Literary Terms

The central, unifying element of the story, which ties together all of the other elements. The overall main idea.

• central idea

• theme

• textual evidence

• tone

A short explanation of the main ideas in a text

• main idea

• inference

• analysis

• summary

TONE

• How a text makes the reader feel (uses imagery to create a certain feeling)

• The author's attitude or feelings toward a topic (revealed through word choice)

The time and place in which a story takes place

• mood

• dialect

• setting

• tone

Who is telling the story

• point of view

• tone

• mood

• character

A particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group.

• dialogue

• dialect

• word choice

• diction

All of the tools an author can use to develop and support a central idea, theme or argument in a text.

• textual evidence

• clear claim

• author's craft

• author's purpose

An author's reason or intent for writing

• author's craft

• author's tone

• author's purpose

The emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke in the reader through a story.

• tone

• mood

The author's word choice

• mood

• tone

• dialogue

• diction