AnaphoraImagery Parallelism Repetition ForeshadowingAlliteration PersonificationSimile External ConflictShift in Tone Internal Conflict

A special type of repetition with a repeated element at the beginning.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief...” Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities “Before that we lived on Loomis… and before that we lived on Keeler. Before Keeler is was Paulina, and before that I…” (3). Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

The coordination of sentence syntax, word order and ideas. Also known as parallel structure.

“The house on Mango Street is ours, and we don’t have to pay rent to anybody, or share the yard with the people downstairs, or be careful not to make too much noise, and there isn’t a landlord banging on the ceiling with a broom” (3).

Hints about events to come; used to create interest or suspense.

“But even so, it’s not the house we’d thought we’d get” (3).

The protagonist’s struggle against an outside force.  Man vs. Man  Man vs. Nature  Man vs. Supernatural

“We had to leave the flat on Loomis quick. The water pipes broke and the landlord wouldn’t fix them…” (4).

Comparison of two things using “like” or “as”

“And inside would have real stairs, not hallway stairs, but stairs inside like the houses on T.V.” (4).

Human-like qualities are given to inanimate objects.

“…windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath …front door is so swollen you have to push hard to get in” (4).

Words or phrases that create pictures, or images, in the reader’s mind. These images are primarily visual.

“But the house on Mango Street…” ¶ (4).

Word, sound, phrase or idea used for emphasis. Used often in persuasive speeches. The author is usually trying to convey a message.

“small” is repeated 5 times in 1¶ (4). The word there is repeated 5 times (5).

When the protagonist is in conflict with himself/herself.

“The way she said it made me feel like nothing” (4).

The repetition of initial consonant sounds

. “great big yard and grass growing…” (4). “had been boarded up because” (4).

A piece of literature that deals with the protagonist growing from childhood to adulthood; coming of age

 The House on Mango Street  To Kill a Mockingbird  The Secret Life of Bees  Harry Potter series  13 Going on 30

The attitude a writer takes toward his/her subject, characters and readers. Through tone the author can amuse, anger or shock the reader.

Occurs when the author’s attitude shifts from one direction to another. Ex. From happy to sad

Sequence of events or actions in a story. Plots can be simple or complicated, loosely constructed or close-knit.

 Exposition – Introduces characters, setting and basic situation

 Rising Action – All of the events leading up to the climax; conflicts occur during this stage.

 Climax – Highest point of emotional intensity, interest or suspense. Usually marks the turning point.

 Falling Action – All of the events after the climax leading to the resolution.

 Dénouement – (Resolution) Conflict is resolved or unraveled and mysteries and secrets connected to the plot are explained.

A short descriptive literary sketch; a brief incident or scene.

Each chapter in THOMS is a vignette. They do not go into great detail, but gives a brief synopsis of events in her life.

View point in which the story is told.

First Person When one character, usually the protagonist, describes what he/she hears, sees, experiences; the “I” view

a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc.

When something stands for something else or when something takes on another abstract meaning.

Rain – Insecurities Mother’s Hair – Security Bread – Women’s Work

Figure of speech using exaggeration or overstatement for special effect.

“The boys and girls live in separate worlds” (8).

Saying one thing in terms of something else; usually compares without using “like” or “as”

“Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor” (9).

Reference to a person, a place, event or literary work which a writer expects the reader to recognize and respond to.

“Chinese year…” (10) “baptize myself…” (11) “Zeze the X…” (11)

Central message or main idea about life that is revealed through a literary work. THIS IS NOT A PLOT SUMMARY!!

Hard work and perseverance can break through cultural expectations and/or boundaries. “I have inherited her name, but I don’t want to inherit her place by the window” (11).

The act of creating and developing a character through: action, thoughts, physical descriptions, other’s views, direct evaluation, etc.

“…because the Chinese, like the Mexicans, don’t like their woman strong” (10). Belief that woman are inferior to men

Main character in a story; generally faces conflicts and obstacles

Esperanza

A major character who opposes the protagonist

Society/Cultural Expectations

An event that occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader or the audience.

“I would like to baptize myself under a new name…something like ZeZe the X will do” (11). ZeZe the X is just a different.

The physical arrangement of words in a sentence.

“My great-grandmother” She goes from a run-on in the previous paragraph to a fragment…she was emphasizing her grandmother’s strength.

When the author implies without directly telling the reader.

“And then she closed her eyes and he sold it” (12).

Refers to a literary work that the author believes the reader should recognize.

“Cathy who is the queen of cats has cats and cats and cats. Baby cats, big cats, skinny cats, sick cats” (13). Allusion to Dr. Seuss

An event or scene taking place before the present time in the narrative is inserted into the chronological structure of the work.

“One day we were passing a house that looked…like the houses I had seen in Mexico” (17).

a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group

The nun stereotypes Esperanza when asking where she lived.