HiSET

The Language Arts – Reading subtest measures how well you understand, interpret, and analyze what you read. You will read literary passages (fiction, poetry, drama, and memoir) and informational passages (articles, essays, speeches, and documents), then answer questions about main ideas, details, inferences, word meaning, structure, purpose, and the author's techniques. Every answer can be supported with evidence from the passage.

Literary Texts

40%

Fiction, poetry, drama, and memoir

Informational Texts

60%

Articles, essays, speeches, editorials, and documents

Literary analysis means examining how an author builds a text to create meaning. Fiction contains several core elements that work together, and HiSET questions often ask how one element (such as setting) shapes another (such as a character's choices or the mood).

Element	WhatItIs	WhattoLookFor
Setting	Whereandwhenthestorytakesplace	Howtimeandplaceinfluencemood character ,
		behavior andevents;astorysetduringwartime ,
		createsdifferentexpectationsthanonesetina
		quietsuburb
Characters	Thepeople(orfigures)inthestory:theprotagonist	Whatcharacterssay do think andhowothers , , ,
	drivestheaction theantagonistopposestheprotagonist , ,	reacttothem
	andsupportingcharactersaddperspectives
Motivation	Thereasonsbehindacharacter'sactions:external	Whyacharactermakesachoice;motivation
	(wealth safety)orinternal(acceptance overcomingfear) , ,	helpsyoupredictbehavior
Pointofview	Whotellsthestoryandwhatthereaderisallowedto	Pronouns(I he she you)andhowmuchthe , , ,
	know	narratorknows
Conflict	Thestrugglethatdrivestheplot	Whetherthestruggleisinsideacharacteror
		againstanoutsideforce

Characterization

The author states a trait outright: "Marcus was stubborn and

The reader infers traits from a character's actions, dialogue,

proud."

thoughts, appearance, and other characters' reactions: "Marcus refused the help, even as the box slipped from his arms."

Pointofview

PointofView	Pronouns	WhattheReaderLearns
Firstperson	I me we , ,	Onlywhatthenarrator acharacterinthestory sees thinks andknows , , , ,
Secondperson	you	Rareinfiction;commonininstructionsandsomeessays
Third -person limited	he she they , ,	Thethoughtsandfeelingsofonecharacteronly
Third -person omniscient	he she they , ,	Thethoughtsofanyorallcharacters;thenarratormovesfreely
		betweenperspectives

Conflict and Resolution

Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind: a struggle with emotions, a decision, or a moral dilemma (character versus self). External conflict sets a character against an outside force.

The resolution occurs when the conflict ends. Not every conflict resolves completely; some narratives deliberately leave conflicts open to create ambiguity or encourage reflection.

Literary Devices, Tone, and Mood

Authors use literary devices to enhance meaning and create effects. On the test, identify the device and, more importantly, explain what it contributes to the passage.

Device	Defi nition	Example
Simile	Comparestwounlikethingsusinglikeoras	Hervoicewasassoftasfallingsnow .
Metaphor Personification	Comparestwounlikethingsbysayingoneisthe other Gives human qualities to something non-human	Theclassroomwasazoo . Thewindhowledatthedoor .	1

Commonliterarydevices(Continued)

Device	Defi nition	Example
Hyperbole	Deliberateexaggerationforemphasis	I'vetoldyouamilliontimes .
Imagery	Languagethatappealstothesenses:sight	Thebittersmokestungoureyesassirenswailed .
	(visual) sound(auditory) touch(tactile) smell , , ,
	(olfactory) andtaste(gustatory) ,
Symbolism	Aconcreteobject character oreventthatstands , ,	Adoveforpeace;ajourneyforpersonalgrowth
	foranabstractidea
Foreshadowing	Hintsaboutfutureeventsthatbuildsuspense	Darkcloudsgatherasacharacterleaveshome .
Flashback	Interruptstimeordertoshowearliereventsand	Ascenereturnstothenarrator'schildhood .
	explainmotivation
Alliteration	Repetitionofbeginningconsonantsounds	Silentsnowslidsoftly .

Type	Defi nition	Example
Verbal	Wordsmeantheoppositeoftheirliteralmeaning	"Lovelyweather"hesaid astherainsoakedhim , , .
Situational	Theoutcomecontradictswhatwasexpected	Afirestationburnsdown .
Dramatic	Thereaderknowssomethingthecharactersdo	Theaudienceknowsthekillerishidinginthehouse .
	not

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience: formal,

The emotional atmosphere the text creates for the reader:

informal, serious, humorous, critical, sympathetic, objective.

suspenseful, melancholy, joyful, eerie. Setting descriptions,

Word choice, sentence structure, and the details the author

pacing, and imagery establish mood.

selects reveal tone.

Tone belongs to the writer; mood belongs to the reader. When a question asks about tone, look at the author's word choices (connotation). "Scrawny" and "slender" describe the same thing but reveal different attitudes.