Literary Terms: Sixth Grade ELA

Literary Terms: Sixth Grade ELA

NAME: ______Date: ______Section: ______

The terms below are associated with the novel and the short story.

The first set of definitions has been taken from Prentice Hall’s Literature.

Setting:Refers to the time (when the action occurs) and place (where the action occurs) of the story. The time not only includes the historical period—past, present, or future—but also the year, the season, the time of the day, and even the weather. Details such as dialects, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting. In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop to the action.

Point of View:refers to the perspective from which the story is told. The most common points of view are:

a. First Person:the narrator is a character in the story; we see the development of events through his or her eyes.

b. Omniscient Third Person: the narrator is not a character in the story but views the events through the eyes of more than one character. This is sometimes referred to as the “all-knowing” point of view.

c. Limited Third Person:the narrator is not a character in the story but views through the eyes of one character. The thoughts, feelings and experiences of that character are the focus.

Mood/Atmosphere: Refers to the feeling created in the reader when reading a literary work or passage. Writers use many methods to create mood, including images, dialogue, descriptions, characterization, and plot events. The mood may stay the same throughout a story, but it may just as easily change with each new twist of the plot.

Tone:Refers to the attitude of the speaker in a literary piece towards a subject, other characters, the reader, or himself/herself. Tone can be very clear within a literature piece or it may be inferred through the author’s choice of words and subtle connotations or inflection of words.

Conflict: Refers to the struggle between opposing forces. It can be external—meaning the struggle is with some other individual or force. It can be internal—meaning the struggle takes place within the protagonist’s mind. Literary works can have more than one conflict occurring, but the most important conflict is known as the central conflict. Conflicts generally fall within the categories of person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. supernatural force, person vs. society, person vs. self.

Theme: Refers to the central message, concern, or insight into life expressed in a story. A theme may be clearly stated, however, most of the time the theme is implied. The reader must use interpretation of key parts, or elements of the story in order to uncover the theme. A theme is not a one or two word response; instead it is usually expressed in a one or two sentence statement about human nature or life.

Example: The word “love” can be a topic in a story, but not the entire theme. Instead, the theme might be: “Despite one’s hopes, in some situations, love cannot conquer over all obstacles in its path.”

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Plot Line: Refers to the sequence of events in a literary work.

The following terms make up the plot line:

Exposition: establishes the setting, identifies the characters, and introduces the basic situation

Complicating/inciting incident: introduces the main conflict and problem encountered by the character

Rising Action: all the events that occur between the complicating incident and the climax

Climax: the highest point of interest or suspense

Falling Action: the events that occur after the climatic scene

Resolution/Denouement:provides a final conclusion to the story (not all stories have this part)

Short stories, in particular, may not include all of these parts, or the order may be altered. In mysteries or detective stories, for example, the complicating incident or even the resolution may be included in the opening of the story.

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Characters: Refer to the person or animal that takes part on the action of a literary work.

Protagonist:Refersto the main character in the story, the focus of the reader’s attention. The protagonist is not necessarily the “good guy”. In fact, the protagonist may possess many flaws; however, the protagonist is the main character for whom the reader either sympathizes with or hopes will be able to overcome the obstacles that he/she faces.

Antagonist:Refers to the character or force in conflict with the protagonist. Usually the antagonist desires some goal that is at odds with the goals of the protagonist. The struggle between the two becomes the central conflict.

Types of Characters

Dynamic Character: This character changes internally (emotionally) in the course of the story.

Static Character:This character does not emotionally change. He or she remains the same throughout the story.

Round Character:This is a character that is fully developed. The author reveals his or her personality traits, both good and bad. Usually the background of the character is given.

Flat Character:This character seems to possess only one or two personality traits and little, if any, personal history.

Characterization:Refers to the way an author creates and develops a character to his or her reader. Authors use two major methods of characterization—direct and indirect.

Direct characterization occurs when the author directly states the character traits, or characteristics. Indirect characterization occurs when the writer depends on the reader to draw conclusions about the character’s traits. These character traits can be revealed through a character’s actions, speech, or through the actions, speech and thoughts of other participants in the story.

Character traits:Refer to the qualities, attitudes, and values that a character has or displays—for example, dependability, intelligence, and selfishness.

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Other literary terms that may be introduced in short stories or novels:

Sources: and

Allusion: An allusion is a figure of speech whereby the author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work by way of a passing reference. It is up to the reader to make a connection to the subject being mentioned.

Example:It is no wonder everyone refers to Mary as another Mother Teresa in the making: She loves to help and care for all people.

In the example the author uses the mention of Mother Teresa to indicate the sort of “saintly” qualities that Mary has. In order to understand the reference, the reader must know and understand the historical connection to the real life Mother Theresa.

Foreshadowing:The literary device foreshadowing refers to the use of a word or phrases that set the stage for a story to unfold and give the reader a hint of something that is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense. Foreshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story.

Example:Though she had never seen him before, there was something unnerving and unsettling about the manner in which he followed her with his eyes.

In this sentence, the reader begins to suspect that the mysterious stranger may pose further problems for the female character.

Motif:The literary device ‘motif’ is any element, subject, idea or concept that occurs often in a body of literature or appears frequently in other stories. Motifs are usually noticeable and play a significant role in defining the nature of the story, the course of events and the very fabric of the literary piece.

Example:In many famed fairytales, the motif of a ‘handsome prince’ falling in love with a ‘damsel in distress’ and the two being bothered by a wicked stepmother, evil witch, or beast and finally conquering all to live ‘happily ever after’ is a common motif.

Numbers such as 3, 7, and 12 and colors such as red and black are often used as motifs in stories. Each number or color has a mystical or superstitious connotation that recurs in many stories.

Irony:Below are the common types of irony used in stories and novels.

Verbal irony: The use of words to mean something different than what the person actually means or says they mean. Sarcasm is a common form of verbal irony. Example: In the 6th day of straight rain, a character states, “More rain…that’s great!”

Situational irony: the difference of what is expected to happen and what actually does occur. Example: In “Romeo and Juliet,” young Romeo finds his beloved Juliet appearing lifeless, and believing she has died, he kills himself. When Juliet awakens, she sees Romeo dead and she then commits suicide.

Dramatic irony: when the reader or audience is more aware of what is happening than the characters. Example: Perhaps one of the most obvious cases of dramatic irony occurs in horror stories/movies when the audience knows that the person who ridicules or disbelieves the macabre situations will likely be the next victim. This character remains unaware, but the reader/audience fully knows what is to come.

Symbolism

Symbolism occurs when a word which has meaning in itself but is used to represent something entirely different. Examples are:

• Using an image of the American flag to represent patriotism and a love for one’s country.
• Using an apple pie to represent an American lifestyle.
• Using an apple to represent education.

However, symbolism is not always so easily identified in literature and film. In the novel, The Giver, the protagonist begins to see the true color of an apple. In his society, it is forbidden to view colors, so the apple becomes symbolic of his struggle to escape the confines and rigid structure and rules of his community.

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