Literary Terms

Front

The moral or message readers should learn from the story (Does the character learn something or change? How is conflict resolved?)

Back

Theme

Tags

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Front

Main character who carries the action forward; in almost every scene (hero)

Back

protagonist

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Front

How the text makes the reader feel (Ex. Peaceful, eerie, humorous, sad)

Back

mood

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

Front

People, animals, or creatures in a story or drama

Back

characters

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

Front

Uses "I" and is usually the main character in the story

Back

1st person point of view

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Front

Comparison of unlike things that uses "like" "as" or "than" (Ex. This room is like an oven.)

Back

simile

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Front

Extreme exaggeration (Ex. My backpack weighs a ton.)

Back

hyperbole

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5A

Front

Text that comes from the story used to support your analysis

Back

text evidence

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Front

character or force who opposes the protagonist

Back

antagonist

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

The narrator or a character in the story tells us exactly what we need to know about a character.

Back

direct characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3