Literary Terms & Devices Throw Down

Setting

• Where and when a story takes place. The setting situates the context of the story.

• The order and structure of main events in a story.

• Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

• From whose perspective the story is told or experienced.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Theme

• Messages from the author about humanity or the human experience, things learned through experience that can be shared with readers.

• Where and when a story takes place. The setting situates the context of the story.

• Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

• Recurring symbols, images, designs, ideas, sounds, etc. that carry some greater meaning to the text.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Motif

• Recurring symbols, images, designs, ideas, sounds, etc. that carry some greater meaning to the text.

• Messages from the author about humanity or the human experience, things learned through experience that can be shared with readers.

• The general attitude of the author about either the whole text or aspects of the text.

• All of the language decisions authors make as they write.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Mood

• Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

• The general attitude of the author about either the whole text or aspects of the text.

• All of the language decisions authors make as they write.

• Messages from the author about humanity or the human experience, things learned through experience that can be shared with readers.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.5

Tone

• The general attitude of the author about either the whole text or aspects of the text.

• Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

• All of the language decisions authors make as they write.

• Important events/moments that help build meaning and momentum towards the highest point of action in the story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

Style

• All of the language decisions authors make as they write.

• The general attitude of the author about either the whole text or aspects of the text.

• Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

• Recurring symbols, images, designs, ideas, sounds, etc. that carry some greater meaning to the text.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.5

Plot

• The order and structure of main events in a story.

• The setup or beginning of a story that introduces necessary background information to understand the larger story.

• Important events/moments that help build meaning and momentum towards the highest point of action in the story.

• The highest point of action in the story; the most intense, exciting, or important point of something.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Exposition

• The setup or beginning of a story that introduces necessary background information to understand the larger story.

• Important events/moments that help build meaning and momentum towards the highest point of action in the story.

• The highest point of action in the story; the most intense, exciting, or important point of something.

• How everything comes together, even if it doesn't. The wrapping together of narrative threads in the end.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Rising Action

• Important events/moments that help build meaning and momentum towards the highest point of action in the story.

• The setup or beginning of a story that introduces necessary background information to understand the larger story.

• How everything comes together, even if it doesn't. The wrapping together of narrative threads in the end.

• Important events/moments that happen after the climax and help bring our story to its conclusion.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Climax

• The highest point of action in the story; the most intense, exciting, or important point of something.

• Important events/moments that happen after the climax and help bring our story to its conclusion.

• How everything comes together, even if it doesn't. The wrapping together of narrative threads in the end.

• The setup or beginning of a story that introduces necessary background information to understand the larger story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5