When you’re studying literature, just understanding the main point of certain books is difficult. But when you have to look for certain literary devices in the text, it can feel like a nearly impossible task—or at least not a very fun one. You’ve gotten the basics of theme, setting, and symbolism down, so now it’s …
Ever sign into Facebook only to see that your BFF posted a long rant about how much he hates Facebook? The fact that he’s using Facebook to complain about how much he hates Facebook is a clear example of irony. Locating examples of irony in literature, though, may not be so obvious. You might need to …
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words,” right? But does it really take 1,000 words to create a vivid picture? Check out this short paragraph from Charlotte’s Web: Fern came slowly down the stairs. Her eyes were red from crying. As she approached her chair, the carton wobbled, and …
One time, in the ninth grade, we were reading The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe. We were discussing what Poe meant by what he wrote, specifically about the symbolism of the short story. A boy in the class asked why Poe just didn’t say what he meant instead of hiding the meaning in …
Have you ever heard that immersion is the best way to learn a language? The same can be said of literature. The more you read, the more you learn about how stories, poems, and plays are structured, what makes them so enthralling, and how to analyze them. Just like with any language, there are certain …
You know those classes that seem to drag on forever? The clock on the wall mocks you by moving slower. The breeze sweeps in through an open window and calls to you. These are examples of personification—the clock mocking and the breeze calling. I know you might not be looking forward to your essay on …