7th Grade Literary Terms 1-35

A type of character whose attitude or outlook on life doesn't change from beginning to end.

A struggle a character has within his/her own mind.

Giving things that are not alive, human-like characteristics. "A nail bit me in the foot."

A struggle that takes place between a character and some outside force such as society.

The attitude a writer has toward his subject. It might be angry, humorous, or sarcastic.

The use of similar consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Carrie's cat clawed her couch.

When the opposite of what is expected to happen, happens. The fire chief's house burns down.

The main character (good or bad) in a literary work.

The highest point of suspense or interest in a story.

The time of the action, main characters, and basic situation are introduced here.

The feeling a reader gets when they read a story. It's created by the author using devices.

When a story is told from a single character's view using the pronoun "I".

The central (underlying) message the author tries to get across to readers in a literary work.

Writing that isn't meant to be taken literally. Readers must understand it imaginatively.

Something that represents itself and "stands" for something else. White stands for purity.

A character that exhibits many behavior traits, emotions, or attitudes; multi-dimensional.

Words or phrases that paint a picture in the readers mind.

Clues or hints that let the reader know what might happen in the story later.

Events leading to the resolution.

When two contradictory terms are used together such as "act natural" or "bittersweet".

A comparison between two unlike things using like, as, or than. "I'm as fast as lightning".

An over-exaggeration used to emphasize a point. An example might be "I have a ton of homework."

The time and place of the action. For example, "In the Amazon jungle in 1940".

The struggle between two opposing forces. It could be physical or emotional.

A point of view using he, she, they, or them; an outside narrator not part of the action.

Often substituted for the term resolution, it literally means the "untying" of the conflict.

A character that shows one character trait throughout the story. A one dimensional character.

A type of character whose attitude on life changes because of events. They have an epiphany.

The act of creating and describing a character.

Events leading to the climax.

Sometimes called the crisis, a point in the plot where something happens to decides the future.

A character, or force, that presents an obstacle or opposes the main character in a story.

The sequence (order) of events in a literary work. It starts with the exposition.

A figure of speech were two unlike things are compared, but have similar qualities.

Often mistaken for the denouement, readers learn outcome of the conflict in this part of plot.