2. Situational Irony Irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

3. Existentialism and The Metamorphosis A philosophical attitude associated especially with Heidegger, Jaspers, Marcel, and Sartre, and opposed to rationalism and empiricism, that stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices.

4. Archetype The original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype. “The Simpsons already did it.”

5. 5 Elements of Short Stories Character Setting Point of View Plot Theme

6. What is a symbol? A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something else. They are learned associations, arising mainly out of cultural traditions.

7. Symbols in literature… Are shaped by our own associations as well as the author’s Moby-Dick, the white whale, is usually interpreted as a symbol of evil, God, or an indifferent universe. (www.pbs.org) The lion is a symbol of bravery, strength, and power. Conventional symbols: those widely recognized by society Contextual symbols: those whose meaning are determined mainly by the author

8. Are related to the culture they come from. The ones here come mainly from a western/Eurocentric tradition Can be recognized by the frequency an object or character is mentioned in a piece of literature--if it is mentioned often, it is probably important. Or, look at how much detail is used in describing an object. (“How to Understand Symbolism in Literature”, www.ehow.com) Symbols in literature…

9. Can stand for more than one thing Symbols in literature… Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: nothing clearly represents one particular thing--objects are generally contained in their individual episode. The garden may symbolize the Garden of Eden, an idyllic space of beauty and innocence that Alice is not permitted to access. Also, the garden may represent the experience of desire, in that Alice focuses her energy and emotion on trying to attain it. The two symbolic meanings work together to underscore Alice's desire to hold onto her feelings of childlike innocence that she must relinquish as she matures.

10. Motifs & Allegories Motif: recurring thematic symbols, images, ideas or items. These point in the direction of the overall theme Allegory: a story whose characters, setting, events, etc. are meant to represent general truths about human existence. The entire story is a collection of symbols