Steve Eum Period 1 A~M Lit Terms w/ Examples from Independent Novel

1. A) figure of speech, figurative language: Also called figure of speech. In contrast to literal language, it implies meanings. Includes metaphors, similes, and personification, among others. (Barrons AP Lit and Composition) B)any expressive use of language, as a metaphor, simile,personification, or antithesis, in which w ords are used in otherthan their literal sense, or in other than their ordinary locutions, inorder to s uggest a picture or image or for other special effect. (Dictionary.com) Example: Gophers and ant lions started small avalanches (1) Steinbecks writing is riddled such figurative speech. Such method of writing serves to engage the reader in an experience to deeper thought. This is possible since ant lions cannot create avalanches, this forces the reader to think of another act or object similar to that of an avalanche and relate it to the relevance to an ant lion, in this case, grains rolling off of sand mounds. 2. A) in medias res: A narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point. (Barrons AP Lit and Composition)

B) in the middle of things. (Dictionary.com) Example: TO THE RED COUNTRY and the part of the gray country of Oklahoma... (1) The novel starts off with a chapter of narration describing the setting. Then it introduces Tom Joad as he tries to head back home. What the reader finds out later is the story four years ago of Joads accident. The book starts off after a very major incident in Joads life where he killed a man in self-defense then served four years in prison for manslaughter. In the case of The Grapes of Wrath this gives a really bad first impression of Tom Joad because the reader first finds out that he is a murderer and not the reason how he came to be. He then redeems himself to the audience by mentioning that it was out of self-defense and then showing how much a caring and big-hearted fellow he really is throughout the novel. As the audience slowly grows on him, it builds a much permanent and strong emotion between the character and the reader. 3. Catharsis: A) A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy (Barrons AP Lit and Composition) B) the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music. (Dictionary.com) Example: Rose of Sharons loss of her two babies Although The Grapes of Wrath isnt dramatic tragedy, Rose of Sharons loss of her babies still demonstrates catharsis. She is a very self-centered character in the beginning of the novel. By her losing both her babies and her husband, she finally comes to her senses. She finally realizes that her family is much more important than she is. She character changes as she becomes a much

more self-less and caring person. She shows the results of her total purging of her selfish, selfcentered-ness by breast feeding a fifty-year old man in dying need of nutrition.