Honors 10th Grade English Summer Assignment
Congratulations on choosing to seek challenge and rigor as you continue in your educational experience in the English Department at
Mt. Spokane High School. When you arrive in September, you will be expected to have prepared for class by learning or reviewing
literary terminology so that you will be able to participate in insightful analysis and scholarly discussion of literature. We will also
begin the semester discussing the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and seek to connect ideas from credible non-fiction
resources to theme concepts in the story. To prepare for the start of the semester, please complete the following:
1. Read, study, and review the attached literary terminology.
o A terminology quiz will be given on the second day of class.
o Creating flashcards or other study aids are encouraged but not required.
o If any of the examples are unclear or confusing, please be encouraged to go online to seek further understanding.
o You will be expected to utilize the terminology in writing and discussion throughout the course.
2. Actively read Of Mice and Men.
o As you read, please consider this guiding question: How do plot events advance characterization, theme, or message
development?
o A reading assessment based on the above question will be given on the first day of class.
o As with all the literature for this course, we encourage you to purchase your texts and practice annotation as you read.
3. Locate a non-fiction article on the subject of friendship from either a print or online source. Bring a copy of the article with
you to class on the first day of school, with the following completed:
o Annotate the article to demonstrate your understanding of the main or central ideas, key words, terms or
definitions, questions or ideas you have, and connections you could make between the article and your reading
of Of Mice and Men.
o Write an explanation of how you know that the article came from a credible source.
o Write out an MLA formatted works cited, accurately citing both your article and Of Mice and Men.
Have a wonderful and relaxing summer. We look forward to working with you next year.
Literary Devices Glossary
Term
Definition
Example
Allusion
A reference to another literary work or
piece of art, especially to the Bible or
mythology
Lord of the Flies is the English translation of the Greek
word Beelzebub, the Devil in the Bible. This reference to
the Devil in the title reveals that the book will explore evil.
Anaphora
A type of repetition in which the same
expression (word or words) is repeated at
the beginning of two or more lines, clauses,
or sentences
As I ebb’d with the ocean of life,
As I wended the shores I know,
As I walk’d where the ripples continually wash you
Paumanok.
Characterization
The creation of imaginary persons so they
seem lifelike. This can be done through:
1. Exposition: the explicit
presentation by the author of the
character
2. Action: The presentation of the
character in action, with little or no
explicit comment by the author, in
the expectation that the reader can
deduce the attributes of the
character from their actions
3. Character: the representation from
within a character, with no
comment by the author, of the
impact of actions and emotions on
the character’s inner self.
“You never really understand a person until you consider
things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin
and walk around in it” – from To Kill a Mockingbird
When a work issued in installments ends at
a point of great suspense.
The end of Ch. 3 in Harry Potter and The Sorceror’s Stone:
“One minute to go and he’d be eleven. Thirty
seconds…twenty…ten…nine – may be he’d wake Dudley up,
just to annoy him – three…two…one…
BOOM.
The whole shack shivered and Harry sat bolt upright,
staring at the door. Someone was outside, knocking to come
in.”
Cliffhanger
This particular quote by Atticus (an “action,” in this case)
tells us a great deal about the kind of person Atticus is. It
develops his character on its own, with no comment from
the author. In addition, we learn about Atticus from Harper
Lee’s description of him (“exposition”). Finally, we see how
Atticus is affected by the trial, which shows us even more
about the kind of person he is (“character”).
Term
Definition
Example
Diction
The words an author chooses to express
his/her ideas; his/her distinctive
vocabulary choices and style of expression.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee changes the way
Calpurnia speaks depending upon her social circle. She
tends to sound more “educated” around white people, and
more “uneducated” among black people – she is a “code
switcher” who is careful not to seem uppity around others.
Doppelgangers/Doubles
German for “double goer.” A mysterious
double; a pair of characters that look
especially similar. It may show another
side of a character, or it may simply create
conflict as the characters are confused with
one another.
The twins in “The Parent Trap”
Foil
A character who contrasts with another
character (usually the protagonist) to
highlight specific qualities of the
protagonist
Ralph and Jack in Lord of the Flies
Foreshadowing
The presentation of material in a work in
such a way that later events are prepared
for. It can result from the establishment of
a mood or atmosphere, the appearance of
physical objects or facts, or from the
revelation of a fundamental and decisive
character trait. The purpose is to prepare
the reader or viewer for action to come.
The scene in Lord of the Flies when the boys play their
“game” and pretend to kill Robert foreshadows the eventual
deaths of both Simon and Piggy. From reading the scene,
we can tell that something bad is about to happen (note that
we didn’t know exactly what would happen; it was just a
hint). Looking back at the end of the book, we can see how
the clues fit together.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration to heighten effect or for
humor.
No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red. (Shakespeare’s Macbeth)
Imagery
Sensory language. Imagery can often be 
the key to deeper meaning in a work;
readers should look for image patterns and
symbolism within images in texts.
“The giant tree was ablaze with the orange, red, and yellow
leaves that were beginning to make their descent to the
ground.”
Term
Definition
Example
Irony
The recognition of a reality different from
appearance. There are three types:
1. Verbal Irony: When the actual intent is
expressed in words that carry the
opposite meaning.
2. Dramatic Irony: when the audience has
knowledge of events that is hidden
from the characters.
3. Situational Irony: when the exact
opposite of what is expected actually
occurs.
1. Verbal Irony: (on earning a 100% on a test) “Wow, I
sure bombed that one!”
2. Dramatic Irony: When we know that Romeo and
Juliet will die at the end of the play from the
prologue, but the characters have no idea until the
very last scene.
3. Situational Irony: Romeo believes that Juliet is dead
and so he drinks poison, just as Juliet begins to
rouse.
Juxtaposition
When an author places two different items
next to one another for the purpose of
contrast (pointing out the differences).
Metaphor
The comparison of two otherwise unlike
objects or ideas without using “like” or “as.”
Motif
A recurring idea or image in a literary
work.
Light & darkness are constantly referenced throughout
Lord of the Flies and have special significance to the story.
Paradox
A statement that although seemingly
contradictory or absurd may actually be
well founded or true.
“For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians).
(This sentence does not literally make sense at first, but
when you think about it, it’s possible to feel stronger at
your weakest moments in a religious sense)
Parallelism
The repetitions of clause structure such
that coordinate ideas have coordinate
presentation. Elements of equal
importance are similarly developed and
phrased.
Easy come, easy go.
“Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” (Juxtaposes
fighting death with laying and simply waiting for death)
“Time, you thief!” (Direct comparison of time to a thief)
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Term
Personification
Point of View
Repetition
Satire
Simile
Symbolism
Syntax
Tone
Definition
Example
When animals, ideas, abstractions, or
inanimate objects are endowed with
human form – as if they have human
personalities, intelligence, and emotions.
The perspective from which a story is told:
1st person: from character’s perspective
3rd person: from outsider’s perspective
Limited: thoughts of a single character
Omniscient: thoughts of all characters
Objective: no thoughts – re-tells events
Reiteration of a word, sound, phrase or
idea.
The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky. (Dancing is a
human quality – stars cannot literally “dance”)
When a work combines a critical attitude
with humor and wit for improving human
institutions or humanity.
The comparison of two otherwise unlike
objects or ideas using “like” or “as.”
The use of an object to represent or suggest
a bigger, more important idea.
The style in which an author constructs his
or her sentences.
The author’s attitude towards the subject.
To Kill a Mockingbird: first person (Scout’s perspective)
limited (mainly Scout’s inner thoughts as an adult looking
back)
Lord of the Flies: third person (outsider’s perspective)
omniscient (mainly thoughts of Ralph, but others too,
including Jack and Simon)
Hear the sledges with the bells Silver bells!
What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,
In the icy air of night!
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a crystalline delight;
Keeping time, time, time,
In a sort of Runic rhyme,
To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.
Any article on theonion.com
My love is like a red, red rose. (Compares love to a rose
using the word “like”)
In Lord of the Flies, the conch symbolizes order and
democracy on the island.
Fragment, simple sentence, compound sentence,
compound-complex sentence, etc.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s tone shifts from
childlike, curious, nostalgic, and innocent to a tone that is
more dark, foreboding, and critical of society.