Reference list of Literary Terms for Middle School students
Maj. Smith’s
07 English
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Literary
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LITERARY TERMS REFERENCE
alliteration - the repetition of similar initial consonant sounds in order to create a
musical or rhythmic effect, to emphasize key words or to imitate sounds.
Example: “He was reluctant to return to the room he called home.”
allusion - a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work
of art, often used to help make a comparison.
antagonist - a character or force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist.
autobiography – the story of a person's life narrated by that same person.
biography - a form of non-fiction in which a writer tells the life story of another
person.
character - refers to what someone is like – what their qualities are
(Someone’s character refers to their character traits.)
character trait – the quality of a character; what a character is like.
climax – the highest point of action in a story, often the turning point.
conflict – a problem or struggle between two or more forces
denouement – see definition under plot
dialogue – a discussion or conversation between two or more characters. Most dialogues
follow the rules of punctuation. Do not confuse dialogue with a play script. Dialogue is part of, or is sometimes all of, a story or novel.
direct characterization – the writer directly states the character’s traits or
characteristics.
drama – writing meant to be performed by actors on a stage. This form includes
dialogue and stage directions.
dynamic/round character – a character who changes over the course of a story
exposition – see definition under plot
external conflict – a problem or struggle between a character and an
outside force:
man vs. man
man vs. society
man vs. nature
man vs. machine
fable - a brief story, usually with animal characters, that teaches a lesson or
a moral.
falling action – see definition under plot
fiction – writing that tells about imaginary characters and events. This form uses
sentences and paragraphs.
first person point of view - the events are told by a character in the story.
flashback - a section in a literary piece that interrupts the sequence of events in
order to relate an earlier incident or set of events.
folk tale – a story composed orally and then passed down from person to person by
word of mouth.
foreshadowing – an author’s use of hints or clues to give a reader an idea of what
may happen next.
free-verse - poetry that has irregular lines and may or may not rhyme.
generalization – a vague or indefinite statement that is made to cover many cases.
Example: “All human beings hope for something.”
hyperbole – use of extreme exaggeration.
idiom - a word or phrase which means something different from what it
says – it is usually a metaphor. An idiom is an expression peculiar to a
certain group of people and/or used only under certain circumstances.
imagery – words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses and help
to create a vivid description for the reader.
indirect characterization – the writer allows the reader to draw his/her conclusions
as to what a character is like, based on the appearances, words, actions, and
interactions with other characters.
inference – a conclusion drawn by the reader based on available information.
internal conflict – a problem within a character (man vs. self).
introduction – the location of the story where the reader first learns about the main
characters, the setting, and the storyline.
irony - a situation where the opposite of what is expected to occur or exist does
occur or exist.
metaphor - a figure of speech in which something is described as if it were
something else; a comparison made without using “like” or “as”.
monologue –one character alone talking to the reader, audience, or to himself. A monologue in a play is called a soliloquy and finds the character alone on the stage, often discussing a plan, decision, or other internal conflict.
mood – the atmosphere or feeling an author creates within the piece of writing.
moral – a lesson taught by a literary work.
motivation – a reason that explains or partially explains a character’s thoughts,
feelings, actions, or speech.
myth – a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes or the origins of
elements of nature.
narrative – writing or speech that tells a story.
narrative poetry – poetry that tells a story
narrator – the speaker or character who is telling the story.
non-fiction - writing that tells about real people, places, objects, or events. This form
includes sentences and paragraphs.
objective details – details that are factual and true to life.
onomatopoeia - is a word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound that
describes.
oxymoron – the close placement of words having opposite or near opposite
meanings in order to create a unique description.
parable – a short tale that illustrates a universal truth, a belief that appeals to all
people of all civilizations.
personification – a type of figurative language in which a non-human subject
is given human characteristics.
plot – the sequence of events in a literary work. The plot is the writer’s plan for what happens, when it happens, and to whom it happens. A plot is built around a central conflict – a problem or struggle involving two or more opposing forces. Plot complications are events or problems that arise and make it more difficult to resolve the conflict.
(stages of plot)
• Exposition provides background for the story. Characters are introduces, the setting is described, and the tone is set.
• Inciting Incident is the point where the action or conflict begins, sometimes
referred to as the “narrative hook”.
• Rising action occurs next. The plot “thickens” as the central conflict begins to unfold. Complications are introduced and suspense builds.
• Climax is the greatest interest or suspense in the story. At this point the main character has to deal with the conflict directly. It is often the turning point, when the action reaches a peak and the outcome of the conflict is decided. The climax may occur because of a decision the characters reach or because of a discovery or an event that changes the situation. The climax usually results in a change in the characters or a solution to the conflict.
• Falling action - the effects here are a result of the climax.
• Resolution – the character or character's problems are solved. (note: neither the character nor the reader may necessarily like or agree with how
the problems are resolved!
• Denouement – this is the time when all the final mysteries and/or questions
are answered.
Story Map Chart:
[pic]
poetry – expressive writing that may use rhythm and rhyme to convey emotion. Poetry
uses stanzas or groups of lines.
point of view – the perspective from which a story is told.
protagonist – the main character in a literary work.
pun – a humorous play on words.
repetition – the repeated use of words or phrases in order to emphasize a point.
rhyme – a close similarity in the final sounds of two or more words or lines of verse in
a poem
rhyme scheme – a regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem. (To indicate the rhyme scheme of a poem, one uses lower-case letters. Each rhyme is assigned a different letter. The rhyme scheme of a poem, for instance, might be ababcd.)
rhythm – a flow in music or poetry of regular accented beats
rising action – see definition under plot
second person p.o.v. - In second person point of view, the narrator tells the story to another character using "you," so that the story is being told through the addressee's point of view. Second person is the least commonly used p.o.v. in fiction.
setting – the time and location of the events described in a literary work.
simile – a comparison between two things, using “like” or “as”.
speaker – the imaginary voice assumed by the writer of a poem, the one
describing the events in a poem.
stanza – a group of lines in a poem.
Static/flat character – a character who does not undergo a change over the course of a story
subject – who or what the story is about; the topic
subjective details – details that reveal the author’s feelings, attitudes, or judgments.
symbol /symbolism – anything that stands for or represents something else.
theme – a central message, idea, or concern that expressed in a literary work.
third person point of view - the events are told by someone outside the story.
third person limited p.o.v. - Third person limited point of view is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented externally. (Third person limited grants a writer more freedom than first- person, but less than third person omniscient.)
third person omniscient p.o.v. - A method of storytelling in which the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story, as opposed to third person limited, which adheres closely to one character's perspective.
tone – the attitude of an author toward the subject that he/she is writing
about.
Literary Forms :
FICTION
1. Historical fiction - a "made up" story which has as setting a specific and recognizable historical time period which could not have been during the author's lifetime. These novels and stories often include characters and places which are historically accurate, and many include historical documents as well. Examples of historical fiction are: Dragonwings, The Whipping Boy, Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver.
2. Documentary fiction - a "made up" story which uses a collage of documents, in addition to dialogue and narration, to help to tell the story. Some documentary fiction you will read as an adult uses actual news stories, letters, diaries, etc., but the story is the author's invention. Example: Nothing But the Truth.
3. Science fiction - originally, a story which used the science of the future as a major element of plot or setting. This meaning has been stretched to include all future or utopian, time travel, space, alien contact, and dimension travel stories, as well as to include some elements of fantasy. Examples: A Wrinkle in Time, The Giver, many stories by author Ray Bradbury.
4. Folklore, folk tale, fairy tale - originally "oral tradition stories," memorized and passed from person to person through the telling, these tend to have messages for the listener to decipher and definite similarities in plot, characters, and settings. You study these stories in Lower School. In Middle School, you need to remember them and watch for "folklore" elements to appear in your reading. Examples of books rich in folklore references: The 13 Clocks, The Magic Circle, Haroun, The Other Side of Silence.
5. Realistic Fiction - novels and stories which are "real" in that they take place in a time and place like a present, or recent past, time and place, have plots which are possible, and have characters which are believable as real people. Examples: Hatchet, Shabanu.
6. Fantasy - fantasy novels and stories cover a wide range of "real-unreal" plots, characters and settings. Some identifying characteristics are: animals as characters, magical events, imaginary beings as characters. Fantasies often involve a search or quest of some type and ask the reader to temporarily believe in the possibility of events and characters. Examples: Alice in Wonderland, The Story of the Amulet, The Wizard of Earthsea, The Hobbit, Watership Down.
7. Mystery - a mystery novel contains a puzzle and challenges the reader to join the detective character who eventually solves the puzzle. Collecting clues is a vital skill for mystery readers. Examples: The House of Dies Drear, The Westing Game, The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Non-Fiction is prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects, or events. It is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. This presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition. Autobiographies, biographies, essays, reports, letters, memos, and newspaper articles are all types of nonfiction.
3
Characteristics of Non-Fiction
Works of nonfiction differ from works of fiction in several ways.
♣ The people, events, places, and ideas presented in nonfiction are real, not invented.
♣ Nonfiction is narrated by an author who is a real person.
♣ It presents facts, describes true-life experiences, or discusses ideas.
♣ Nonfiction is written for a specific audience, or group of readers. In addition, it addresses a clear purpose, or reason for writing. The audience and purpose influence the type of information a writer includes.
♣ Tone, the author’s attitude toward the subject or reader, is displayed through the writer’s word choice and style.
Types of Non-Fiction
There are four main types, or modes, of nonfiction that are defined by their purposes.
♣ Narrative nonfiction tells stories of real-life events. Examples include autobiographies and memoirs. Some narrative nonfiction is reflective writing, which shares the writer’s thoughts and feelings about a personal experience, an idea, or a concern. Examples include reflective essays, personal essays, and journals.
♣ Expository nonfiction informs or explains. Examples include analytical essays and research reports.
♣ Persuasive nonfiction presents reasons and evidence to convince the reader to act or think in a certain way. Examples include editorials and political speeches.
▪ Descriptive nonfiction uses details related to the senses to create mental images for the reader. Examples include character sketches and scientific observations.
Various types of non-fiction:
Autobiography - writing about yourself and your life
Biography - writing about the life of another person
Diaries and Journals - stream of consciousness about your life
Essays - short, formal works on various subjects
Literary Criticism - critiquing another literary work
Memoir - your life story and memories
Outdoor Literature - anything about the outdoor life (hiking, kayaking, wilderness survival etc)
Spiritual - writing about religions and religious people
Textbooks - informational text that can be used in educational settings
Travel Literature - writing about places to visit
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