Literary Terms

Front

What is textual evidence?

Back

Information gathered directly from the text to support a reader's statement in response to a prompt.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Front

What is direct characterization?

Back

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

Front

What is personification?

Back

Speaking of a nonhuman thing as if it has human feelings or actions (e.g., 'The wind moaned.').

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Front

What is an antagonist?

Back

A character or force who opposes the protagonist (villain).

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

What is foreshadowing?

Back

Clues or hints about future events to happen.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Front

What is indirect characterization?

Back

The process by which the character's personality is revealed through their actions, speech, and thoughts.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Front

What is a protagonist?

Back

The main character in a story, often a hero or heroine.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9

Front

What is a theme?

Back

The central idea or message in a literary work.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Front

What is a metaphor?

Back

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.'

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Front

What is a simile?

Back

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.'

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D