Literary Analysis Flashcards
Literary Response Skills
the skills a student uses to react to a piece of literature, such as retelling, summarizing, or analyzing
Draw Conclusion
To make final comments/summation over what has been read or written.
Textual Evidence
Proof or support of the meaning of what is being read or has been read. This evidence can be a direct quote, transition words in time and space, a statement of purpose, and/or making an argument. ex- Students had to write down proof of their answer to the questions on the test over the story they just read.
Setting
The time and place that a story takes place in a novel.
Theme
The big idea or major message in a story which is often universal in that it goes beyond cultural boundaries. ex- Harry Potter books have several themes including good vs. evil and making good choices.
Literary Theories
strategies a reader can use to evaluate a text for meaning. ex- Archetypal, Gender, Historical
Characters
The persons, animals, or other figures who are in stories.
Standard
explains what a student needs to learn at that particular grade level. ex- Common Core Standards
Figurative Language
A word or phrase that does not have its normal everyday, literal meaning. ex- hyperbole: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!
Literary Analysis
The careful examination of a text or one element of a text, including theme, plot, characters, or setting, in order to determine why and how the particular text was written.
Moral
Lesson or message to be learned. Common in fables or children’s stories
Literary Criticism
when another author considers literary works through various lenses. ex- Feminist
Learning Objectives
the specific skill or knowledge that the student is expected to master in a lesson. ex- The students will be able to appropriately use a question mark.
Main Idea
the central point of the passage
Tone
The attitude of the author in writing, and which might be comical, serious, frightening, joyful. Sometimes called diction.
Primary Purpose / Author’s Purpose
why the author wrote a text. ex- Charlie wrote an OpEd for the paper to convince people to stop littering.
Story Map
a graphic organizer in which elements from a story (characters, setting, problem, solution, etc.) are recorded to help with literary analysis
Character’s Point of View
An attitude or perspective toward the topic of what is being written or spoken by the character within the story.
Inference (when reading)
A conclusion or opinion based on information that is given, and that is sometimes called an educated guess. ex- Sam’s parents inferred that he had gotten in trouble at school when they received a call from the principal.
Author’s Point of View
An attitude or perspective toward the topic of what is being written or spoken by the author or narrator. ex- In an argument against bullying, the author’s point of view was that ‘bullying was caused by previous social issues.’
Plot
The events included in a story (may or may not be sequential).
