Literary Terms and Concepts

Front

Main idea

Back

What the text is mostly about; the central point.

Front

Supporting details

Back

Facts or information that explain or back up the main idea.

Front

Summarize / Summary

Back

A brief statement of the main points, leaving out minor details.

Front

Infer / Inference

Back

Using clues in the text + what you know to figure something out that isn’t directly stated.

Front

Author’s purpose

Back

Why the author wrote the text (to inform, entertain, persuade, describe, etc.).

Front

Theme

Back

The deeper message or lesson of a story.

Front

Character traits

Back

Qualities or traits that describe a character (e.g. brave, selfish).

Front

Plot

Back

The sequence of events: beginning, middle, end.

Front

Setting

Back

When and where the story takes place.

Front

Point of view

Back

Who is telling the story (first person, third person, etc.).