Elements of Literature 1
Elements of Literature 2
Figurative Language
Academic Vocabulary
Vocabulary in Context
100
The person telling the story.
Who is the Narrator?
100
Time and place of a story: when and where.
What is setting?
100
An object that stands for something else, such as a larger idea.
What is symbolism?
100
The reason the author wrote the piece.
What is author's purpose?
100

The artist’s early success was ephemeral, fading quickly.
What does ephemeral most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?

A. Revealed
B. Mysterious
C. Short-lived
D. Controlled 

C

200
How the reader feels in response to the text.
What is mood?
200
The problem that drives the story and creates the action.
What is conflict?
200
A non-linear plot structure that goes back in time.
What is a flashback?
200

the main point or message an author wants to convey in a text, which can be explicitly stated or implied

What is the central idea?

200

The senator’s remarks were deliberately ambiguous, leaving the public unsure of his true position.
What does ambiguous most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?

A. Detailed 
B. Harsh
C. Uncertain
D. Honest 

C

300
The author's attitude toward the topic.
What is tone?
300
The universal lesson, moral, or message the reader should learn from a story.
What is theme?
300
Painting a picture using the five senses.
What is imagery?
300

The main argument or point the author is trying to prove and convince the reader of in a text

What is the author's claim?

300

The CEO’s apology was widely viewed as perfunctory, offered only after public pressure mounted.
What does perfunctory most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?

A. Sincere and heartfelt
B. Rushed and careless
C. Secretive and cautious
D. Done with minimal effort 

D

400

An element used by writers to hint at what is going to happen next

Foreshadowing 

400
The events that make up a story.
What is the plot?
400

The floorboards grumbled under her feet. 

What is Personification?

400
Take it apart and examine the pieces closely.
What is analyze?
400

The author presents the villain not as purely evil, but as a nuanced character shaped by circumstance.
What does nuanced most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence?

A. Complicated and layered
B. Loudly emotional
C. Harsh and unforgiving
D. Predictable and simple

A

500
The narrator is a character in the story (characterized by the use of I, me, and my).
What is 1st person point of view?
500
The narrator is outside the story (characterized by the use of he, she, they, them, etc.)
What is 3rd person point of view?
500
A reference to a historical, mythological, or cultural event or person.
What is allusion?
500
Use clues to come to a conclusion.
What is inference (to infer)?
500

The witness offered a measured response, carefully choosing each word to avoid misinterpretation.
What does measured most nearly mean as it is used in the sentence? 

A. Calculated with numbers
B. Cautious
C. Delayed
D. Emotionless

B

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