Humanities Study Guide

Humanities Study Guide

© 2020 Page 12 of 62 to nonhuman elements. For example, "The leaf danced in the wind" is an example of personification because a leaf cannot dance as a human dances. Metaphors and similes are similar in that they both compare two things. A metaphor is an indirect comparison between two dissimilar or unrelated things. A metaphor does not use "like" or "as," but sometimes uses "are" or "is." "Her smile is the sunshine on a rainy day" is one example of a metaphor. The author compares the girl's smile to sunshine on a rainy day, or indirectly, he equates her smile to happiness on a sad day. A simile is a direct comparison between two things, ideas, objects, or people. A simile typically uses the words "like" or "as." For example, "the boy ran quietly like a mouse through the hall" is an example of a simile. In this case, the author compares the boy's running to a quiet mouse. Symbolism is when an object represents an idea other than the object itself. Common examples of symbolism include a heart to show love, a dove to represent peace, or a smiley face to express happiness. When we discuss literature in detail, some of the first elements we will explore are tone and mood. The tone is the author's attitude towards a topic. Someone who writes a poem about how they hate broccoli has a negative tone towards the vegetable. The mood is what the author creates to make the audience feel a certain way about a topic. When the writer uses tone and mood properly, it helps the reader determine how to feel. Both elements require the reader to infer while reading because it is often not stated plainly in the text. Generally, every piece of literature has a character. Characterization is the development of characters within the story. There tend to be two types of characters, static and dynamic. Static characters stay the same throughout the story; they do not evolve or have an "ah-ha" moment. Dynamic characters, however, change or grow throughout the story. An author typically uses two approaches to deliver information about a character and to build their image. Direct/Explicit characterization takes a straightforward approach towards building the character. The author uses another character or the narrator to tell the reader who this person is. Indirect/implicit characterization is much more subtle. The author introduces the character to the audience, but they have to deduce who they are by the way they act, the character's thought process, speech, or behavior. Both types of characterization achieve the task of introducing the character, but the traits and qualities of the individual are perceived differently. Authors also use different techniques to place the reader in a position in the story. In the first-person point of view , the author writes the story from the perspective of a character in the story and uses words like "I" and "we" frequently. Second-person writing is used to connect the reader to the text, using words like "you" to imply the reader's position in the piece. The author uses this point of view when he or she talks directly to the reader. The second-person point of view often can be seen in non- fiction pieces such as speeches, letters, and advertisements, and is rarely used in fictional works. The third-person point of view happens when the author tells the story through an outsider's perspective. The third person takes two forms: omniscient and limited. Think of themeaning of the Achieve