A well-known expression that doesn't mean what it says literally.

"I'm really tired so let's call it a day." That sale advertised on TV is a total rip-off." "If you get bored why don't you crack a book?"

Giving human characteristics to non-living objects. "The breeze is whispering outside." "The angry sea pushed and pulled the small boat." "The windows of the haunted house were watching us."

A direct comparison between two unlike things. "The gym is my church." Her grades are her ticket to Sumner." "Jerry's face is a mask of pain."

A story that is made up; not real. "The Hunger Games." "The Walking Dead".

"Transformers". "Star Wars".

The narrator of a story in NOT in the story. Uses characters names and "he", "she", "they", etc.

Words that mean the same thing, such as big and large , terrible and awful, and

smart and intelligent.

The narrator is a character in the story. Uses "I", "me", "us", "my", etc.

Words that mean the opposite, such as right and left, up and down, dark and light.

What you think or feel about something. Examples: "I love my mother." "I hate the snow." "My favorite food is pizza."

Something you can prove or measure. "I am 16 years old." "I live in Arizona." "My last name is Jones."

The time and place of a story.

The high point of the story where the conflict gets resolved.

All the events of a story; what the story is about.

The author's attitude toward a subject (playful, outraged, sad, etc.)

The event's leading up to the story's climax; 80% of the story takes place here.

A look back in time.

How the story makes the reader feel.

How the story ends.

The main character in the story.

Something that happens early in the story that predicts what is to come later.

The character that opposes the main character.

The problem (usually faced by the protagonist) in the story.

A story or writing that is real; not made up.

The lesson learned by the protagonist (and the reader).

A grouping of lines in a poem.

Words that sound like the sound they make. Examples: hiss, click, boom, buzz.

Several words in a row that start with the same consonant sound. Example: I pulled Paul apart from Peter.

A huge exaggeration. Examples: I am starving to death. This class is taking forever.

Comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as". Examples: She swims like a fish. He is as big as a mountain.