1. “Checkouts” By Cynthia Rylant
Literary Terms and Concepts

2. Review Characterization Motives Traits
The strategies an author uses to describe a character
Motives
The moment to moment feelings, desires, and needs that make a character do something.
Traits
The consistent, permanent qualities of a character’s personality, such as competitiveness or being nice.

3. Setting
The time and place in which the action of the story takes place.
Setting is described through vivid language so we can imagine it while reading.

4. Theme
The meaning, moral, or message about life that a writer conveys to the reader.
Most are not stated, but rather revealed through clues and character behavior.

5. Point Of View
The perspective from which the story is told to the reader.
The kinds of Point of View are:
First Person
Third person Omniscient
Third Person Limited

6. First Person Point of View
This is a story told from the perspective of a character in the story.
We learn the character’s inner thoughts and feelings as told by the character.

7. Third Person Omniscient
This point of view is where we are told the story from the point of view of someone who is not a character in the story.
The narrator can see the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of the characters.

8. Irony This is a situation that is opposite what is expected to happen.
An example of irony is when you are rushing and rushing around in the morning to leave for school, but then realize that it is Saturday.