* Direct quotes: Words spoken by characters or taken from other sources to support a point.
* Character actions: The way characters behave and make choices to reveal their personality and motivations.
* Setting details: Specific descriptions of time, place, and atmosphere to create a mood or convey a theme.
* Plot events: Significant happenings in the story that build tension, reveal character, or advance the theme.
* Figurative language: Metaphors, similes, and other literary devices used to create vivid imagery and communicate deeper meanings.
* Sensory details: Descriptions that appeal to the reader's senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to create a more immersive experience.
* Historical or cultural context: Information about the time period or society in which the story takes place to help the reader understand the characters' motivations and the story's themes.
The purpose of evidence in literature:
* To establish credibility: Evidence makes the author's claims more convincing and believable.
* To support arguments: Evidence provides justification for the author's interpretations and analyses.
* To create a sense of realism: Evidence helps readers connect with the story and believe in the world the author has created.
* To deepen understanding: Evidence allows readers to explore the themes, characters, and ideas in a story more fully.
Examples of evidence in literature:
* Direct quote: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..." (from *A Tale of Two Cities* by Charles Dickens)
* Character action: In *The Great Gatsby*, Gatsby's lavish parties and extravagant lifestyle are evidence of his desire to recapture the past.
* Setting detail: The dark and mysterious atmosphere of Edgar Allan Poe's *The Tell-Tale Heart* creates a sense of suspense and foreshadows the narrator's madness.
* Plot event: The death of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare's play is a tragic event that underscores the theme of love and loss.
By analyzing the evidence presented in a literary work, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the story's message, characters, and themes.