Literary Terms (Benchmarks-Reading Prose)

Front

Denotation

Back

The dictionary meaning of a word, independent of other associations that the word may have.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Front

Omniscient Narrator

Back

An all-knowing, third person narrator who can tell readers what any character thinks and feels.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Front

Theme

Back

The moral or message readers should learn from the story; it often reflects what the character learns or how they change.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Front

Text Evidence

Back

Text that comes from the story used to support your analysis.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Front

Conflict

Back

The main struggle or problem in a story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Front

Connotation

Back

The emotional or cultural association with a word, beyond its literal meaning.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5C

CCSS.L.9-10.5B

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Front

Imagery

Back

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a visual representation in the reader's mind.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Front

Personification

Back

A literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Front

Climax

Back

The most intense, exciting, or important point of a story, often the turning point.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

Resolution

Back

The part of the story where the conflict is resolved and the story comes to a close.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9