Figurative Language Terms

third person limited

If the narrator relates thoughts of only one character in the story, it is third person limited.

third person omniscient

In third person omniscient point of view, the narrator knows and relates not only action of all characters in the story, but of each character's thoughts as well, thus the term omniscient or all-knowing.

External Conflict

Occurs when a character struggles with an outside force 1. Character vs. character 2. Character vs. society 3. Character vs. nature

Internal Conflict

Occurs within a person or character 1. Character vs. his/ her desires 2. Character vs. his/ her emotions

First person

One can spot first person point of view by the pronouns "I, we, & us" used by the narrator. With the use of first person, the narrator is an actual character in the story.

Plot

Plot is the series of events that make up the story or drama/play. The parts of plot are: Exposition, Initiating Event, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Resolution/Denouement.

Resolution

Solution to the conflict. This is often called denouement; loose ends are tied up; end of the story/conflict

Exposition

The part of a work of fiction where readers learn about the characters and the conflicts they experience. It provides needed background information

POV

The voice telling the story is the narrator. Point of view refers to the voice in which the story is told

Character

This is a person, animal, or an object in fiction or drama. Characters are described based upon their personalities, actions, appearance, and thoughts. Characters that change are dynamic, while characters that do not change are referred to as static.

Falling Action

This is the part of the plot that occurs after the climax has been reached and the resolution of the conflict has occurred

dynamic

a character who does change throughout the story

static

a character who does not change throughout the story

Metaphor

a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is described as if it were another. In this metaphor, laughter is described as if it were a volcano: Her laughter erupted and showered down on the rest of the party, warming them with its glow. For example in "Seventh Grade" Gary Soto says "The rosebuds of shame on his face became bouquets of love."

Simile

a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as"; e.g., Muhammad Ali could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. For example in "Oranges" Gary Soto says "Fog hanging like old coats between the trees." or "tiered like bleachers..."

Personification

a figure of speech where human qualities are given to animals, objects, or ideas; for instance: The loose shutter beat a rhythm against the side of the house. For example in Jackie he says "...to have sailed the sun and ridden its joy in tears..."

Onomatopoeia

a word that imitates the sound of what it is describing; e.g., buzz, snap, crackle, etc. For example in "Oranges" Gary Soto says "A few cars hissing past," or "frost crackling between my steps."

Idiom

an expression or phrase not meant to be taken literally; its figurative meaning is quite different from the literal meaning of the phrase. For example in the story "Seventh Grade" Gary Soto says "catch her eye" which means to get someone to notice you.

Imagery/ Sensory Language

descriptions that appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example in "Fish Cheeks" Amy Tan says "A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not to be thrown into a pan of hot oil."

Conflict

is a central problem around which a story revolves. There are 2 types of conflict that can occur

Climax

or the turning point of the action, this is when the reader's interest reaches its highest point

Initiating Event

the event that sets the plot in action

Protagonist

the good guy or the main character

Rising Action

the suspense builds because complications arise that make the conflict more difficult for the main characters to resolve

Hyperbole

the use of extreme exaggeration. For example in "Lessons In Baseball" Chick Morman says "As an 11-year-old, I was addicted to baseball."