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Middle School Literary Terms
Literary Terms 6-8th Grade
73
English
7th Grade
05/17/2012

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Term
Alliteration
Definition
The repetition of similar initial consonant sounds
Term
Allusion
Definition
A reference to a well-known subject, often used to make a comparison
Term
Antagonist
Definition
A character or force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist
Term
Autobiography
Definition
The story of a person's life narrated by that same person
Term
Biography
Definition
A form of non-fiction in which a writer tells the life story of another person
Term
Character
Definition
Refers to what someone is like
Term
Character Trait
Definition
the quality of a character
Term
Climax
Definition
The highest point of action in a story, often the turning point
Term
Conclusion
Definition
The outcome of a series of events
Term
Conflict
Definition
A problem or struggle between two or more forces
Term
Denouement
Definition
The time when all the final mysteries or questions are answered
Term
Direct Characterization
Definition
The writer directly states the character's traits or characteristics
Term
Drama
Definition
Writing meant to be performed by actors on a stage
Term
Dynamic Character
Definition
A character who changes over the course of a story
Term
Exposition
Definition
Provides background for the story
Term
External Conflict
Definition
A problem or struggle between a character and an outside force
Ex: Character vs. character, group, nature, society, or fate
Term
Fable
Definition
A brief story, usually with animal characters, that teaches a lesson or a moral
Term
Falling Action
Definition
The results of the climax
Term
Fiction
Definition
Writing that tells about imaginary characters and events
Term
First Person Point of View
Definition
The events are told by a character in the story
Term
Flashback
Definition
A section in a literary piece that interrupts the sequence of events in order to relate an earlier incident or set of events
Term
Folk Tale
Definition
A story composed orally then passed down through word of mouth
Term
Foreshadowing
Definition
An author's use of hints or clues to give a reader an idea of what may happen next
Term
Free-verse
Definition
Poetry that has irregular lines and may or may not rhyme
Term
Generalization
Definition
A vague or indefinite statement that is made to cover many cases
Term
Hyperbole
Definition
use of extreme exaggeration
Term
Idiom
Definition
A word or phrase which means something different from what it says - it is usually a metaphor
Term
Imagery
Definition
Words or phrases that appeal to the senses and help to create a vivid description for the reader
Term
Inciting Incident
Definition
The point where the action or conflict begins, also called the "narrative hook"
Term
Indirect Characterization
Definition
The writer allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusions as to what a character is like
Term
Inference
Definition
A conclusion drawn by the reader based on available information
Term
Internal Conflict
Definition
A problem with a character (character vs. self)
Term
Introduction
Definition
The part of the story where the reader first learns about the main characters, the setting, and storyline
Term
Irony
Definition
A situation where the opposite of what is expected to occur or exist does occur or exist
Term
Metaphor
Definition
A figure of speech in which something is described as if it were something else
Term
Mood
Definition
The atmosphere or feeling an author creates within the piece of writing
Term
Moral
Definition
A lesson taught by a literary work
Term
Motivation
Definition
A reason that explains or partially explains a character's thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech
Term
Myth
Definition
A fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes or the origins of elements of nature
Term
Narrative
Definition
Writing or speech that tells a story
Term
Narrative poetry
Definition
Poetry that tells a story
Term
Narrator
Definition
The speaker or character who is telling the story
Term
Non-Fiction
Definition
Writing that tells about real people, places, objects, or events
Term
Objective Details
Definition
Details that are factual and true to life
Term
Onomatopoeia
Definition
A word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound that it describes
Term
Oxymoron
Definition
The close placement of words having opposite meanings to create a unique description
Term
Parable
Definition
A short tale that illustrates a universal truth, a belief that appeals to all people of all civilizations
Term
Personification
Definition
A type of figurative language in which a non-human subject is given human characteristics
Term
Plot
Definition
The sequence of events in a literary work
Term
Poetry
Definition
Expressive writing that may use rhythm and rhyme to convey emotion; uses stanzas
Term
Point of View
Definition
The perspective from which a story is told
Term
Protagonist
Definition
The main character in a literary work
Term
Pun
Definition
A humorous play on words
Term
Repetition
Definition
The repeated use of words or phrases in order to emphasize a point
Term
Resolution
Definition
The characters problems are solved
Term
Rhyme
Definition
A close similarity in the final sounds of two or more words or lines of verse in a poem
Term
Rhyme Scheme
Definition
A regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem
Term
Rhythm
Definition
A flow in music or poetry of regular accented beats
Term
Rising Action
Definition
The plot "thickens"
Term
Second Person P.O.V.
Definition
The narrator tells the story to another character using "you"; lease common point of view
Term
Setting
Definition
The time and location of the events described in a literary work
Term
Simile
Definition
A comparison between two things, using "like" or "as"
Term
Speaker
Definition
The imaginary voice assumed by the writer of a poem
Term
Stanza
Definition
A group of lines in a poem
Term
Static Character
Definition
A character who does NOT undergo change over the course of a story
Term
Subject
Definition
The topic
Term
Subjective Details
Definition
Details that reveal the author's feelings, attitudes, or judgments
Term
Symbol
Definition
Anything that stands for or represents something else
Term
Theme
Definition
A central message, idea, or concern that is expressed in a literary work
Term
Third Person Point of View
Definition
The events are told by someone outside the story
Term
Third Person Limited Point of View
Definition
The narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character
Term
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
Definition
The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the story
Term
Tone
Definition
The attitude of an author toward the subject that he/she is writing about
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