anecdote

Definition – a short account

of an entertaining or

interesting incident

Synonyms – happening,

incident

Antonyms – novel

autobiographer

Definition – the person who

writes the autobiography

Synonyms – author, writer

Antonyms –

biographer,

reader

autobiography

Definition – the written history of a

person narrated by himself

Synonyms – life story, memoirs

Antonyms – biography, fiction,

comic books

biography

Definition – the story of a person’s life

written by another person

Synonyms – life story, memoirs

Antonyms – autobiography, fiction

cause and effect

Definition – the process by

which one event brings

about another.

Synonyms – reason and result

Antonyms – synthesis

character traits

Definition – an individual’s

personality, qualities,

nature

Synonyms – temperament

Antonyms – physical

appearance

chronological

Definition – the arrangement of details

in time order (the order in

which they actually occurred)

Synonyms – sequential, time order

Antonyms – random, unorganized

context clues

Definition – words or sentences

near an unknown word that

help the reader figure out

the meaning

Synonyms –

vocabulary hints

Antonyms –

hide, secret

diction

Definition – choice of words,

clear and accurate

pronunciation

Synonyms – wording, phrasing

Antonyms – mumble

inference

Definition – a logical guess

based on evidence in the

text

Synonyms – assumption,

conclusion

Antonyms – fact

memoirs

Definition – a record of events

or memories

Synonyms – memories, diary

Antonyms –

poem,

chart

mood

Definition – the feeling a

literary work gives to

readers. Words, phrases,

and images create mood.

Synonyms – atmosphere,

feelings, outlook

Antonyms – tone, traits

narrative

Definition – a story, either

fiction or nonfiction

Synonyms – story, tale

Antonyms – poem, speech

nonfiction

Definition – literature that is

based on facts and reality

Synonyms – autobiographies,

newspaper, magazine,

Antonyms – fiction, fantasy

setting

Definition – the time and place

of the action in a literary

work

Synonyms – scene, location

Antonyms – character,

dialogue

synthesize

Definition – to put together

or blend

Synonyms – combine, mix

Antonyms – separate

tone

Definition – the attitude the

writer takes toward the

audience, the subject, or

a character

Synonyms – attitude, opinion

Antonyms – mood, voice