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.

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.').

Front

What is an antagonist?

Back

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

Front

What is foreshadowing?

Back

Clues or hints about future events to happen.

Front

What is indirect characterization?

Back

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

Front

What is a protagonist?

Back

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

Front

What is a theme?

Back

The central idea or message in a literary work.

Front

What is a metaphor?

Back

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

Front

What is a simile?

Back

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