7th Grade Elements of Literature

Topic: EntertainmentGames
Sample donated:
Last updated: April 26, 2019
when something that is not human is given human like qualities

comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”

comparison of two unlike things by saying something is something else

when something stands for something else

when two or more words are next to each other that begin with the same letter or sound

when the author forms an image in your mind

a phrase that cannot be taken literally, but its meaning is understood

an over-exaggeration

when the opposite of what is expected happens

when the sound of an action is spelled like it sounds

when words are repeated in sequence

when two words are next to each other that have opposite meanings, but they create a new meaning

flat or static
character that usually only shows one side of his/her personality, and does not show growth or maturity in the story

round or dynamic
character that usually shows many sides of personality and shows growth or maturity in the story

a main character, story would change if character were removed

a less important character and the story would not change or only change slightly if this character were removed

words spoken by characters

a hint in the story of something that will happen later in the story

the time and place of the story

struggle in the story

conflict KIND that is a struggle between two characters or things in the story and exists outside the character

conflict KIND that is a struggle within one character and the stuggle exists inside that character

man v man
a struggle between two characters, external

man v self
a struggle with in one character, internal

man v nature
a struggle between a character and a natural force, external

man v society
a struggle between a character and a force of society, external

background information is given to understand the story better, characters are introduced, setting is established

rising action
events leading to the climax, conflict is present, suspense is present, longest portion of the story

falling action
climax is explained, characters express how they feel about the climax

highest point of the story, purpose of reading the story, a discovery is made

characters return to as normal a life as possible

the “message” of the story

indirect theme
when only after reading the entire story is it possible to figure out the theme

direct theme
when the theme is stated directly in the story, an actual sentence or portion of the story is the theme

point of view
the angle from which the story is told

1st person
when the narrator is telling the story from his/her point of view, the word “I” is present outside of quotes

3rd person limited omniscient
when the narrator is telling the story about one character that is not him/herself and is aware of other characters’ actions and possibly their thoughts

when a portion of the story goes back in time

the development of the story line from start to finish

humorous play on words often involving double meaning

an expression that has lost its power or originality from overuse

a polite term used to avoid directly naming something considered offensive or unpleasant

The time, place, and environment in which action takes place including specific sites or cultural and economic conditions.

a comparison of two unlike things using like or as

Prose literature, esp. short stories and novels, about imaginary events and people. Does not include poems or drama.

the falling action of a narrative; the events following the climax

chronological order
in the time order in which events happened

the character who works against the protagonist in the story

the principal character in a work of fiction

The main idea or meaning of a text.


point of view
the perspective from which a story is told

giving human qualities to animals or objects

the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction

The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience


man vs man
conflict that pits one person against another

man vs nature
a struggle against the elements of nature; like a hurricane

man vs self
struggle a character has within himself

man vs society
character against the system, such as government, employers, parents, etc.

third person omniscient
The narrator is not a character in the story but knows what all of the characters are thinking along with the events that happen

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