The Big One

O. Henry 's three stories, “A Retrieved Reformation,” “The Gift of the Magi,” and “The Last Leaf” demonstrates the talent of this writer. In all three of these stories, unique literary techniques are used to create plot twists and unexpected turns. A common literary technique used in O. Henry 's three stories is irony, which is used to create a humorous and surprising effect. In addition, O. Henry uses foreshadowing in all three stories in order to build suspense as the reader anticipates the…

A Separate Peace: Betrayal A Separate Peace has many themes represented through the duration of the book. One of John Knowles most expressed themes is betrayal. Knowles does so through various literary devices and techniques. Knowles’ setting is a tremendous contributor to the betrayal between Gene and Phineas (Finny). While Gene Forrester is at Devon there is a numerous amount of foreshadowing being used. The war, the steps, and even the tree are examples of foreshadowing being…

People can either enjoy life taking it slow, while others can be can completely indifferent to all it’s beauty, and thus taking life for granted. In the poem “Spring” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, it is communicated that spring is deceiving and it is shown that there is no point to life. “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke is more about going with the flow and appreciating life as is. The poems are similar because they both approach death and what is to come. Whereas, the two poems are different in…

throughout multiple works of literature to emphasize the author’s points and provoke thought and feedback from the audience concerning the piece; by helping the readers appreciate, learn, analyze and understand pieces of literature more in depth. One literary device that attributes to this is syntax. Syntax- the way an author designs sentences to have an effect on the reader or listener- is used by authors to emphasize and highlight other literary elements such as metaphors, similes, and…

“the eyes are the windows to the soul.” Paulo Coelho once again brought up this philosophy in his novel The Alchemist, though it can be said that he added more detail to the idea. Coelho is trying to portray that one can get a sense of an individual’s nature just by glancing at their eyes. One look and it will be determined whether you are confident or insecure, honest or false, and even strong or weak. In the novel, two characters, Santiago and the Alchemist, are venturing through a war torn…

John Steinbeck’s novella, The Pearl, is filled with literary devices. The main character, Kino, lives in a Mexican coastal town and does not have much money. In the story, Kino finds the Pearl of the World and becomes a rich man. He hopes to marry his wife, Juana, in a church, educate his son, Coyotito, and buy a rifle. Many people make Kino offers for the pearl, but he turns them down thinking his pearl has more worth than what others offer him. Kino’s greed begins to get the best of him. John…

Santiago’s journey past fear True freedom is the ability to decide fat. Decisions have consequences, and these consequences are what shape the live of every person in the world. In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho uses ancient symbols and archetypal characters to illustrate the concept that fate is not definite and is only fulfilled when fear is overcome and risks are taken to achieve it. When Santiago encounters the old man in the square he is it an impasse with his decision on whether to act on…

you want to live your life following your Personal Legend in order to become a legacy, an inspiration, and overall have a purposeful life? The Alchemist, a novel by Paulo Coelho, speaks grandly about one’s Personal Legend. A Personal Legend is what one is destined to do, and their spiritual purpose in life. Personal Legends are deserving to be followed before anything else in life due to the great pleasures it would bring you in life. First, following your Personal Legend would show your voice…

The story “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, is about a young boy who has recurring dreams that trouble him. In his dreams he is a shepherd, and he is to find treasure and to discover his personal legend.A personal legend is a spiritual purpose, or an inner finding on one's life.. Finding this has great benefits on people's life. In the alchemist Santiago searches for his Personal legend and eventually finds it. Everyone should pursue and try and search for there Legend. My personal Legend is…

Huffman 1 Mikayla Huffman Klass English 9 Honors 9 June 2015 Interpretation of the Symbolism of Alchemy in The Alchemist Everyone has the ability to become something more in life than what they start out as, much like the transition from lead to gold. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho contains an example of this, in how the protagonist, Santiago (a shepherd boy from a region of Spain called Andalusia) attempts to accomplish his personal legend. The leading symbol behind this book is alchemy, which…