English Reviewer

Connecting to the World

Types of Literary Techniques
1) Flashback – used when the standard time order in the plot is broken to show an incident in the past that
provides very important background information in the story
2) Foreshadowing – used to serve as a hint to prepare the readers to anticipate a future event in the story,
through this the readers can predict the outcome of the story
3) Figures of Speech – used when the writer describes ideas and things using another image or symbol,
should not be interpreted or taken literally (ex. simile, metaphor, personification, apostrophe)
4) Dialogue – conversation between characters in the story, represents the precise words of the character,
applied in plays and in films
5) Suspense – condition of an uncertain excitement on readers because of what he or she is reading, through
this reader becomes eager to know what will happen next

The Telephone by Edward Field

 The predominant feeling of the speaker is determination or conviction. The reader may have felt that way
because of serious declaration on his happiness towards electric appliances.
 The speaker justifies his joy by comparing his life without a telephone to a bear in a cave.

Argumentative Texts
 argumentative text – used to persuade the readers to agree to their points of view, a form of persuasive
public speaking where speaker presents evidence to support a personal opinion, judgement, or idea about
controversial and current issues/problems, aims to radically change the opinions already held by the
audience
 In extracting information from an argumentative text, you must be able to note the issue and the supporting
(pros) and opposing (cons) opinions about the issue.
How to Write an Argumentative Text
1) Hook
2) Background Information
3) Thesis Statement
4) Support
5) Refutation of Opposing Viewpoints
6) Conclude
7) Use transition signals.
Parts of an Argumentative Text
1) Introduction/Thesis
2) Body
a. arguments
b. evidence
c. conclusion

Sorry, Wrong Number by Lucille Fletcher

Characters
 Mrs. Stevenson – querulous, self-centered neurotic
  Operator – has a patient and gentle voice
 First Man
 Second Man (George) – has a slow, heavy quality voice and a faintly foreign accent
 Chief Operator – has a cool and professional voice
 Second Operator
 Sergeant Duffy
 Third Operator – has a young, sweet type of voice
 Woman at Henchley Hospital – middle-aged, solid, firm, practical
 Western Union Clerk – has a dull and flat voice
 Information Operator
Vocabulary
1) querulous – complaining in a whining manner (syn. petulant)
2) imperious – assuming power or authority without justification (syn. peremptory)
3) bland – lacking strong features or characteristics (syn. uninteresting)
4) unnerved – make someone lose courage or confidence (syn. discouraged)
5) highhanded – using power or authority without considering the feelings of others (syn. arrogant)

One-Act Radio Play

 one-act radio play – dramatized, purely acoustic performance played in the radio
Components of a Radio Play
1) script/storyboard
2) expose entrance
3) climax
4) music/sound effects
5) sequence
Kinds of a Radio Play
1) solo – one character radio play
2) series – different series with one theme
3) serial – has a lot of climaxes and one chief climax
4) soap – talks mostly about family

Gerunds
 gerunds – usually defined as a word ending in –ing that is formed from a verb and that functions as a noun
specifically as a:
1) Subject – Writing is a good form of meditation.
2) Subjective Complement – Ben’s favorite hobby is playing.
3) Object of a Preposition – Diane spends time with her dog by walking.
4) Direct Object – Anna does volunteering in the shelter every weekend.
5) Appositive – Her only hobby, singing, is also a hobby of her parents

Stages
Types of Stages
1) Thrust Stage – oldest known fixed type of staging in the world and it is thousands of years old
 2) Proscenium Stage – a stage where the audience sits on one side only, the audience faces one side of the
stage directly and normally sits at a lower height
3) In-the-round Stage – the stage is positioned at the center of the audience, creates quite an intimate
atmosphere and is good for drama that needs audience involvement
4) Traverse Stage – a stage where the audience sits on two sides, good for creating an intimate atmosphere
Parts of a Stage

Drama
Forms of Drama
1) Tragedy – maintains a mood throughout that emphasizes the plays serious intention though there may be
moments of comic relief, deals with serious human actions and issues
2) Comedy – deals with humorous or ridiculous aspects of human behavior, have a playful mood and end
happily, always emphasizes the characters, ideas, and situations, many types of comedy:
a. comedies of character – humor comes from the major traits of characters
b. comedies of ideas – deals primarily with social issues
c. situation comedies – rely on comic actions and events
Dramatic Devices
1) stage business – movement or action by an actor intended especially to establish atmosphere, reveal
characters or explain situations
2) stage whisper – a loud whisper by an actor to another actor as part of the play
3) aside – an actor’s speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by the other characters on stage
4) dramatic monologue – a long speech (soliloquy) that gives the illusion of being series of unspoken thoughts
5) stage directions – directions provided for in the script regarding movement on the stage are addressed to
the actor as he faces the audience

One-Act Play
 one-act play – a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts, may consist
of one or more scenes
Elements of a One-Act Play
1) Setting
2) Plot and Plot Structure
3) Character and Characterization
4) Theme
 5) Conflict
6) Suspense and Atmosphere

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

 Romeo and Juliet – a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, it is about two young star-crossed lovers
whose deaths eventually reconcile their feuding families
Characters
1) Romeo 9) Nurse
2) Juliet 10) Mercutio
3) Montague 11) Benvolio
4) Lady Montague 12) Tybalt
5) Capulet 13) Paris
6) Lady Capulet 14) Rosaline
7) Friar John 15) Servants
8) Friar Lawrence