Literary Terms and Concepts

Front

Tone

Back

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience

Front

Mood

Back

The feeling created in the reader by the text

Front

Theme

Back

The central message or insight about life revealed through a story

Front

Characterization

Back

The way an author develops characters

Front

Inference

Back

A logical guess based on evidence from the text

Front

Evidence

Back

Specific details or quotes from the text that support an idea

Front

Motivation

Back

The reason behind a character's actions

Front

Setting

Back

The time and place in which a story takes place

Front

Protagonist

Back

The main character in a story, often facing the central conflict

Front

Climax

Back

The turning point or most intense moment in the story