* The author's personal life: While understanding an author's background can sometimes offer insights, it's not a reliable source of clues within the text itself.
* The reader's own experiences: A reader's personal experiences, opinions, and biases can influence their interpretation, but they are not part of the literary clues provided by the text.
* External research: While research can be helpful in understanding historical context or symbolism, it doesn't directly provide clues within the text.
* The physical appearance of the book: The cover, font, or paper quality of a book don't offer literary clues.
What DOES provide literary clues:
* Characters: Their actions, dialogue, thoughts, and motivations.
* Setting: The time, place, and atmosphere of the story.
* Plot: The events and their sequence.
* Theme: The overarching ideas and messages of the story.
* Style: The author's use of language, imagery, and structure.
* Symbolism: Objects, characters, or events that represent something beyond their literal meaning.
* Foreshadowing: Hints or clues that suggest future events.
* Irony: Contradictions or unexpected outcomes that add meaning.
Remember, literary clues are elements within the text itself that help readers understand the story's meaning and purpose.