The Signposts and Definitions NOTICE & NOTE The Signposts and Definitions

Contrasts and Contradictions The Signpost and Definition A sharp contrast between what we would expect and what we observe the character doing; behavior that contradicts previous behavior or well-establish patterns.

Contrasts and Contradictions

Contrasts and Contradictions Clues to the Signpost A character behaves or thinks in a way we don’t expect, or an element of a setting is something we would not expect.

Contrasts and Contradictions The Question That Follows Why would the character act (feel) this way?

Aha Moment The Signpost and Definition A character’s realization of something that shifts his actions or understanding of himself, others, or the world around him.

Aha Moment

Aha Moment Clues to the Signpost Phrases usually expressing suddenness, like: “Suddenly, I understood…” “It came to me in a flash that…” “In an instant, I knew…”

Aha Moment The Question That Follows How might this change things?

Tough Questions The Signpost and Definition Questions a character raises that reveal his or her inner struggles.

Tough Questions

Tough Questions Clues to the Signpost Phrases usually expressing serious daoubt or confusion: “What could I possibly do?” “How could I ever understand why she…?” I couldn’t imagine how I could cope with…”

Tough Questions The Question That Follows What does this question make me wonder about?

Words of the Wiser The Signpost and Definition The advice or insight a wiser character, who is usually older, offers about life to the main character.

Words of the Wiser

Words of the Wiser Clues to the Signpost The main character and another are usually off by themselves, in a quiet, serious moment, and the wiser figure shares his wisdom or advice in an effort to help the main character with a problem or a decision.

Words to the Wiser The Question That Follows What’s the life lesson and how might it affect the character?

Again and Again The Signpost and Definition Events, images, or particular words that recur over a portion of the novel.

Again and Again

Again and Again Clues to the Signpost A word is repeated, sometimes used in an odd way, over and over in the story. An image reappears several times during the course of the book.

Again and Again The Question That Follows Why might the author bring this up again and again?

Memory Moment The Signpost and Definition A recollection by a character that interrupts the forward progress of the story.

Memory Moment

Memory Moment Clues to the Signpost The ongoing flow of the narrative is interrupted by a memory that comes to the character, often taking several paragraphs to recount before we return to events of the present moment.

Memory Moment The Question That Follows Why might this memory be important?

Work Cited Beers, K., & Probst, R. E. (2013). Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.