Literary Terms for Vocabulary Building

Front

What is the author's attitude toward a subject matter or toward the reader/audience?

Back

Tone

Tags

CCSS.L.3.3A

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.5.3A

CCSS.L.6.3A

CCSS.L.6.3B

Front

What are clues or hints about something that is going to happen later in a story?

Back

Foreshadowing

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Front

What is the point in a play, novel, short story, or poem at which the conflict reaches its greatest intensity?

Back

Climax

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

What is the perspective from which a story is told?

Back

Point of view

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Front

What is a main or important character in a story?

Back

Major character

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

What is a character who plays a small role in a story?

Back

Minor character

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

What is a character that does not change throughout the story?

Back

Static character

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

What is a character that undergoes significant change throughout the story?

Back

Dynamic character

Tags

CCSS.L.3.4D

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

What is a literary device that uses exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally?

Back

Hyperbole

Tags

CCSS.L.6.6

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.W.5.2D

CCSS.W.6.2D

CCSS.W.7.2D

Front

What is a comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'?

Back

Simile

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3