PLOT STRUCTURE
This plot part introduces characters, setting, and the initial conflict.
Exposition
Name the point of view that uses "I" or "me" because the narrator is a character.
First Person
This device shows a contrast between expectation and reality; it can be humorous or create suspense.
Irony
The author's attitude toward a subject or audience expressed through word choice is called?
Tone
A universal, central idea in a text (examples: love, betrayal) is called what?
Theme
The series of events that build tension leading to the climax.
Rising Action
The narrator outside the story who only shows one character’s thoughts and feelings is called this.
Limited point of view (limited narrator)
A short phrase pairing contradictory words (e.g., "bittersweet" or "deafening silence") is called what?
Oxymoron
The atmosphere or emotional feeling created for the reader is known as what?
Mood
The specific lesson or perspective the author conveys about a theme is called what?
Author's Message
The turning point where the main conflict reaches its highest intensity.
Climax
A narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters is called what?
Omniscient point of view (omniscient narrator)
A comparison that continues over many lines or paragraphs and develops a larger analogy is called this.
Extended metaphor
The distinct personality and style of a piece of writing, often contributed by the narrator, is called?
Answer: Voice
Voice
If a story's recurring idea is "the price of pride," what term describes this recurring idea?
Theme
Events after the turning point that show consequences of the climax.
Falling Action
Identify two character qualities STAAR asks you to analyze that show who a character is
Thoughts and Actions
Name a plot-related device in which the author gives clues about future events.
Foreshadowing
Give an example (brief) of a word choice that would create an ironic tone.
Using upbeat, celebratory words to describe a tragic event (e.g., "She danced triumphantly over the rubble.") — the contrast creates irony.
Explain the difference between theme and author's message in one clear sentence.
Answer example: "Theme is the general, universal idea in a text; the author's message is the specific lesson or perspective the author wants readers to take away about that theme."
The element where loose ends are tied and the conflict is resolved.
Resolution
Explain briefly how point of view can affect a reader’s perception of a character (one- or two-sentence answer)
"A first-person narrator gives direct access to one character’s inner life, which can increase reader sympathy or bias; an omniscient narrator reveals multiple characters’ thoughts, allowing readers to compare motives and form a broader understanding."
Identify and define the device: a secondary storyline that depends on the main plot
Subplot — a secondary storyline, usually involving supporting characters, that runs alongside and is dependent on the main plot
Explain how word choice (diction) can shape both tone and mood in a passage (one or two sentences).
Answer example: "Specific diction—formal or informal, concrete or abstract—signals the author's attitude (tone) and guides the reader’s emotional response (mood): blunt words create an objective tone, while emotive adjectives create a charged mood."
Read this mini prompt and state a plausible theme and an author's message (one sentence each): "A story shows a character who ignores others' warnings, pursues revenge, and ends up alone."
Answer example: Theme: "Revenge leads to isolation and loss." Author's message: "Choosing revenge over forgiveness can destroy relationships and leave you with nothing."