Grade 6 Literary Terms

Front

A person, an animal, or even a machine in a story.

Back

character

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Front

A series of related events in a story, one growing out of another.

Back

plot

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Front

The leading character, hero, or heroine of a literary work.

Back

protagonist

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Front

The character who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with the hero or protagonist of a literary work.

Back

antagonist

Front

A character's struggle with another person, or with a force of nature (a tornado, a bear, an icy mountain path).

Back

external conflict

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Front

The character who tells the story to the audience.

Back

narrator

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Front

The vantage point from which a story is told (who is telling the story?)

Back

point of view

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Front

The way the story makes the reader feel

Back

mood

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

Front

The main idea the story expresses about life and people. What the author intends to say to the reader by writing the story. The message that we take away from the story.

Back

theme

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Front

A struggle that takes place within a character's mind (usually a decision or a choice has to be made).

Back

internal conflict

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3