TWIST Helps You Answer the Following Questions:
1. How do great writers create a tone that a reader can feel through their work?
2. What are the parts of literature, and how can we learn to analyze its meaning?
3. How do literary elements affect a reader's understanding of a work of literature?
Breaking Down TWIST
Before reading, it is a good idea to introduce you to the steps of TWIST and go over any
terms that may be new to them.
Tone
The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc. Tone words
should always be adjectives and convey one of the following attitudes: Positive, Negative,
Humorous (Ironic/Sarcastic), Sorrowful (Fearful, Worried), or Neutral.
Positive
Amiable
Calm
Confident
Excited
Joyful
Proud
Surprised
Whimsical
Negative
Accusing
Angry
Critical
Furious
Hateful
Insulting
Quarrelsome
Threatening
Humorous
Comical
Ironic
Humorous
Joking
Mocking
Pompous
Satiric
Teasing
Sorrowful
Neutral
Anxious
Apologetic
Despairing
Fearful
Horrific
Mournful
Pessimistic
Somber
Apathetic
Candid
Detached
Earnest
Formal
Objective
Questioning
Reminiscent
Word Choice
The author’s use of specific and accurate words, to “show” the reader rather than to “tell”
them. Adjectives are extremely descriptive, and nouns are very particular. When looking for
word choice, you will notice ‘clusters’ of words that evoke the same meaning or tone.
Imagery and Detail
Imagery is visually descriptive or figurative language in a literary work. For this element, you
want to look at the use of onomatopoeia, alliteration, similes, metaphors, hyperbole,
analogies, personification, and euphemisms. These are all details that the author will use to
give a sense of emotion to the reader. Very descriptive, figurative language paints a picture
in readers’ minds, making this term exceedingly important for you to examine.
Style
Literary style refers to the way that the author uses words – the author’s vocabulary,
sentence structure, figurative language, and sentence arrangement. The way an author
presents the information determines the way in which the reader interprets it. The wording
itself lends insight into the emotions or concepts the author wants convey with the scene,
setting, or characters.
Types of Literary Styles
● Expository
● Descriptive
● Persuasive or Argumentative
● Narrative
● Original
● Informal
● Formal
● Journalistic
● Archaic
Theme
The subject of a piece of writing, usually the author's thoughts on a specific topic. When
looking at theme, you should use the other parts of the TWIST to piece together information
about the author's intentions. By looking at the tone and imagery, it makes it possible to
pinpoint the topic. From there, you will need to infer the author's thoughts on it. Using
imagery and style will help them uncover the attitude of the author on the topic.