Focus on Figurative Language“A Sound of Thunder”

by Ray Bradbury

Characterization

The author describes characters in the story to give the reader an idea of what kind of person the character is.

Pick out these aspects of the characters to gain insight about who they are, how they think and how they may or may not act:

– Speech– Thoughts– Emotions– Actions– Looks

Characterization

Think “character traits” What does the character

– Speaks like (ex: accent, slang, dialect, stutter…)

– Thinks like (ex: ideas, beliefs, expectations…)

– Feels like (ex: emotional, sad, reactions to…)

– Acts like (ex: dramatic, thoughtful, jumpy…)

– Looks like (ex: tall, smelly, blue eyes, shabby…)

Characterization

Helps the reader remember the character Makes the story believable and involves the

reader Helps the reader understand motivation

Imagery

The description in the story that affects our 5 senses. (sight, touch, sound, taste, smell)

Ex: Though I was tired and my leg had a sharp cramp, I hobbled through the hot and steamy forest. I could smell the rotting leaves as they squished under my feet like piles of peeled, fleshy grapes.

Imagery

Allows the reader to feel, see, touch, hear, sense what is going on. This figurative language makes you feel like you are there.

Plot

Sequence of events in the story– Exposition– Rising action– Climax– Falling action– Resolution

Theme

The overlying message the author is trying to convey

Examples: – Good overcomes evil– Beauty is in the eye of the beholder– Love conquers all

Theme

Think:– Does the book have something to say about the

way people behave in a certain situation?– Does the book teach a concept such as war, love,

hate, friendship?– Does the book try to convince you to act in a

certain way?

Foreshadow

The author gives you clues or hints early in the story to suggest what will happen later

Why?– It helps create suspense – Prepares the reader for what will happen (climax

or resolution)– Keeps the reader engaged