Literary and Rhetorical Devices in Night

Literary and Rhetorical Devices in Night

Chapters 3-5

Foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

verbal irony (sarcasm)

saying one thing but meaning another

dramatic irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

situational irony

An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected

simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

Symbolism

A device in literature where an object represents an idea

anaphora

repetition of same word/phrase at the beginning of consecutive phrases/clauses

euphemism

polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant

allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of religious, historical, cultural, literary, or political significance

theme

central idea or message

paradox

A statement that seems contradictory, but is actually true; for example, “No one goes to that restaurant; it’s too crowded.”

anecdote

a short and interesting story, or an amusing event, often proposed to support or demonstrate some point, and to make the audience laugh

personification 

metaphorically represents an animal or inanimate object as having human attributes

rhetorical question

A question in which the answer is implied; used to spark audience thought

juxtaposition 

a literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters, and their actions are placed side by side in a literary work for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts

imagery

Sensory details in a work; the use of figurative language to evoke a feeling, call to mind an idea, or describe an object. Involves any or all of the five senses

tone 

The attitude a literary work takes towards its subject and theme. It reflects the narrator's attitude.

Multiple Choice

"Moishe the Beadle was the exception. He stayed out of people's way . . . He had mastered the art of rendering himself insignificant, invisible" (3).

• imagery

• foreshadowing

• personification

Multiple Choice

"It was like a page torn from a book, a historical novel, perhaps, dealing with the captivity in Babylon or the Spanish Inquisition" (17).

• allusion

• metaphor

• paradox

Multiple Choice

"The race toward death had begun" (10).

• personification

• metaphor

• situational irony

Multiple Choice

"Two Gestapo officers strolled down the length of the platform; all things considered, it had gone very smoothly" (22).

• metaphor

• foreshadowing

• verbal irony

Multiple Choice

"They passed by me, like beaten dogs, with never a glance in my direction" (17).

• paradox

• simile

• personification

Multiple Choice

"The beloved objects that we had carried with us from place to place were now left behind in the wagon and, with them, finally, our illusions" (29).

• juxtapositioning

• symbolism

• foreshadowing

Open Ended

What theme is supported by the following quote? "I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name" (42).

Open Ended

How would you describe Elie's tone in the following quote? "I had watched it all happening without moving. I kept silent . . . what's more, if I felt anger at that moment, it was no directed at the kapo but at my father . . . that was what life in a concentration camp had made of me" (54).

Multiple Choice

"What a shame, a shame that you did not go with your mother . . . I saw many children your age go with their mothers" (33).

• dramatic irony

• sarcasm/verbal irony

• situational irony

Multiple Choice

"Never shall I forget that night . . . never shall I forget those flames . . . " (34).

• euphemism

• allusion

• anaphora

Multiple Choice

fire, flames, smoke

• metaphor

• allusion

• motif

Multiple Choice

"For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify his name?" (33).

• euphemism

• rhetorical question

• situational irony

Multiple Choice

"All the block inmates stood naked between rows of bunks. This must be how one stands for the Last Judgement" (71).

• simile

• motif

• allusion

Open Ended

Describe Elie's tone in the following quote: "In the midst of these men assembled for prayer,I felt like an observer, as stranger" (68).

Multiple Choice

"Freed from the barbers' clutches, we began to wander about the crowd, finding friends, acquaintances. Every encounter filled us with joy--yes, joy . . ." (35).

• situational irony

• paradox

• symbolism

Multiple Choice

"Arbeit macht Frei. Work makes you free" (40).

• dramatic irony

• paradox

• theme

Open Ended

What theme of the book is supported by the following quote? "By driving out despair, you will move away from death" (41).

Multiple Choice

"After four hours, we arrived at the new camp: Buna. The iron gate closed behind us" (46).

• foreshadowing

• allusion

• symbolism

Multiple Choice

"On the other hand, the dentist seemed more conscientious: he asked me to open my mouth wide. In fact, he was not looking for decay but for gold teeth" (49).

• sarcasm/verbal irony

• juxtapositioning

• situational irony

Multiple Choice

I was nothing but a body. Perhaps even less: a famished stomach.

• paradox

• metaphor

• symbolism

Open Ended

On page 59, what words and phrases create imagery, allowing readers to "see" the man stealing the soup?