Literary Terms and Concepts

A collection of flashcards summarizing key literary terms and concepts.

Inference

To draw a conclusion based on text evidence.

Main idea

The primary point or message of a text.

Evidence

Textual support that helps to back up claims or conclusions.

Cause and effect

A relationship where one event (cause) leads to another (effect).

Character traits

The qualities and characteristics that define a character's personality.

Motivation

The reasons behind a character's actions or desires.

Theme

The underlying message or central topic of a story.

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is told.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things.

Tone

The attitude or mood conveyed in a piece of writing.

Context clues

Hints within a text that help determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Prefix

A group of letters added at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning.

Suffix

A group of letters added at the end of a word to change its form or meaning.

Root word

The base part of a word that holds its primary meaning.

Plot

The sequence of events in a story.

Narrator

The voice that tells the story.

Compare and contrast

To identify similarities and differences between two or more subjects.

Moral

A lesson that a story conveys about life or behavior.