Name: _________________________________
Study Guide for “Vocabulary for Literature” Test
This study guide is due: Tuesday, Jan. 14th
The test will be on: Wednesday, Jan. 15th
What should I study?
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
All of your Cornell Notes and Activities
Flash cards and PowerPoints (can be found on my website)
1. Define Author’s Purpose:
The reason why the author is writing
2. Draw a picture to represent the concept of author’s purpose. Then explain your picture. (Hint: PIE)
3. What’s the author’s purpose for writing this piece?
Off the coast of Alaska, molten rock rises through cracks in the floor of the Pacific Ocean. This superheated
material known as magma oozes like toothpaste squeezed from a tube. Stretching, grumbling, and erupting,
the earth slowly builds a new island.
Author’s purpose______inform_______
Figurative language: ____simile______________________
4. What’s the author’s purpose for writing this piece?
Mia rushed home and threw open the front door. Her mother whirled around, surprised that Mia was
home from school so early. “I won first place in the art contest!” She said with pride. Though Mia had been
working eagerly on her art submission for weeks, her mother wasn’t sure what the project involved.
“That’s wonderful, Mia! What was the subject of your art project?” Her mother asked. Grinning from ear to
ear, Mia handed over her artwork. It was a portrait of her mother.
Author’s purpose:______entertain_________ Figurative language: _____hyperbole_________________
5. What’s the author’s purpose for writing this piece?
You will not want to miss this celebration for the opening of your new neighborhood bookstore!
Conveniently located at 2289 Main Street, The Book Nook, is within walking distance of schools and many
homes and businesses. Come check out The Book Nook on Saturday!
Author’s purpose: _____persuade___________ Figurative language: __alliteration____________________
6. Define Sequence of Events:
The order of events in a story
7. Complete the sequence of events chart using a novel you have read recently:
Answers will vary
8. Draw a picture to represent flashback. Then explain your picture. Thinking back to a childhood memory
9. Draw a picture to represent foreshadowing. Then explain your picture. Road sign, clouds-something bad
is going to happen
10. Identify each paragraph as either Flashback or Foreshadowing AND then write down the signal words
that helped you:
A. ____Foreshadowing___________The carefree boy sailed toward the distant shore, unaware of the
dark clouds forming behind him. He whistled his favorite tune and thought about the fun day he had
planned on the island.
Signal words: ___________________________
B. _____foreshadowing_________Sue loved Jason. As she accepted his proposal, she decided to ignore
the nagging voice in her head that suggested that perhaps he was too good to be true.
Signal words: _____________________________
C. ____flashback_________The day of the race had finally arrived. Ken stood nervously waiting to begin.
It was only ten months ago he had been in a terrible car accident. For a moment, he thought back to
sitting behind the wheel of his truck and the rain hitting his windshield. Then everything went black.
Suddenly, the pop of the starter gun jolted him back to reality. Signal words: _____________________
D. _____flashback_______As I walked onto the stage to receive my diploma, I remembered the day I first
set eyes on the University’s campus. It was a sunny, clear, and bright—just like my future.
Signal words: ____________________________
11. Sequence of Events
Which Way Did It Happen? : The Mean Girl
Directions: Read the story below. Then complete the graphic organizer by putting the
order the events as they happened in the story.
Once upon a time, there was a man and a woman who had a daughter who lived on the
bank of a stream. The parents did not teach her nice manners and never punished her
for her faults. The daughter would often laugh in her mother's face when she asked her
daughter to help cook the dinner or to wash the plates. As the girl grew older; she
would just spend her days dancing and playing with her friends. She was very selfish,
and her parents might as well have had no daughter at all.
However, one morning her mother looked so tired that even the selfish girl could not
help but notice. She asked if there was anything she could do to so that her mother
might rest a little. The good woman looked so surprised and grateful for this offer that
the girl felt rather ashamed. At that moment, the daughter would have scrubbed down
the whole house if it had been requested. But her mother only asked her to take the
fishing-net out to the bank of the river and mend some holes in it because her father
intended to go fishing that night. When he came home, her father was grateful for his
new, unselfish daughter.
Put the following sentences in the graphic organizer is the correct sequence.
1.Mother looked tired.
2.
2.The girl laughed in Mother’s face.
3.The girl was asked to mend the fishing net.
4.The girl offered to help.
5.
5.The girl spent her days playing.
6.The father was happy his daughter was not selfish.
1.
4.
3.
6.
12. What’s the difference between Direct Characterization and Indirect Characterization?
Direct: author DIRECTLY tells the character trait
Indirect: author gives hints/clues to SHOW the character trait
13. Identify the character trait.
A. _____anxious______________ Julia’s sweaty hands were shaking when she walked on stage.
B. ______clumsy_____________ Arnold is clumsy; he is always dropping all of his books in the hallway.
C. _______brave____________ Tom is the bravest person in my family. He never looks scared.
D. _____impatient_________He unwrapped the birthday gift quickly, and he didn’t even read the card!
E. ______loving_____________ Emma scooped up the whimpering puppy in her arms.
14. Create an example of a character demonstrating the given trait.
A. Speech: What might a polite character say?
John said, “Thank you so much for the candy Mrs. Boyle!”
B. Thoughts: What might a responsible character think?
“ I have to do my homework before I watch T.V.,” thought Mollie.
C. Effect on Others: How might others react to a strict character?
When the teacher came into the room, everyone stopped talking and got to work.
D. Actions: What might a jealous character do?
Sandra sulked in the corner as her best friend laughed and played with Samantha.
E. Looks: How might a powerful character look?
Hudson walked into the room in his expensive suit and designer watch.
15. Draw a picture to represent First Person Point of View. Then explain it. You see the story through the
eyes of the main character.
16. Draw a picture to represent Third Person Limited Point of View. Then explain it. Narrator: only knows
the thoughts and feelings of one character.
17. Draw a picture to represent Third Person Omniscient Point of View. Then explain it. Narrator: knows the
thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.
18. What’s the point of view of this passage?
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Leslie sat in front of Paul. She had two long, brown pigtails that reached all the way down to her waist. Paul saw
those pigtails, and a terrible urge came over him. He wanted to pull a pigtail. He wanted to wrap his fist around it,
feel the hair between his fingers, and just yank. He thought it would be fun to tie the pigtails together, or better
yet, tie them to her chair. But most of all, he just wanted to pull one. Third Person Limited
19. What’s the point of view of this passage?
Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers, Mary Shepard
They found themselves in bed and watching, by the dim light from the night-light, the rest of Mary Poppin’s
unpacking being performed. From the carpet bag she took out seven flannel nightgowns, four cotton ones, a pair of
boots, a set of dominoes, two bathing-caps and a postcard album. Jane and Michael sat hugging themselves and
watching. It was all so surprising that they could find nothing to say. But they knew, both of them, that something
strange and wonderful had happened at Number Seventeen, Cherry-Tree Lane. Third Person Omniscient
20. What’s the point of view of this passage?
The Freedom Writers Diary by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell
Tonight I just finished one of the books for our read-a-thon, called The Wave. This story is about a school
experiment that shows how peer pressure can get out of hand. One of the main characters was a guy by the name
of Robert Billing. He pressured and bullied other teenagers into acting like modern-day Nazis. The teenagers were
like sheep blindly following a leader. After reading this book, I realized how teens are very gullible; getting tricked
into doing things to fit in or be popular. First Person
Tone and Mood
Mood is the emotions that you (the reader) feel while you are reading. Some literature makes
you feel sad, joyful, or even scared.
Tone is the attitude that an author expresses. Tone can turn a statement like, “You’re a big
help!” into a genuine compliment or a cruel, sarcastic remark. It depends on the context of
the story.
Tone Words
Mood Words
Amused
Cheerful
Frightened
Frustrated
Suspenseful
Formal
Gloomy
Happy
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Excited
Sorrowful
Humorous
Serious
Fearful
Depressed
Witty
Sarcastic
Lonely
Disgusted
Mysterious
Calm
Peaceful
Playful
20. Identify the tone and mood in each passage. (Use the tone and mood words!)
A. Bouncing into the room, she lit up the space with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé
and their wedding plans.
Tone: __optimistic_________________, ____cheerful________________
Mood: ___happy_______________, ______excited______________
B. She huddled in the corner, clutching her tattered blanket and shaking convulsively as she feverishly
searched the room for the unknown dangers that awaited her.
Tone: ___suspenseful________________, _____mysterious______________
Mood: ____fearful______________, _____frightened______________
C. Gently smiling, the mother tenderly tucked the covers up around the child’s neck, and quietly left the
room making sure to leave a comforting ray of light shining through the opened door should the child
wake.
Tone: _____calm______________
Mood: ______happy____________
Read the following stories and answer the questions.
“Where Can They Stay?”
About three million people have to look for a place to sleep at night. Some homeless people have
jobs but do not earn nearly enough money for both food and shelter. Some become homeless because
they have an unfortunate accident or lose their job. They do not have any back-up resources to make it
through the hard times.
The homeless face terrible problems. Many become victims of violence. Serious health problems
may begin because they are exposed to bad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless children may miss
the chance to go to school. Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make it even harder on the
homeless.
21. How would you describe the tone [attitude] of this author?
a. Angry
b. Casual
c. Serious
Proof:____________________________
“A Gift in His Shoes”
Dee and Larry were early for baseball practice. They decided to run up and down the bleachers to
exercise before the rest of the team arrived.
Larry was first to the top. He whispered to Dee, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man sleeping
on the highest, narrow bench of the bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and too large for
his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a few feet
away.
Dee whispered, “We should help him out. Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when he
wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”
22. How would you describe the mood of this passage?
a. Angry
b. Detached
c. Sympathetic
Proof:___________________________
Setting: _______field, present day__________
New terms that will be on the test:
 Author’s Purpose
o Persuade
o Inform
o Entertain
 Point of View
o First Person
o Third Person Limited
o Third Person Omniscient
 Sequence of Events
 Flashback
 Foreshadowing
 Tone
 Mood
 Characterization/character traits
Old terms that may be on the test:
 Conflict
o Internal
o External
 Plot
o Exposition
o Initiating Event
o Rising Action
o Climax
o Falling Action
o Resolution
 Setting
 Theme
 Imagery