The tension/ the problem/ the issue in a novel, short story, play, etc. It is necessary to the plot.

(Verb)
To repeat
* The teacher had to [ ] the directions many times because the class would not listen!

(Noun)
Believability
* The [ ] of the source on Syria was certainly believable because it was written by a doctor of history.

In literature, a [ ] is something that represents something else.

(Verb)
To make milder or less severe; the relieve; to alleviate
* She will [ ] his guilt by forgiving him.

(Adjective)
Openly negative about something; at times, using sarcasm.
* Joe was even [ ] when we told him he looked nice today. He replied, "Really?! Well, I must look awful every other day!"

Includes the "mental pictures" that readers experience with a passage of literature- many times experienced with the senses.

(Verb)
To "lower" oneself to do something
* The couple will not [ ] to eat at Burger King. Only the finest restaurants will do for them.

(Adjective)
Hidden; hard to find, as in the meaning of something...
* The theme in Mary's novel was a(n) [ ] one; she and her dad had to discuss it a lot to figure it out!

Speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning. Speech or writing employing figures of speech.

(Adjective)
Describes something, a situation that is likely to occur, pending.
* We knew the thunderstorm was [ ] because of the fierce lightning we were seeing.

(Noun)
A list of skills or devices possessed by a person, or in which a person may need for a certain occupation.
* His [ ] for writing songs consisted of many skills (writing, editing, singing, etc.)

(Adverb)
Evilly, cruel
* He [ ] looked at the spider before he smashed it to pieces with his shoe.