40 LITERATURE Read the information and choose the correct options. Some novels have several (1) minor / main characters, and individual chapters may focus on different ones as protagonists or point-of-view characters. A Song of Ice and Fire, the (2) fantasy / imagination series the TV show Game of Thrones is based on, is an example of this. Each chapter in these novels follows (3) different / the same characters and their experiences. This creates a (4) simple / complex, multi-faceted story. The way an author brings different characters to life is called characterisation. Read the passage from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) and do the tasks below. 4 5 The front was broken by a line of French windows, glowing now with reflected gold, and wide open to the warm windy afternoon, and Tom Buchanan in riding clothes was standing with his legs apart on the front porch. He had changed since his New Haven years. Now he was a sturdy, straw haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining, arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body – he seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his thin coat. It was a body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body. His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed. There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked – and there were men at New Haven who had hated his guts. 1 What are your first impressions of Tom Buchanan? Think about his body language and how the narrator describes him. 2 Underline four words or phrases that helped you understand what kind of person Tom Buchanan is. 3 Rewrite any three sentences of the passage to show Tom as a more positive and pleasant character. Try changing some of the adjectives and verbs. Read out some of your new versions in class. Here are some more tools or techniques that authors use. Try to match them to their definitions. 6 1 foreshadowing 2 metaphor 3 simile 4 symbolism 5 theme 6 tone 7 book trope 8 rule of three a A figure of speech that describes an object or action by saying it is something else, even though it isn’t literally true. This helps to explain an idea or make a strong comparison: “Time is a thief.” b The central message or main idea that runs throughout a story. It often reflects universal truths or offers insight into human nature. c A frequently used plot device like “the hero’s journey” in a historical novel or “enemies to lovers” in a romance. d A technique in which words, phrases, sentences or events are grouped in a specific number to make them more effective and memorable. e The author’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience, shown through their choice of words, writing style and point of view. It can be formal, informal, serious, humorous, melancholic, etc. f This figure of speech compares two different things using the words “like” or “as.” It makes descriptions more vivid and helps readers imagine things more clearly: “She is as busy as a bee.” g This is when the writer gives a hint or clue about what might happen later in the story. For example, the description of an approaching storm can indicate that difficult times are ahead. h This is when something you can see or touch (like an object or image) is used to represent a deeper, abstract idea (like love, freedom or sadness), e.g. “The dove stands for peace.” Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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