Signpost and Definitions Clues to the Signpost What Literary Element it Helps Anchor Questions Us Understand Contrasts and Contradictions A character behaves or thinks in a Character development Why would the character act or feel A sharp contrast between what we way we don’t expect, or an element Internal conflict this way? would expect and what we observe of a setting is something we would Theme How do the contrasts between the character doing; behavior not expect Relationship between setting and plot characters help us understand them? contradicts previous behavior or well- How might contrasts between established patterns. Also contrasts situations help us predict plot or between characters or situations. conflict? Again and Again A word is repeated, sometimes used in Plot Why might the author bring this up Events, images, or particular words that an odd way, over and over in the story Setting again and again? recur over a portion of the novel An image reappears several times Symbolism during the course of the book Theme Character development Conflict Memory Moment The ongoing flow of the narrative is Character development Why might this memory be important? A recollection by a character that interrupted by a memory that comes to Plot interrupts the forward progress of the the character, often taking several Theme story paragraphs to recount before we are Relationship between character and returned to events of the present plot moment. Aha Moment Phrases usually expressing Character development How might this change things? A character’s realization of something suddenness, like: Internal conflict that shifts his actions or understanding “Suddenly I understood...” Plot of himself, others, or the world around “It came to me in a flash that...” him. “The realization hit me like a lightning bolt...” “In an instant I knew...” Tough Questions Phrases expressing serious doubt or Internal conflict What does this question make me Questions a character raises that confusion: Theme wonder about? reveal his/her inner struggles “What could I possibly do to...?” Character development “I couldn’t imagine how I could cope with...” “How could I ever understand why she...?” “Never had I been so confused about...” Words of the Wiser The main character and another are Theme What the life lesson, and how might it The advice or insight a wiser character- usually off by themselves in a quiet, Internal conflict affect the character? -usually older--offers about life to the serious moment, and the wiser figure Relationship between character and main character shares his wisdom or advice in an effort plot to help the main character with a problem or a decision. .