I finally created a plan! I thought about just what makes a "journalist" a "good journalist." The difference between them is that legendary journalist are master interviewers. So I set out to become just that. I want to over come my illogical fear of public speaking to become my life long dream. I contacted several journalist in my area. One of them being a women who mentored me in the past and first got me involved in the journalism business. I want to tell Their stories and this time, I'll be the interviewer. And along the way, I'll be over coming my biggest fear of public speaking. Isn't is ironic how the greatest journalist tell the most memorable stories about everyone in the world but themselves? -Not this time. This time, I'll be telling their story, and I'll be documenting everything along the way.

My end goal for my masterpiece is to simply inspire people. I want other young kids to see they can do anything if they set their mind to it. And no matter what fears they have, they can be over come and nothing can stand in the way of your happiness and your success. I want to inspire kids so they know that anything is possible. The world is in your hands. 

Poem Comparison Essay

Essay viewing David Whyte's "Working Together" compared to Yehuda Aichai’s “The Place Where We Are Right"

The Interworking's 

Poetry, by design, is made to evoke emotion from it’s readers. No matter what form, poetry allows us to gaze through a colorful lens as it shines light onto the elements of the world we could not see before. “Working Together” by David Whyte exploits these vary elements in his work as he captures the essences of the intagibles of the world around us, and compares it to the intangibles inside us all. Yehuda Aichai’s “The Place Where We Are Right,” discusses the battle between following what you know to be true, and having enough wisdom to accept defeat. Both Whyte’s and Aichai’s poems share common traits while displaying two contrasting themes, tones, and morals. Both poems explore the interworking of humanity through emotion, thought, and psychological understanding of the individual to paint a clear message of what it means to be human. 

One fo the first few lines, “…Flowers will never grow,” immediately sets the tone of the story. Aichai’s reveals a tone of despair, sadness, regret, and loss of hope for having to sacrifice her beliefs. The poem takes on a heavily negative and depressing tone. On the contrary, Whyte’s poem states, “Working together in common cause to produce miracles.” This is an uplifting line that is opposite of that in Aichai’s. The tone of Whyte’s poem can be described as hopefull, patient, faithful, and trusting. The tone of “Working Together” can be viewed as almost of a mirrored oppsoited of that of “The Place Where We Are Right.” From these two poems, it’s easy to see the tone of the poem leaves a lasting impact on the reader and can amplify the message the author is trying to convey. Both of the author’s tones represent their veiw on the subject, while in the process are able to call forth emotion. 

Whyte’s poem, “Working Together” is psychologically developed and carries a deeper understanding of human nature. He states in the final line, “Imagine and look for the true shape of our own self by forming it to the great intangibles about us.” This is one of the most powerful lines of the whole poem. He compares “intangibles” of the world, to the “intangibles” we hold to be true inside us all. he explains how something unable to be grasped and lacking a physical appearance can actually define us and give us insight into the unknown of what lies ahead. “The Place Where We Are Right” by Aichai share in this universal message. “But doubts and loves dig up the world…” This line of the poem is so powerful because it explains the struggle of human nature. The poem explains the inner struggle we all experience from “doubt” or “love.” There is never a clear answer about what to do or how to handle it. That is what makes life worth living, to solve these unanswered questions for ourselves. What we look like does not define us, how was react, what we say, the actions we take, and the intangibles inside us are the things that actually define us. 

“And a whisper will be heard in the palce where the ruined house once stood.” The idea of thought is simply just an inner conscience. So this line of Aichai’s poem spell out the inner workings of our thought process. The poem depicts having to sacrifice what you believe to be fair or “right” to move on leaving behind what you held close. Symbolically, the house Aichai is describing represents the things she had to let go of. And the “whisper” represents the memory she will always have and be associated with that specific event in her life. Whyte’s working together states, “I am thinking of the way…to trust to those elements we have yet to see.” The poem blatantly says that he is thinking of things that are unexplainable, things that do not add up but yet still happen like miracles. Both poems highlight the key elements of thought we all possess, but Aichai is focuses on the ones we keep locked away, forced to carry on through life’s obstacles. While Whytes’s focuses on the good that is yet to come and to revel in the hidden wonder that we already have coiled inside us. 

Poetry is a powerful form of self expression and allows insight to the mind fo the author and creates an emotion connection to the reader. David Whyte’s “Working Together” illistrates the journey we all take to understand ourselves on a deeper level and know there is more to the world than just ourselves. While Aichai’s “The Place Where we are Right” demonstrates the struggle we all take in knowing right from wrong and triumphing over life’s mental obstacles. The auhtor’s relay these simalarities and differences through tone, emotion, and thought. Both these poem’s have relatable themes of creating a better verison of ourselves, furthering our knowledge, and to have patience in what lies ahead next.

Poem Multimedia Remix

 David Whyte's, "Working Together," is such a beautiful poem that evokes advanced philosophical thinking as it questions the "intangibles" of the world by comparing it to the "intangibles" inside us, and the unknown elements that lie even beyond us all.
I created this video for the purpose of mixing multimedia to the words of the poem to add even more impact to Whyte's work.

-Enjoy!