5Th Grade Literary Terms

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Alliteration

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Repetition of initial (beginning) sounds in two or more consecutive or neighboring words.

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Analogy

Back 2

A comparison based upon the resmblance in some particular ways between things that are otherwise unlike.

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anecdote

Back 3

a short account of an intresting, amusing, or biographical occurrence

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anticlimax

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an event that is less important than what occurred before it

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Archaic language

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language that was once common in a particular historic period but which is no longer commonly used

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Cause and effect

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the relationship in which one condition brings about another condition as a direct result. The result, or consequence, is called the defense.

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character develompment

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the ways in which the author shows how a character changes as the story proceeds

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characterization

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the method used by the author to give readers information about a character ; a description or a representation of a person's qualities or peculiarities

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classify

Back 9

to arrange according to a category or trait

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climax

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the moment when the action in a story reaches it's greatest conflict

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conflict

Back 11

the main source of drama and tension in a literary work; the discord between persons or forces that brings about dramatic action

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connotation

Back 12

something suggested or implied,not actually stated

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description

Back 13

an account that gives the reader a mental image or picture of something

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dialect

Back 14

a form of language used in a particular geographic region; it is distinguished from the standard form of the language by pronunciation, grammar, and/or vocabulary

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dialogue (dialog)

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the parts of literary work that represent conversation

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fact

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a peice of information that can be proven or verified

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Flashback

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The insertion of an earlier event into the normal chronological sequence of a narritive.

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Foreshadowing

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The use of clues to give readers a hint of events that will occur later on.

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Historical fiction

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Fiction represented in a setting true to the history of the time in which the story takes place.

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Imagery

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Language that appeals to the senses; the use of figures of speech or vivid descriptions to produce mental images.

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Irony

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The use of words to express the opposite

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Legend

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A story handed down from earlier times; its truth is popularly accepted but can't be verified.

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Limerick

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Humorous 5-lined poem with form aabba. Lines 1,2, and 5 are longer than lines 3 and 4.

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Metaphor

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A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without the use of "like" or "as".

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Mood

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The feeling that the author creates for the reader.

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Motivation

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The reasons for the behavior of a character.

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Narrative

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The type of writing that tells a story.

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Narrator

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The character who tells the story.

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Opinion

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A personal point of veiw or belief.

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Parody

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Writing that ridicules or imitates something more serious.

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Personification

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Figure of speech in which in inanimate object or an abstract idea is given human characteristics

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Play

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A literary work written in dialouge form and usually performed before an audience.

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Plot

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The arrangement or sequence of events in a story.

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Point of view

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The perspective from which a story is told.

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Protagonist

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The main character.

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Pun

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A play on words that are similar in sound but different in meaning.

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Realistic fiction

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True-to-life fiction ; people, places, and happening are similar to those in real life.

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Resolution

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Part of the plot ( from the climax on) where the main dramatic conflict is worked out.

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Satire

Back 39

Aliterary work that pokes fun at individual or society weaknesses.

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Sequencing

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The placement of a story elements in the order of their occurrence.

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Setting

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The time and place where the story occurrs.

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Simile

Back 42

A figure of speech that uses like or as to compare to unlike things.

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Stereotype

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A character whose personality traits represent a group rather than an individual.

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Suspense

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Quality that causes readers to wonder what will happen next.

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Symbolism

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The use of a thing, character, object, or idea to represent something else.

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Synonyms

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Words that are very similar in meaning.

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Tall tale

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An exaggerated story detailing unbelievable events.

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Theme

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The main idea of a literary work; the message the author wants to communicate, sometimes expressed as a generalization about life.

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Tone

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The quality or feeling conveyed by the work; the author's style or manner of expression.

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Figurative language

Back 50

Description of one thing in terms usually used for something else.

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compare and contrast

Back 51

to examine the likenesses and differences of two people, ideas, things.