8th Grade Literary Terms

Plot

The series of events (what happens), including what characters do, think, and say.

Setting

When and where a narrative takes place.

Mood

The atmosphere or feeling an author creates through setting and character.

Conflict

The struggle between characters or forces that brings about action and creates suspense.

Person v. Self

A type of conflict in which a character struggles internally to make a decision.

Person v. Person

A type of conflict between two characters in a story.

Person v. Society

A type of conflict between a character and the people around him/her, including their views, judgments, rules, etc.

Person v. Nature

A type of conflict between a character and the natural world - weather, animals, sickness, etc.

Rising Action

This leads up to the climax, including all twists, turns, and minor conflicts which develop or alter the main conflict.

Climax

This is when you learn the outcome of the most significant conflict. Usually the "high point," with the most tension.

Exposition

The part of the plot where you learn the "basic situation," including the setting, mood, and characters.

Falling Action

Occurs after the climax, including all fo the events that happen as a result of the conflict being resolved - how the pieces come back together.

Resolution

The final situation, or the aftermath.

Suspense

When an author creates a feeling in the reader that causes him/her to keep reading and really want to find out what happens next.

Foreshadowing

When an author uses hints or clues to make the reader anticipate upcoming events.

Flashback

When the author takes the reader "back in time" to show prior events that have happened.

Subplots

A minor storyline that happens outside of the main plot.

Parallel Episodes

Subplots which are both developing in a narrative; these may have similar mini-conflicts, similar characters, and similar outcomes.

Character

A person (or animal or natural force presented as a person) in a work of literature.

Protagonist

The main character in a work of literature.

Antagonist

A character or force opposing the protagonist; not necessarily a villain or bad

Static Character

A character who does not change.

Dynamic Character

A character who changes in an important way (not physical).

Flat Character

A "one-sided" character; displays only one or two distinguishing traits; usually can be summed up in one sentence.

Round Character

A character presented in depth from many angles; may be complex and many-sided.

1st Person Point of View

The narrator is one of the characters and tells the story in his or her own words; uses the words I, me, we, and us; the readers only knows what the narrator knows and observes.

Third Person Limited Point of View

The narrator is not one of the characters (an outside observer) and uses the words he, she, it, they, and them; Focuses on the feelings and thoughts of one character only.

Third Person Omniscient Point of View

The narrator is not one of the characters (an outside observer) and uses the words he, she, it, they, and them; has an "all-knowing" or God-like narrator who can describe the thoughts and feelings of all characters.

Theme

A main, controlling idea for a piece of writing - its insight or understanding about life.

Symbol

A person, place, thing, or event that means more than it is.

Dramatic Irony

Occurs when the reader knows something that a character does not know.

Allusion

A meaningful, indirect reference to a well-known character, place, situation, or event for the sake of comparison.