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8th Grade Lit Terms

Terms in this set (38)

figurative language
uses figures of speech (i.e. metaphors, similes, and allusions) to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful; goes beyond the literal meaning of words to give readers new insights
simile
a figure of speech that compares two seemingly unlike things using "like" or "as"
metaphor
a figure of speech that compares or equates two or more things that have something in common without using "like" or "as"
symbol
a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract
theme
a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly
personification
a figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics
idiom
a set expression or phrase comprised of two or more words that are not interpreted literally, and means something very different from what the individual words would imply
onomatopoeia
the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (i.e. buzz, click, meow, boom)
alliteration
the repetition of sounds, most often consonants, at the beginning of words, thereby giving emphasis
hyperbole
an obvious and intentional exaggeration (i.e. "I read a million books this summer!")
imagery
words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses and are used to describe how subjects look, smell, feel, sound, and taste
character
a person or animal that takes part in the action of a literary work
point of view
the perspective or vantage point from which a story is told, and is the relationship of the narrator to the story; first person: told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun ""I""; third-person limited: narrator uses third-person pronouns (he, she, they) to refer to the characters
protagonist
the main character in a literary work
antagonist
a character or force in conflict with the main character, or protagonist
plot
the sequence of events in a literary work; the first event causes the second event, the second event causes the third event, and so forth
conflict
the struggle between two opposing forces in a story or play; external conflicts: man vs. man or man vs. nature; internal conflicts: man vs. himself
setting
the time and place of the action in a story that includes all the details of that place and time, such as the year, time of day, and even the weather
exposition
the introduction of a literary work that introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation
rising action
the part of the plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict is introduced, and adds complications to the conflict and increases reader interest
climax
the point of greatest emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the plot of a narrative; typically comes at the turning point in a story or drama
falling action
action that typically follows the climax and reveals its results
resolution
the part of the plot that concludes the falling action by revealing or suggesting the outcome of the conflict
dénouement
material that follows the resolution and ties up loose ends
diction
the pronunciation of and the manner in which words are expressed, as well as the choice of words that are used
denotation
the dictionary definition or meaning of a word, regardless of other meanings the word may have
connotation
the set of ideas associated with it in addition to its explicit meaning; can be personal and based on individual experiences, but is more often cultural
mood
a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions; the atmosphere and emotional setting of a written work that surrounds the reader
flashback
a literary device in which an earlier episode, conversation, or event is inserted into the sequence of events; often presented as a memory of the narrator or another character
foreshadowing
the author's use of clues to hint at what might happen later in the story, which creates suspense, builds readers' expectations, and helps readers prepare for what is to come
tone
the author's attitude toward a subject
oxymoron
a figure of speech that is a combination of seemingly contradictory words (i.e. jumbo shrimp)
irony
a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality; verbal irony: saying the opposite of what is meant; situational irony: a result or ending that is the opposite of what is expected; dramatic irony: a situation in which the audience attending a dramatic performance understands the incongruity of a situation before the actors do
suspense
the growing interest and excitement readers experience while awaiting a climax or resolution in a work of literature; feelings of anxiety or uncertainty about the outcome of events that the writers create by raising questions in the minds of readers
style
the way in which an author writes or tells a story; tone, word choice, grammar, language, descriptive technique, etc. all make up a writer's style
figure of speech
a word or phrase that has a meaning other than the literal meaning; example: a metaphor or simile can be used to further explain a concept, and alliteration or hyperbole can be used to give emphasis and effect
allusion
a reference to a well-known person, place, historical event, literature, music, painting, etc. for the purpose of clarifying or extending an idea
allegory
a story in which the characters or developments symbolize real people or events
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