Literary Terms

Question 1

The author’s attitudes, beliefs, heritage, and traditions, are often reflected in his or her writing. These become especially clear in nonfiction and particularly in memoir, where the author is writing directly about his or her life and background. The author will most likely fall into one of the following categories, entertainment, persuasion, informational, or expression of an opinion.

Answer 1

Authors purpose

Question 2

A written account of another persons life written by someone else.

Answer 2

Biography

Question 3

Characters motivation: why he or she acts, feels or thinks a certain way.

Answer 3

Character/characterization

Question 4

Central conflict: struggle between opposing forces.

Answer 4

Conflict

Question 5

The idea of relating the content of a story to your own knowledge or experience.

Answer 5

Connecting

Question 6

A scene from an earlier time that interrupts the ongoing action of a story.

Answer 6

Flashback

Question 7

To show or indicate beforehand; to give a glimpse of what may happen in the future.

Answer 7

Foreshadowing

Question 8

Descriptive words or phrases that appeal to the reader’s five senses. Effective imagery creates sensory experiences for the reader.

Answer 8

Imagery

Question 9

A plot is made up of events that can be divided into rising action, climax, and falling action. The rising action develops as the main character encounters conflict. Rising action leads to the climax or turning point of the story, which

Answer 9

Plot

Question 10

The setting of a story, poem, or play is the location, time, and cultural customs in which the action occurs. The setting could be a backdrop, with no effect on what happens, or it may be important to the action of the story. Clues about time, place and culture are often scattered throughout a story. It can include details about geographic location, historical time, season of the year, time of day or customs of a group of people. It could also reflect a spiritual or moral atmosphere.

Answer 10

Setting

Question 11

The protagonist is the main character or hero of a story. The writer usually wants the reader to like and support this character. The antagonist is the protagonists opponent. The antagonist is usually a character but can sometimes be a force of nature or an obstacle. The reader often dislikes the antagonist.

Answer 11

Antagonist and protagonist

Question 12

To picture the story in your mind

Answer 12

Visualize

Question 13

To evaluate what is happening in the story

Answer 13

Question

Question 14

To guess what happens next

Answer 14

Predict

Question 15

Most important part of the topic or thesis

Answer 15

Main idea