ELA Terms to Know

Front

Audience

Back

The writer's targeted reader or readers.

Front

Interpret

Back

To explain the meaning of something; to present something in understandable terms.

Front

Infer

Back

To figure something out by using evidence and reasoning: 'read between the lines'.

Front

Compare and Contrast

Back

To note the similarities and/or dissimilarities between things.

Front

Theme

Back

The underlying message; what critical belief about life the author is trying to convey in the writing.

Front

Central Idea

Back

The main point or message that the author wants to communicate.

Front

Bias

Back

A tendency to favor one side over another, which can affect the objectivity of the writing.

Front

Context

Back

The circumstances or background information surrounding a text that helps to clarify its meaning.

Front

Symbolism

Back

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities in literature.

Front

Metaphor

Back

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.