1. Unit 2: Vocabulary of the Standards
Adventures in Literature

2. Definition
Characteristics
Examples
Non-examples .

3. theme Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
A life lesson or main message learned from a story.
A “big idea.” Positive.
theme
Crime does not pay.
Hard work pays off.
“The beach” or “school.”

4. tone Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
The writers attitude toward his or her audience and subject.
The author wants to create a mood.
tone
Serious,
humorous, bitter,
joyful, creepy. .
Sounds, colors.

5. pronoun Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
A pronoun takes the place of a noun.
Personal, possessive, intensive or indefinite.
pronoun
I, her, they (personal)
Mine, hers, theirs, ours
(possessive)
Jake went to the store. Jake bought Jake’s favorite food.

6. antecedent Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
The word that the pronoun replaces or represents.
The pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and case.
antecedent
Jake is unhappy; he failed the test. The antecedent for “he” is Jake.
Jake is unhappy he failed the test. “Test” is NOT the antecedent for “he.”

7. intensive pronoun Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
Pronouns that end in -self or –selves.
These pronouns are not essential to the basic meaning of a sentence.
intensive pronoun
Myself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves. “He himself did the assignment.”
Hisself, theirselves. These are NOT words.

8. indefinite pronoun Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount.
It is vague and "not definite”
indefinite pronoun
Everyone, somebody, most, all, several, each.
He, she, it, they, themselves, ours, mine.

9. point of view Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
The way an author chooses to tell a story.
The author allows you to "see" and "hear" what is going on in a specific way. .
point of view
First person:
I, me, us – the narrator tells the story.
Third person: he, she, it.
A view from a mountaintop.

10. alliteration Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
Repetition of consonant sounds in nearby words.
Found in tongue-twisters.
alliteration
Peter Piper picked a peck of peppers.
Peter Smith picked some blueberries.

11. onomatopoeia Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
Words that resemble sounds.
Adds sensory details to writing – sounds good to your ear.
onomatopoeia
Buzz, slam,
hiccup, bang,
splash.
Loud, soft.

12. hyperbole Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
An exaggeration.
Ridiculous or impossible.
hyperbole
He made tons of money mowing lawns.
He made a lot of money mowing lawns.

13. personification Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
When an author gives animals or objects human qualities.
Something non-human does something only a person can do.
personification
The tree groaned and the lake whispered.
The waves on the lake sounded like whispers.

14. literal Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
The factual or ordinary meaning of a word or phrase.
Words and phrases are true to the dictionary meaning.
literal
“You hit the nail on the
head.” There is a REAL hammer.
“You hit the nail on the head.” This means you are absolutely correct.

15. figurative Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
Idioms or figures of speech are commonly used.
An abstract meaning – thinking beyond the words.
figurative
“You hit the nail on the head!” means you are absolutely correct.
“You hit the nail on the head!” means you have a hammer in your hand.

16. dialogue Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
When characters speak in text.
Spoken words are surrounded by quotation marks.
dialogue
He said, “Watch out for the stop sign!”
He said to watch out for the stop sign.

17. sensory details Definition Characteristics Examples Non-examples
When an author uses the five senses to add detail and interest to his or her writing.
Words convey sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures.
sensory details
The sand felt warm as I squeezed it between my toes.
I walked along the sand on the beach.