EQ: How do we read short stories? I can identify 11 literary devices and their uses in a piece of literature.

FQ: What literary terms can you identify in literature? (CCLS RL.9-10.10)

Do Now: Review the following literary terms with your group. In your own words, define each term.

Literary Term / Definition
Symbolism
Imagery
Metaphor
Setting
Characterization
Theme
Conflict
Plot
Foreshadowing
Genre
Mood

Independent Work: Read the following short story and identify each of the literary devices.

They Never Come Back by L. Nappi

“Get up,” she whispers loudly and smacks me in the shin. “Max, move it. Come on.” She shoves me and I squint from the hard light slicing it’s way through the window.

“It’s Saturday,” I grumble and roll over and hug my pillow.

“No!,” she shouts and throws a bag at me. “Now, get up, pack some things. We need to go.”

My eyes fly open and see the panic coursing through her. She criss crosses the room and then heads out of the door and down the hall. I hear her crashing through her room. I try and stuff some clothes into my bag, but my hand shakes. I pull on a t-shirt and jeans from a crumpled pile on the floor and walk to her doorway. She doesn’t look up at me.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” I grip my hand around her doorknob, steadying myself.

“Max, I really can’t explain right now. Just put some clothes together.” She pushes past me and slings a backpack over her shoulder.

I open drawers and grab at socks and underwear. I can make due with a pair or two of jeans. I find some mostly clean t-shirts and put them in the musty duffle bag. That’s when I hear the crash. It sounds just like you would imagine. I drop my things and run down the hall to the door. The tiny living room is filled with officers in black uniforms. One holds a gun out to my mother. The door is shattered and splintered and I have a clear view of the apartment building’s dim hallway. Nothing stirs out there. If anyone heard, they would run like rats and hide. No one wants to cross the Officials.

I stand frozen, but the officers turn to me and order me to get down on the ground. I obey. We always obey. I try to raise my head to look up at my mother, but my head swirls and my vision gets blurry. I press my forehead into the ground and try to compose myself.

Two large officers grip her and she struggles against them. I exhale when the officer lowers his gun. One comes up to me and steps his foot close to my face. It smells of crap and shoe polish. I can see my reflection in his steel toe. The foot nudges me.

“What do we do with him?,” the officer says.

“Leave him alone!”, my mother’s voice bellows and it makes me tremble. I don’t want them to see me cry.

“Leave him,” another says, “he’s not in our orders.” The boot backs away from me.

They begin to walk out and I press myself to my knees. I see my mother struggle against them, looking back at me.

“Mom!” It’s a desperate, weak yell. I have always been desperate and weak.

“Max,” she twists to try and break free from them, kicking her legs futilely. “Tell your father. Tell him and don’t worry. I will be back.” Her eyes are not her eyes. They are the panicked eyes of an animal. Her eyes tell me so much is wrong.

I know this too, because I don’t have a father. I never have. And when people get taken, they never come back.

Literary Term / Example from the Story and Explanation
Symbolism
Imagery
Metaphor
Setting
Characterization
Theme
Conflict
Plot
Foreshadowing
Genre
Mood

Wrap-Up: Which literary device is the easiest to identify? Which is the hardest? Explain.