Name: ________________________________
Language Arts 7-_________
Date:___________
Literary Analysis Unit
Vocabulary List
1. Protagonist – (noun) the main character of a literary work
 Ex. In “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara, the protagonist Squeaky feels threatened
by the new girl Gretchen, who may steal her position as the fastest runner in Harlem.
2. Antagonist – (noun) a character or force against which a main character struggles
 Ex. Gretchen, the antagonist, feels competitive with Squeaky and wants to beat her in the
annual May Day race.
3. Characterization – (noun) an author’s expression of a character’s personality through the use
of action, dialogue, thought, or commentary by the narrator or another character
 Ex. Through the author’s characterization of Squeaky, the reader sees that she is a girl with
a tough exterior who feels great responsibility for her brother Raymond.
4. Climax – (noun) a decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or is a major turning point in a
story
 Ex. The climax in “Raymond’s Run” is when Squeaky notices Raymond running alongside
her during the race.
5. Conflict – (noun) the struggle between two forces, one of which must ultimately win in order to
re-establish stability; external vs. internal conflict
 Ex. The main conflict appears to be between Squeaky and Gretchen, but the reader soon
realizes that Squeaky’s real conflict is internal.
6. Imagery – (noun) the use of vivid or figurative language to enhance sensory experiences in a
text, whether by literal description, simile, or metaphor
 Ex. When the author uses imagery to describe Squeaky’s feelings about running, she
clearly conveys Squeaky’s passion for the sport.
7. Mood – (noun) the atmosphere or predominant emotion aroused in the reader of a literary work
 Ex. When Squeaky describes how she feels when she runs, the mood of the passage is
both nostalgic and joyful; she talks about smelling apples, like in the country when she was
little, and the feeling of weightlessness as she runs faster and faster.
8. Symbolism – (noun) the practice of using a(n) object, word, place, or character to represent an
abstract idea
 Ex. The author incorporates symbolism through the character of Raymond, who seems to
represent society’s rejection of all things different.
1
9. Theme – (noun) the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work
 Ex. The theme of the story seems to be that our acceptance of others’ differences ultimately
leads us to self-acceptance.
10. Tone – (noun) the author’s (or speaker’s) attitude toward a subject, character, or audience,
conveyed through his/her choice of words and detail; tone can be serious, humorous, sarcastic,
indignant, objective, etc.
 Ex. Squeaky’s tone is outraged when she says that Mr. Pearson insinuates that she should
let someone else win the race this year; it is clear from the way the author describes her
thoughts.
11. Affect – (verb) to influence; to act upon (as a person or a person's mind or feelings) so as to
produce a response
 Ex. Even though Squeaky acts like she is invincible, it is apparent that she is affected by
Mary Louise’s rejection and her own lack of friends.
12. Ambiguous – (adjective) unclear and therefore capable of being understood in more than one
way
 Ex. In the beginning, Squeaky’s attitude toward Raymond is ambiguous; she talks about
him as though he is a burden, but she is also quick to defend him from neighborhood bullies.
13. Effect – (noun) influence; power to bring about a result
 Ex. Watching Raymond run has a powerful effect on Squeaky.
14. Evident – (adjective) plain or obvious; clearly seen or understood
 Ex. Judging from Squeaky’s defensive behavior, it is evident that she feels that she has to
protect herself and Raymond from outside threats.
15. Evoke – (verb) to call forth or up; to bring to mind or recollection
 Ex. The author’s use of imagery to describe Squeaky’s feelings about running evokes a
sense of freedom and joy that has been absent from the story until that point.
16. Explicit – (adjective) fully revealed or expressed without vagueness
 Ex. It is clear that Squeaky resents gender stereotypes because she explicitly says that she
does not want to “act like a girl” by “trying to act like a fairy or a flower” in the May Pole
dancing event.
17. Implicit – (adjective) implied; capable of being understood from something else though
unexpressed
 Ex. When Squeaky and Gretchen exchange smiles at the end, an implicit understanding
passes between them.
18. Perspective – (noun) a point of view; a way of thinking about something
 Ex. From Squeaky’s perspective, everything that Gretchen does is suspect; if Gretchen
smiles, Squeaky believes that she is being condescending and insincere.
2