Analyzing Key Literary Terms

Front

Central Idea

Back

the main idea; what the author wants you to remember most

Front

Anecdote

Back

a short account of an event that is amusing or interesting

Front

Rising Action

Back

the part of a story where the conflict gets more intense and starts to 'heat up'.

Front

Demonstrate

Back

to show or prove something using an example

Front

Conflict

Back

the problem of the story

Front

Theme

Back

the underlying message or main idea of a literary work.

Front

Characterization

Back

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

Front

Plot

Back

the sequence of events in a story.

Front

Setting

Back

the time and place in which a story takes place.

Front

Climax

Back

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