Red
The central idea, message, or purpose of a literary work
Theme
An object, a person, or a place that stands for something else.
Symbol
Words or phrases that connect ideas, details, or events in writing.
Transitions
A sudden and vivid memory of an event in the past; also, an interruption in the sequence of events in the plot of a story to relate events that occurred in the past.
Flashback
Clues or hints signaling events that will occur later in the plot.
Foreshadowing
The way authors organize information in text.
Text Structure.
Conversation between characters.
Dialogue
The central, unifying element of the story, which ties together all of the other elements of fiction used by the author to tell the story
Central Idea
The sequence of related events that make up a story or novel.
Plot
A writer’s distinctive use of language.
Voice
A recurring element, image, or idea in a work of literature.
Motif
The main character in a work of literature.
Protagonist
The time and place in which the work occurs.
Setting
A sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph; in an essay, it also makes a point that supports the thesis statement.
Topic Sentence
The overall emotional quality of a work, which is created by the author’s language and tone and the subject matter.
Mood
Descriptive or figurative language used to create word pictures; imagery is created by details that appeal to one or more of the five senses.
Imagery
Imaginative language that is not meant to be interpreted literally.
Figurative Language
A writer or speaker's attitude toward a subject.
Tone
A summary supported by facts and not influenced by personal opinion.
Objective Summary
A person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a novel or narrative poem.
Narrator
An explanation of the way the facts, details, and/or examples in a paragraph or essay support the topic sentence.
Commentary
A sentence, in the introduction of an essay, that states the writer’s position or opinion on the topic of the essay.
Thesis Statement
A person or animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.
Character
The process of examining closely and commenting on the elements of a literary work.
Literary Analysis
A style of writing or speaking that is appropriate for formal communication such as in academics or business.
Formal Style