Literary Elements
An underlying message that an author is trying to convey through their story.
What is a theme?
A comparison made using the words "like" or "as."
What is a simile?
The main point or claim of an essay or argument.
What is a thesis?
The type of clause that stands alone as a complete sentence.
What is an independent clause?
The reason an author wrote a piece of writing.
Ex: To inform, to persuade, to entertain,
What is the Author's Purpose?
When and where a story takes place.
What is setting?
The reason a character does or says something.
Ex: Emotions, Beliefs, Ambitions
What are character motivations?
Facts or details that support an argument.
What is evidence?
The type of punctuation that should be used to separate two independent clauses in the same sentence.
What is a semicolon?
To make an educated guess based on evidence.
What is inferences (to infer)?
The perspective from which a story is told, such as first-person or third-person.
What is point of view?
Describing a character's personality through traits.
What is characterization?
Using facts to appeal to an audience's logic or reason.
What is logos?
The type of clause that does not stand alone as a complete sentence.
What is a dependent clause?
Repeating the same pattern of words in a sentence or across multiple sentences to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
What is parallel structure (or parallelism)?
The emotion an author tries to evoke in the reader.
What is mood?
The use of an image, object, or idea to represent something other than its literal meaning.
What is symbolism?
Using a person or organization's credibility to help support an argument.
What is ethos?
The term for a sentence that is missing either its subject or its main verb.
What is a sentence fragment?
Repeating words and phrases to add emphasis or develop the tone.
What is repetition?
The way an author expresses their attitude through their writing.
What is tone?
A reference to a famous person, place, or thing, outside of the text.
What is an allusion?
An appeal to an audience's emotions.
What is pathos?
The term for when two independent clauses run together without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
What is a run-on sentence?
Using exaggeration to emphasize a point.
What is hyperbole?