Literary Terms 8th Grade

a method an author uses to let readers know more about the characters and their traits

to restate in other words

most exciting moment of the story; turning point

A device in literature where an object represents an idea

a character struggles against an outside force like another character, society or nature

the author's method of organizing the text

an idea put forth; a suggestion

a type of irony where facts or events are unknown by the character, but known to the reader

smaller stories within the main story

irony in which a person says one thing and means another or uses words to mean the opposite

A reference in writing to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature

a narrative device that hints at coming events, often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader 

listing items in order

sequence of events in a story

Arranging events in time order

background information presented in a literary work

the author's method of organizing a text

a recurring theme, subject or idea many times found in fairy tales

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

a struggle within a characters mind when the character must deal with opposing thoughts 

A retelling of the most important parts of what was read

A message about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader

a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using like or as

clues in surrounding text that help the reader determine the meaning of an unknown word

a struggle between opposing forces, man vs. man, man vs. himself, man vs. nature