Which literary term refers to a conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning?

Prepare for the Keystone Literature Content Exam with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question is accompanied by helpful hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Get exam-ready today!

The term that refers to a conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning is inference. In literature and critical reading, making an inference involves piecing together information presented in a text along with the reader’s knowledge and experiences to arrive at a deeper understanding or interpretation. This process allows readers to go beyond the surface of the written material, thus enabling them to perceive underlying themes, motives, or implications that may not be explicitly stated.

For instance, when reading a story, a reader might notice certain character behaviors or dialogue and, through inference, deduce the character's motivations or feelings about a situation, even when those feelings are not overtly expressed. This skill is essential in literary analysis, as it enhances comprehension and encourages engagement with the text.

The other choices do not encapsulate this meaning. Suggestion generally implies an indirect offer of an idea, assertion refers to a confident statement or claim that something is true, and declaration is a formal statement proclaiming something. None of these terms captures the process of drawing conclusions based on observed evidence and rational thought in the same way that inference does.

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