Literary Terms

Front

Characterization

Back

The way an author describes and develops the people in the story.

Front

Conflict

Back

A confrontation or struggle between opposite forces.

Front

Point of View

Back

The perspective from which the story is told.

Front

Flashback

Back

A scene from the past.

Front

Setting

Back

The time and place of the story.

Front

Foreshadowing

Back

An author’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story.

Front

Mood

Back

The feeling the reader gets from the story.

Front

Exposition

Back

The beginning part of the story which gives the setting, creates the mood, presents the characters and other information needed for understanding the story.

Front

Central Idea

Back

The message or lesson that ties together all the elements of the story.

Front

Symbolism

Back

A device that uses symbols, words, people, locations, or ideas to represent something beyond the literal meaning.