Literary Terms

Front

Suspense

Back

A state of feeling of exciting or anxious uncertainty about what may happen next in a story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Front

Internal Conflict

Back

A struggle within the character's own mind.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

Front

Falling Action

Back

The events that follow the climax and end in the resolution.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

Front

Resolution

Back

The end of a story where the conflict (problem) is solved.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.10

Front

Theme

Back

The central, or universal, message or lesson of a story.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

Front

Exposition

Back

The introduction of background information, setting, and characters in a story.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

Front

Rising Action

Back

The series of events that create suspense and lead up to the climax.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

Front

Climax

Back

The most intense, exciting, or important point of a story.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

Front

Characterization

Back

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Front

Setting

Back

The time and place in which the story takes place.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C