“The Possibility of Evil”

Literary Elements

Characterization

Two types:– Indirect: You learn about the character by making

inferences and/or judgments• What the character says/does• What other characters say about that character• “Miss Strangeworth always used a dull pencil when she wrote

her letters; and she printed them in a childish block print” (Jackson 177).

– Direct: the narrator directly tells you about the character.

• “Miss Strangeworth hated sloppiness” (Jackson 176).

Irony

In general, Irony is a form of contrasts3 types:– Dramatic: You know something that the characters do

not– Situational: Something unexpected happens– Verbal: What is said is different than what is meant.

Ex: Strangeworth’s “payback”- situational irony

Foreshadowing

The author gives little clues about what is going to happen in the story.

Often, when you re-read a story, the foreshadowing is more apparent.

Setting/Mood

Setting: when/when the story takes placeMood: the atmosphere/emotions a story evokes

Often, the setting can affect the mood, such as when a scary movie is set at night and in the rain, or a love story is set in spring.

Symbol

Symbol: A person, place, activity, or object that stands for something beyond itself.

As you read, think about what the roses may stand for.