The Rattler Essay
Literary Terms to Know
Literary Term | Words that mean the same or can be used in conjunction with the term. | Style Analysis | Author’s use of styleAuthor’s use of languageAuthor’s use of rhetorical strategies | Tone | Mood, Attitude | Diction | Word Choice, Language, Figurative Language,Figures of Speech | Detail | Imagery | Point of View | Narrator, Perspective | Organization | Narrative Structure: chronological order, cause and effect, order of importance, flash-forward, flashback, problem-solution | Syntax | Sentence Structure |
Please Note: Diction, detail, point of view, organization and syntax are all devices that the author uses to make the tone of the story evident to the reader. Your commentary should consistently link your evidence to the tone of the story.
Read "The Rattler.” Then do a quick write on these two questions:
1. What feelings did the author have about the man's killing the snake?
2. What effect did this passage have on you as the reader?
Frequently students say they are sorry the snake had to be killed. They can tell that the man did not want to kill it—he didn't have his heart in it, even though he knew it was necessary. Sometimes students say the snake seemed human, full of power and dignity. They sense a feeling of compassion from the man and one of calm waiting from the snake. You may have written something like this in the quick write you just did.
Here is a student sample of an introduction for "The Rattler": The author's techniques used in "The Rattler" convey not only a feeling of sadness and remorse but also a sense of the man's acceptance of the snake's impending death. A human being has confronted nature, and in order for him to survive, the snake muse be killed. The reader feels sympathy for the man's plight and a reluctance agreement with him for his decision. | This introduction may seem strange if you are used to writing funnel introductions that
Literary Term | Words that mean the same or can be used in conjunction with the term. | Style Analysis | Author’s use of styleAuthor’s use of languageAuthor’s use of rhetorical strategies | Tone | Mood, Attitude | Diction | Word Choice, Language, Figurative Language,Figures of Speech | Detail | Imagery | Point of View | Narrator, Perspective | Organization | Narrative Structure: chronological order, cause and effect, order of importance, flash-forward, flashback, problem-solution | Syntax | Sentence Structure |
Please Note: Diction, detail, point of view, organization and syntax are all devices that the author uses to make the tone of the story evident to the reader. Your commentary should consistently link your evidence to the tone of the story.
Read "The Rattler.” Then do a quick write on these two questions:
1. What feelings did the author have about the man's killing the snake?
2. What effect did this passage have on you as the reader?
Frequently students say they are sorry the snake had to be killed. They can tell that the man did not want to kill it—he didn't have his heart in it, even though he knew it was necessary. Sometimes students say the snake seemed human, full of power and dignity. They sense a feeling of compassion from the man and one of calm waiting from the snake. You may have written something like this in the quick write you just did.
Here is a student sample of an introduction for "The Rattler": The author's techniques used in "The Rattler" convey not only a feeling of sadness and remorse but also a sense of the man's acceptance of the snake's impending death. A human being has confronted nature, and in order for him to survive, the snake muse be killed. The reader feels sympathy for the man's plight and a reluctance agreement with him for his decision. | This introduction may seem strange if you are used to writing funnel introductions that