Literary Terms for Story Analysis

Front

Setting

Back

Time and place of story's action

Front

Integral Setting

Back

Important to plot; e.g., historical fiction

Front

Backdrop Setting

Back

Does not affect plot; e.g., "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"

Front

Mood

Back

Overall feeling or atmosphere; affects the READER

Front

Foreshadowing

Back

Clues suggesting future events

Front

Theme

Back

Main idea or message of the story

Front

"Three Skeleton Key" Setting

Back

Isolated lighthouse, crucial to plot

Front

"King Midas and the Golden Touch" Theme

Back

Greed and its consequences

Front

"Origin of the Seasons" Mood

Back

Mythical and explanatory

Front

"Three Skeleton Key" Foreshadowing

Back

Rats' arrival hints at danger