Pre-AP English II
A paradox is a statement or situation
containing apparently contradictory or
incompatible elements but upon closer
inspection might be true.
For example:
Bittersweet
Wise fool
Allegory a story in which the characters and
events are symbols that stand for ideas about
human life or for a political or historical
situation.
For example: Animal Farm by George Orwell…
This is an allegory that uses animals on
a farm to describe the overthrow of the
last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and
the Communist Revolution of Russia
before WW II. The actions of
the animals on the farm are
used to expose the greed
and corruption of the revolution.
It also describes how powerful people can change
the ideology of a society.
Although an allegory uses symbols, it is
different from a symbolism. An allegory is a
complete narrative, which involves
characters, and events that stand for an
abstract idea or an event. A symbol, on the
other hand, is an object that stands for
another object giving it a particular
meaning. Unlike an allegory, a symbol
is not a story.
A parable is a simple story illustrating
a moral or religious lesson.
For example, Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal
Son
“…but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I
have served you, and I never disobeyed your command,
yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate
with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who
has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed
the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you
are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was
fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was
dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Satire is a technique employed by writers to
expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an
individual or a society by using humor, irony,
exaggeration or ridicule. It intends to improve the
humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles. A writer
in a satire uses fictional character, which stands for
real people to expose and condemn their corruption.


Satire in everyday Life
Most political cartoons are examples of satire.
These cartoons criticize some recent actions of
political figures in a comical way.

 Allusion,
pun, idiom?
 1. He got the lion’s share of the snacks.
 2. She put her foot in her mouth
 3. You are such a good Samaritan!
 4. Did you hear about the guy whose whole
left side was cut off? He’s all right now.
 5. You’re a chip off the old block!
 Allusion,
pun, idiom?
 1.Northeast High School, the Garden of Eden
 2.I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got
over it.

 Simile,
metaphor, allusion?
 3.hungry as a wolf
 4. you are the sun
 5. He is Hercules!
 Simile,
Metaphor, Allusion?
 1. My love is like a red, red rose
 2. he is a Benedict Arnold!
 3. Life ain’t no crystal staircase
 4. My love is a red, red rose.
 5. You are acting as if he walked on water.