Utilizing this text set to look at figurative language, plot development and symbolism through different mediums-short stories, teleplay, poetry and news articles.

1. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
PLOT DEVELOPMENT
AND SYMBOLISM

2. THE FEATHER PILLOW BY HORACIO QUIROGA
TEKS 7.6B, 7.8A
“honeymoon…cold
shudder”
Metaphor transmits
a sense of fear and
introduces the
conflict
“silent for the last hour”
Foreshadowing creates
a sense of suspense
“dreams froze”
Personification
reflects how Alicia
internally and
perhaps even
subconsciously feels
toward her
marriage
Juxtaposition
pushes the
idea of
internal
imperfection
to visible
perfection of
her setting
and her
marriage“silent patio”=personification
“whiteness, marble statues, autumn, bright
whiteness, tall stucco walls, unscratched,
implacable cold, echo, footsteps”=imagery
The imagery in this
paragraph supports
the previous
juxtaposition of a
beautiful but lonely
home. Alicia is not
happy and feels
gloomy
“It is not surprising
that she grew thin”
signals the rising
action of the plot
development. The
music and scene in
the stop-motion
video helps
visualize this
The first five paragraphs incorporated the
exposition of the story
The reader becomes acquainted with the
characters and setting
Imagery
continues to
demonstrat
e Alicia’s
internal pain
through
verbal and
physical
cues

3. (9)The following day, when she awoke, Alicia was worse. The doctor was called. Galloping anaemia was diagnosed, its
origins completely inexplicable. Alicia fainted no more, but visibly she was heading for death. All day the lights stayed on in
the silent bedroom. Hours went by without the slightest noise. Alicia dozed. Jordan lived in the drawing room, its lamps
also lit. To and fro he would pace from one end to the other, tireless in his obstinacy. The carpet muffled his steps. From
time to time he would come into the bedroom and continue his wordless pacing up and down the bedside, pausing an
instant at each end to look at his wife.
10. Soon Alicia began to hallucinate. The visions were confused and floating to start with, and then came down to ground
level. With her eyes boundlessly wide, the girl stared constantly at the carpet on either side of her bedhead. One night in
her staring she was suddenly transfixed. After a while she opened her mouth to scream, and her nostrils and lips were
beaded with sweat.
11.“Jordan! Jordan!” she cried, rigid with fear, her eyes still fixed on the carpet.
12. Jordan ran into the bedroom. When she saw him, Alicia let out a yelp of horror.
13. “It s me, Alicia, it s me!”‟ ‟
14. Alicia stared blankly at him. She looked at the carpet again. Then her eyes returned to him and after a long, stupefied
pause of confrontation, she grew calm. She smiled, taking her husband s hand between her own, caressing it for half an‟
hour, trembling.
Personification in this paragraph transmits not only the tension of
Jordan and the helplessness of Alicia but it also advances the plot
as the reader moves along the rising action
Imagery transmits fear and desperation on
Alicia’s part.
Rising Action continues as conflict continues to
build. Scholars will get a sense of the zig zag effect
of rising action as additional conflict take place. This
is a chance for them differentiate from multiple
conflicts in rising action to actual CLIMAX
Conflict continues to build, we see what can be
translated to sleeping paralysis. Alicia begins to
hallucinate and her strange illness worsens.

4. 26.The servant went to lift it but no sooner had she done so than she dropped it and remained staring at it, pale and trembling.
Without knowing why, Jordan felt his hair stand on end.
27.“What s the matter?” he croaked.‟
28.“It s so heavy,” the trembling servant stammered in reply.‟
29. Jordan lifted it up: it was extraordinarily heavy. They carried it out, and on the dining room table Jordan slashed the pillow
open. The outer feathers blew away, and the servant s clenched fists flew to her mouth in a shriek of horror. In the bottom of‟
the pillow, among the feathers, slowly moving its hairy legs, there was a monstrous animal: alive, round and viscous. It was so
swollen that its mouth could barely be distinguished.
30.Night after night, ever since Alicia had taken to her bed, it had stealthily applied its mouth – its snout, rather – to her
temples, sucking out her blood. The bite mark was almost imperceptible. At first, no doubt, the daily plumping of pillows had
hindered its advance, but once the girl could no longer move, the suction of the beast was unrestrained. In five days, in five
nights, it had emptied Alicia.
31.These parasites that live on birds are usually quite small, but can in certain conditions grow to enormous size. Human blood
is something they particularly favour, and it is not unusual to find them in a feather pillow.
“In the bottom of the pillow, among the feathers, slowly moving its hairy legs, there
was a monstrous animal: alive, round and viscous, It was so swollen its mouth could
barely be distinguished.”
CLIMAX
Paragraph 30 marks the beginning of the falling action,
Paragraph 31 marks the resolution
The imagery of the animal creates great discomfort and a cringeworthily
experience

5. • Quiroga introduces characters and events to move the plot forward. As the doctor is introduced in
paragraph seven, for instance, he prescribes “complete bedrest and repose,” which makes it easier
for the parasite to suck the blood out of Alicia. At the story’s climax, a servant is introduced who,
while cleaning Alicia’s bed, finds stains which lead to Jordan discovering the parasite inside the
pillow. The introduction of this character serves to resolve the problem of identifying Alicia’s illness.
Moreover, the servant plays the role of a deus ex machina in resolving the issue.

6. “The Feather Pillow” , “El Almohadón de Plumas”
Stop Motion / Chile /

7. THE BLACK CAT BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
Plot development is
not always linear
within each stage. As
additional conflicts
arise can have zig zag
effect.
TEKS 7.6B, 7.8A, 7.6C
Point of
View:
First-Person
Personification
The dog has human
qualities which reflects the
character’s unique
connection with the animal
“…find the hot breath of
the thing upon my
face…”
Imagery is creating an
eerie effect with the cat.
Rising Action
builds on the
conflict
Scholar can
see the follow
the pattern of
rising action in
order to
differentiate
from Climax

8. • Much like Quiroga’s “Feather Pillow,” Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat” relies on
figurative language and plot development to present the reader with themes that are
only evident when the whole story is read. Indeed, both stories use suspense as a plot
development technique that captivates the reader while presenting a theme.
• That is, a clear parallel exists between the stories when considering that just like the
parasite is found hidden in the feather pillow, the black cat is found interred in the
plaster wall. In addition, as Edgar Allan Poe’s character grew “more regardless of the
feelings of others,” he brought misery upon himself since he went as far as engaging in
violence towards his wife and his pets.

9. • Likewise, Jordan’s inability to show affection towards Alicia led her to suffer in silence as
her “maiden dreams froze before the hard character of her husband.” Moreover, Jordan’s
stern disposition creates an impenetrable wall dividing any sort of open communication
with his wife.Alicia, therefore, does not tell Jordan that she feels a certain “malaise” at
being in their home, which only aggravates the situation by giving the parasite more time
to suck the blood out of her.
• Only after seeing the seriousness of the situation does Jordan began to feel worried
about Alicia as he brings in a doctor. Similarly, Poe’s character lack of regard for others
but himself lead him to murder his wife and to try to conceal her body.

10. THE MONSTERS ARE DUE ON MAPLE STREET
Teleplay focuses on a particular
TEKS that revolve around making
inferences about characters
through stage directions and thus
this is an additional skill the
scholar will exercise.
TEKS 7.5
TEKS 7.6A, 7.6B, 7.6C
Exposition initiates within the first
Act. Background information
contributes to the exposition
“What was that? A meteor?”
Foreshadowing is presented as the
characters wonder what object is in the sky.
Building on the Rising Action
stage directions
build on
suspense and
tension
The focus on the sky and the reiteration that there is
nothing there further creates foreshadowing

11. • “Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” relies on symbolism and plot development to explain
a central theme which suggests that the real enemy capable of bringing total destruction lies
within.
The above text displays the gradual degradation of society as the inhabitants of Maple Street
transform into an unruly mob when faced with power outages.

12. • The neighbors turn on each other passing on blame from individual to individual rather
than uniting. Poisoned by their hate and distrust, they go as far as committing murder.
Here we see evidence of a
rising action.

13. • What’s more, they do not listen toTommy as they ridicule him when he tries to identify
the real culprits behind the abnormal issues haunting Maple Street.

14. • At the end, we realize that all the aliens had to do was set up a scheme that made it
possible for humans to feed the cruelty, the prejudice, and the distrust that they already
have hidden in their minds.The aliens made it possible for the monsters within the
residents on Maple street to come out. Hence the title.“The Monsters Are Due On
Maple Street.”
Resolution: the reader finds out what
was truly behind the events in the
story.

15. Similarly, on “The Feather Pillow” Jordan fails to comprehend that his actions, namely his
lack of affection, continue to make Alicia miserable. Furthermore, when Alicia falls ill, Jordan
cannot identify the case of their ailments. Indeed, he fails to see that the parasite, the
enemy, sleeps with them nestled in Alicia’s pillow sucking her blood and, eventually, causing
her death. His cold, reserved disposition, blind him from seeing what was happening to
Alicia.

16. “CHICAGO SWEEP, PALMER RAIDS WEE THE APEX
OF THE RED SCARE”
What similarities do
we see between
human interaction
and action between
the Red Scare and
“Monsters are due
on maple street”?
TEKS
7.10D
TEKS 7.10D

17. • In “Chicago Sweep, Palmer RaidsWere the Apex of the Red Scare” we observe how the
U.S. government failed to understand that they were the enemy, the treat to American
democracy. Just like in “Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” U.S. authorities desperately
wanted to find a scapegoat to justify their fears. Fearing potential ploys to overthrow
democracy, the U.S. government accused and imprisoned thousands of individuals.

18. • In their attempt to satisfy their need to suffocate radical insurrections, real or otherwise, the
United States government effectively became the biggest treat to American ideals and
democracy. After all, during the Red Scare,“Police and Justice Department officials broke
into homes for no other reason than those who lived there were foreign-born and held
unpopular views.”
• Such a dramatic response to a perceived threat, mirrors the way the residents of Maple Street
turned on each others.Additionally, it also displays a certain unwillingness to see that the
enemy lies within.

19. “BLOODY SECRETS OF CHILE’S DARKEST DAYS
SPILLING OUT”
Making a connection
by the mere title of
this information
piece to the Feather
Pillow
TEKS 7.10D

20. • The article published by the Associated Press, which denounces some of the atrocities
committed under Augusto Pinochet’s regime in Chile, contains parallels to Quiroga’s
“The Feather Pillow.” After all, the article’s title “Bloody Secret of Chile’s Darkest Days
Spilling Out” brings vivid images of the parasite sucking the blood out of Alicia.
• Additionally, those who chose to justify Pinochet’s actions claim that “The president was
busy governing the country,” which seems to mirror Jordan’s actions.That is, Jordan
could argue that he failed to recognize Alicia’s misery because he was busy providing for
the household.

21. • The article also mentions the “pacts of silence” that have been used to cover up the
many crimes and atrocities committed under Pinochet’s rule. Indeed, the victims have
been left voiceless to express what they truly suffered under the dictator’s regime.
Similarly,Alicia felt ignored as Jordan chose not to show his affection for her. What’s
more,Alicia wanted to be heard, cared for but the “impassive countenance of her
husband held her back.”

22. OPPRESSION POEM BY LANGSTON HUGHES
• Now dreams
Are not available
To the dreamers,
Nor songs
To the singers.
In some lands
Dark night
And cold steel
Prevail
But the dream
Will come back,
And the song
Break
Its jail.
• Langston Hughes
Similarities between the imagery in
“Oppression” to “The Feather
Pillow”
How are dreams presented in both
pieces?

23. • Langston Hughes’s poem “Oppression” and Horacio Quiroga’s “The Feather Pillow” both
mention the theme of losing dreams to the harsh coldness of reality. As Hughes notes
that “Now Dreams are not available/To the dreamers” it is impossible not to relate such
statement to Alicia’s acceptance that “her maiden dreams froze before the hard
character of her husband.”
• Additionally, both authors use imagery to describe reality as cold and silent. Quiroga, for
instance, mentions that Alicia’s “honeymoon was one long, cold shudder.”While Hughes
notes that, when dreams are gone,“Dark nights/And cold Steel/Prevail”

24. • Another theme explored by both Hughes and Quiroga is the resilience of dreams and
their ability to come back. Hughes, for instance, states that “the dream,Will come back,/
And the song/ Break/ Its jail.” Similarly, on her deathbed,Alicia finally finds that affection
she longed for as she “smiled, taking her husband’s hand between her own, caressing it
for half an hour, trembling.”

25. SILENCE BY THOMAS HOODSilence
BY THOMAS HOOD
There is a silence where hath been no sound,
There is a silence where no sound may be,
In the cold grave—under the deep deep sea,
Or in the wide desert where no life is found,
Which hath been mute, and still must sleep profound;
No voice is hush’d—no life treads silently,
But clouds and cloudy shadows wander free,
That never spoke, over the idle ground:
But in green ruins, in the desolate walls
Of antique palaces, where Man hath been,
Though the dun fox, or wild hyena, calls,
And owls, that flit continually between,
Shriek to the echo, and the low winds moan,
There the true Silence is, self-conscious and alone.
Personification, can be used to
connect to how silence can be
dangerous
Connection to “The Feather
Pillow” How was Alicia’s silence
deadly?
Using imagery, “cold grave”
connects back to the imagery
used in “The Feather Pillow” to
depict Alicia’s gloomy state

26. • In “Silence”Thomas Hood uses imagery which could be used to reflect Alicia’s marriage
to Jordan in “The Feather Pillow.” Hood claims, for instance, that there is silence in “the
cold grave-under the deep sea/ Or in the wide desert where no life is found.”When
considering that Quiroga repeatedly describes Alicia’s marriage as cold, rigid, and silent, it
can be implied that the author is hinting at the fact that she died when she married
Jordan.

27. • Furthermore, Hood uses imagery such as green ruins, desolate walls, and antique palaces
to describe places where silence reigns. Following this pattern, Quiroga describes Alicia’s
house with imagery better fit for a cemetery than a home.That is, Quiroga notes that
the houses has “The whiteness of the silent patio – friezes, columns and marble statues”
and “the bright whiteness of the tall stucco walls, immaculate and unscratched,” which
reinforce “that feeling of implacable cold.”