8th Grade Lit Terms Review 2023

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

Analysis

the process of breaking something down into its elements so that they can be examined individually

Antagonist

A character or force in conflict with the main character

Character Development

characters that grow or change during a story are said to undergo this

Characterization

consists of all the techniques writers use to create characters.

Climax

the turning point of a story or play is the point of maximum interest. It usually occurs toward the end of the story, and starts to help settle some of the conflicts that occur

Comedy

a dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.

conflict

is a struggle between opposing forces

couplet

is rhymed pair of lines in poetry

dialect

is a form of language that is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people. It may feature unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar

dialogue

Words that characters speak aloud which provide the reader insight into plot and the relationship among character.

dynamic character

a character who changes significantly

enjambment

the continuation of a sentence without a pause(punctuation) beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza

epic

is a long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or a group

essay

is a short work of nonfiction that deals with a single subject. A formal one is highly organized, thoroughly researched, and serious in tone. An informal one is lighter in tone and can be more personal.

exposition

Introduces the characters and the conflict they face.

external conflict

when a character struggles against another person of force: man vs. man; man vs. nature; man vs. supernatural.

falling action

events that come after the climax and before the resolution

flashback

an interruption of the action to present events that took place at an earlier time. It can provide information that helps readers understand a character's current situation

foreshadowing

occurs when a writer provides hints that suggest future events in a story. It creates suspense while preparing the reader for what is to

form (in poetry)

the structure or organization of a literary work. The ________ of a poem includes the arrangement of words and lines on the page.  Some poems follow predictable patterns, with the same number of syllables in each line in each stanza

free verse

poetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm. Some poets use this technique to capture sounds and rhythms of ordinary speech.

genre

A type or category of literature; there are four main types: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama

Haiku

Is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. It normally has three lines and describes a single moment, feeling, or thing. The syllable pattern is five-seven-five for each of the three lines.

hyperbole

is a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or for humorous effect.

imagery

Consists of words and phrases that appeal to readers' five senses. Writers use it to help readers imagine how things look feel, smell, sound and taste

irony

Is a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens.

internal conflict

when a character struggles within himself; such as, making difficult decision, struggling with a disability.

metaphor

Is a comparison of two unlike things without using like or as

mood

is atmosphere, or feeling that a literary work conveys to readers

motivation

is the reason why he or she acts, feels, or thinks in a certain way.

narrator

A speaker or character who tells a story.

Onomatopoeia

Is the use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning such as bang, or hiss.

Personification

The giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea..

plot

is the sequence of related events that make up a story.

point of view

the perspective from which the story is told, and can be first person (a character in the story tells what's happening with I, me or we pronouns), or may be third person narrative, describing the action but not being a part of it. In either case, the narration can be limited (person only knows most, not all of the story) or omniscient (narrator knows all parts of the story)

primary source

is a firsthand account of an event and includes diaries, journal, letters, speeches, news stories, photographs, and pieces of art.

protagonist

Is the central character or hero in a narrative or drama, usually the one the audience tends to identify.

repetition

is a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for effect or emphasis.

resolution

is the part of the story's plot where the main problem is resolved or worked out

rhyme

is a repetition of sounds at the ends of words.

rhyme scheme

The pattern of end rhyme in a poem. The pattern is charted by assigning letters in alphabetical order such as an "abcd" pattern

Rhythm

The pattern or flow of sound created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.

rising action

Complications arise during this part of the story as the characters struggle with the conflict.

sensory details

Words and phrases that help readers see, hear, taste, feel or smell what an author is describing.

setting

Is the time and place of the action in a story.

shape

the shape of a poem; sad poem could be in the shape of a teardrop

simile

Is a comparison of two things that have some quality in common using "like" or "as"

stanza

is a grouping of two or more lines in poetry and is comparable to a paragraph in prose.

static character

this type of character changes only a little or not at all

style

Is a manner of writing; it involves how something is said rather than what is said. Many elements contribute to it, including word choice, sentence length, tone, and figurative language

subplot

is an additional, minor plot that involves a secondary conflict in the story and may or may not affect the main plot.

symbol

is a person, place, an object, or an action that stands for something beyond itself.

theme

is a meaning, moral or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work. In many cases, readers must infer what it is by examining the lesson the author intends to convey.

tone

Expresses the writer's attitude toward his or her subject

tragedy

Is a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character or characters who are involved in historically or socially significant events.