Literary Elements -Middle School-

1. Literary Elements-Middle School-

2. allusion • a reference to a well-known person, place, work of literature, art, music, etc.

3. alliteration • the repetition of initial consonant sounds • Ex) The slithery, slimy, sneaky, snake slid down the slippery sidewalk.

4. antagonist • the character opposing the protagonist; can be a person, idea, or force. • Often the seen as the “bad” guy.

5. characterization • a method used by the author to create a character • Physical Appearance (looks) • Personality (actions, mannerisms) • Attitude (values) • Reputation (what others say)

6. conflict • the main problem the character faces; struggle between two opposing forces • Man vs. Man • Man vs. Fate • Man vs. Self • Man vs. Nature • Man vs. Society

7. diction • Word choice. The appropriateness of the words with regard to the emotions and/or ideas.

8. dynamic character • a character that undergoes a change in actions or beliefs during the course of the story; they may grown, change, or learn a lesson

9. flashback • interrupting the story with events from the past; when a character mentally goes back in time to “relive” a past event

10. foreshadow • gives clues that suggest what might happen in the future

11. hyperbole • the deliberate use of exaggeration or overstatement • My mother told me she would kill me if I ever got a tattoo.

12. idiom • a saying that can not be literally translated • Ex) That test was a piece of cake.

13. inference • a reasonable conclusiondrawn by the reader from hints by the author

14. imagery • the use of vivid description to create a picture in the reader’s mind • Ex) sight, sound, touch, taste, smell

15. irony • a statement meaning the opposite of what is literally stated; recognizing the difference between reality and appearance • Can be situational irony, verbal irony, or dramatic irony

16. metaphor • a comparison of two unlike things not using the words “like” or “as”

17. mood • the feeling or atmosphere that the author creates for a reader

18. onomatopoeia • a word or phrase that imitates a sound • Ex) Buzz, Whoosh, Hiss, Clang

19. oxymoron • a seemingly contradictory combination of words • Ex) jumbo shrimp

20. personification • gives animals or objects human qualities or characteristics • Ex) happy house

21. point of view • the relationship of the narrator to the story (viewpoint) • First Person • Third Person Limited (We know the thoughts and feelings of ONE main character.) • Third Person Omniscient (We know the thoughts and feelings of ALL main characters.)

22. protagonist • the central character, and focus of interest who is trying to accomplish or overcome adversity, and has the ability to adapt to new circumstances • Often seen as the “good” guy.

23. repetition for effect • creating a “special effect” by repeating a sound or words

24. setting • the time and place of the story’s events

25. simile • a comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”

26. static character • a character that does not grow or change throughout the story; they end as he/she began

27. symbol / symbolism • the use of one thing to stand for or represent another • Ex) The girl loved the cross necklace that her grandfather had given her and never took it from around her neck.

28. theme • a central message or insight into life revealed through the literary work. A lesson about life or people.

29. tone • the author’s attitude about his topic – can be positive, negative, or neutral, and can usually be described by a single adjective