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Short Story Short Story Literary Terms Literary Terms

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Short Story Short Story Literary TermsLiterary Terms

FictionFictionFiction is prose writing that tells Fiction is prose writing that tells

about imaginary characters and about imaginary characters and events. events.

Some fiction is entirely made-up, Some fiction is entirely made-up, while other fiction is while other fiction is based onbased on real real events and/or peopleevents and/or people

SettingSetting The setting of the The setting of the

literary work is the literary work is the timetime andand placeplace of the of the action. action.

Time can include not only Time can include not only the historical period—past, the historical period—past, present, or future—but also a present, or future—but also a specific year, season, or time specific year, season, or time of day. of day.

Place—though usually Place—though usually physical—may also physical—may also involve the social, involve the social, economic, or cultural economic, or cultural environment of the environment of the story story

ProtagonistProtagonistThe protagonist is the The protagonist is the main main

charactercharacter in a literary work. in a literary work.

He/she is He/she is NOTNOT necessarily necessarily the “good guy”, just the the “good guy”, just the mainmain charactercharacter

AntagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character or An antagonist is a character or

force in conflict with the main force in conflict with the main character character

This is This is NOTNOT necessarily the necessarily the “bad guy”, just the person or “bad guy”, just the person or thing that is working against the thing that is working against the main charactermain character

ConflictConflict

INTERNAL INTERNAL -Conflict that -Conflict that occurs inside occurs inside the characterthe character-man Vs. self-man Vs. self

EXTERNAL EXTERNAL ––Conflict that occurs Conflict that occurs

outside of the outside of the charactercharacter-man Vs. man-man Vs. man-man Vs. nature-man Vs. nature-man Vs. society-man Vs. society-man Vs. fate-man Vs. fate

A conflict is a struggle between opposing A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. forces.

There are two types of conflict: There are two types of conflict:

SymbolSymbol Something that has a literal meaning, but Something that has a literal meaning, but

also stands for or represents an abstract also stands for or represents an abstract idea.idea.Example: The American Flag– on a Example: The American Flag– on a

literal level, it is just a flag, a piece of literal level, it is just a flag, a piece of cloth. cloth. However, it also However, it also stands for stands for this this particular particular county, for freedom, etc.county, for freedom, etc.

Denotation Vs. ConnotationDenotation Vs. Connotation

Denotation: Denotation:

The dictionary The dictionary meaning of a word, meaning of a word, independent of independent of other associations other associations that the word may that the word may havehave

Connotation: Connotation:

The set of ideas The set of ideas associated with a associated with a word in addition to word in addition to the word’s actual, the word’s actual, explicit meaningexplicit meaning

IronyIrony The difference between appearance and The difference between appearance and

reality, expectation and result.reality, expectation and result. There are THREE kinds of Irony:There are THREE kinds of Irony:

--Verbal IronyVerbal Irony: a word or phrase used to suggest the : a word or phrase used to suggest the opposite of its actual meaningopposite of its actual meaning

--Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony: When there is a contradiction : When there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the between what a character thinks and what the readers know is truereaders know is true

Irony (continued)Irony (continued)--Situational IronySituational Irony: When an event directly : When an event directly

contradicts expectations of the reader or of contradicts expectations of the reader or of the characters the characters

DialogueDialogue A dialogue is a A dialogue is a

conversation between conversation between characters. characters.

It is often used to It is often used to reveal things about a reveal things about a character’s thoughts, character’s thoughts, motivations, and motivations, and personality to the personality to the reader, and to reader, and to advance the action of advance the action of the plot.the plot.

Example: Example:

After walking into the After walking into the kitchen, Susie cried, kitchen, Susie cried, ““Mom, how could you Mom, how could you eat the last cupcake?!eat the last cupcake?!” ”

Mom replied, Mom replied, “I was “I was hungry, and you hungry, and you weren’t here. It was weren’t here. It was delicious, my dear!”delicious, my dear!”

DictionDiction Word choice, including vocabulary Word choice, including vocabulary

used, word appropriateness, and used, word appropriateness, and vividness of languagevividness of language

MoodMoodThe feeling created in the reader The feeling created in the reader

by a literary workby a literary work

ToneToneThe attitude toward the subject The attitude toward the subject

that an author conveys in a piece of that an author conveys in a piece of writingwriting

PurposePurpose The author’s reason for writing a The author’s reason for writing a

specific piece specific piece

(Examples: To entertain, to inform, or (Examples: To entertain, to inform, or to persuade the reader)to persuade the reader)

ForeshadowingForeshadowing Clues in a literary work that suggest events Clues in a literary work that suggest events

that have yet to occurthat have yet to occur

This literary device This literary device helps to create helps to create suspense, keeping suspense, keeping readers wondering readers wondering about what will happen about what will happen next.next.

GeneralizationGeneralization A broad principle that is supported by evidence A broad principle that is supported by evidence

or particularsor particulars

EvidenceEvidence Particulars, or details, that lead to generalizationsParticulars, or details, that lead to generalizations

Evidence

Evidence Evidence Evidence

GENERALIZATION

(BIG PICTURE!!!)

ThemeTheme The central The central messagemessage or insight into life or insight into life

revealed through a literary workrevealed through a literary work

– This is the deeper meaning, the main This is the deeper meaning, the main lesson/message/moral that the author lesson/message/moral that the author hopes the reader will understand at the hopes the reader will understand at the end of the storyend of the story

SimileSimile A comparison between two unlike things A comparison between two unlike things

using “like” or “as”.using “like” or “as”. Similes are used to make descriptions of Similes are used to make descriptions of

objects or people more powerful.objects or people more powerful.

Example: Example: Without a simile: “It was dark outside.”Without a simile: “It was dark outside.”With a simile: “The night was as dark as thick, With a simile: “The night was as dark as thick,

black velvet.” black velvet.”

AllusionAllusion When one literary work references a well-When one literary work references a well-

known person, place, event, work of art, or known person, place, event, work of art, or another literary work to make a point.another literary work to make a point.

Example: In Taylor Swift’s song “Love Example: In Taylor Swift’s song “Love Story”, she Story”, she alludesalludes to the play “Romeo to the play “Romeo and and Juliet” and the novel Juliet” and the novel The Scarlet The Scarlet LetterLetter to to enhance her message.enhance her message.

MetaphorMetaphor A comparison between two unlike things, A comparison between two unlike things,

without using the words “like” or “as”.without using the words “like” or “as”. Instead, one thing is spoken of as though it Instead, one thing is spoken of as though it isis

something else completely.something else completely.

Example (from the Langston Hughes poem Example (from the Langston Hughes poem “Dreams”):“Dreams”):

“…if dreams die“…if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly”That cannot fly”

PersonificationPersonification A type of figurative language, where a non-A type of figurative language, where a non-

human object is given human characteristicshuman object is given human characteristics

Examples: Examples: --The desk coughed and grunted as I shoved it across the old wooden floor.

-The tea kettle whistled once the water was boiling.

ImageryImagery The The descriptivedescriptive or figurative language or figurative language

used in literature to create used in literature to create word picturesword pictures for the reader.for the reader.

These word pictures/images, are These word pictures/images, are created by details of sight, sound, taste, created by details of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement.touch, smell, or movement.

Point of ViewPoint of View The perspective or angle from which a story The perspective or angle from which a story

is being toldis being told

There are several types:There are several types:– First-Person-Point-of-ViewFirst-Person-Point-of-View: When the narrator : When the narrator

telling the story is one of the characters, and tells telling the story is one of the characters, and tells the story as a personal accountthe story as a personal account

– Third-Person-Point-of-ViewThird-Person-Point-of-View: When the : When the narrator is not one of the characters (has no narrator is not one of the characters (has no name, and does not participate in any of the name, and does not participate in any of the action of the plot)action of the plot)

Point of View (continued)Point of View (continued) There are also two types of Third-Person-There are also two types of Third-Person-

Point-of-View:Point-of-View:

– Third-Third-Limited-Point-of-View-Point-of-View: When the : When the narrator sees the world through narrator sees the world through oneone character’s character’s eyes and reveals eyes and reveals onlyonly thatthat character’s thoughts character’s thoughts

– Third-Third-Omniscient-Point-of-View-Point-of-View: When the : When the narrator sees into the minds of all the charactersnarrator sees into the minds of all the characters

Dynamic CharacterDynamic Character A character that develops and changes A character that develops and changes

through the course of a storythrough the course of a story

Example: Ebenezer ScroogeExample: Ebenezer Scrooge at the at the beginning of “A Christmas Carol”, he is a beginning of “A Christmas Carol”, he is a mean, lonely man that is only interested in mean, lonely man that is only interested in money. By the end of the story, he is money. By the end of the story, he is generous, and interested in the “true spirit of generous, and interested in the “true spirit of Christmas.”Christmas.”

Static CharacterStatic Character A character that does A character that does notnot change or change or

develop through the course of the storydevelop through the course of the story

Example: Example:

Wile E. Coyote Wile E. Coyote

CharacterizationCharacterization The way a writer reveals a character’s The way a writer reveals a character’s

personality and traitspersonality and traits

There are two methods:There are two methods:– Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization: The author directly : The author directly

states a character’s personality and/or physical states a character’s personality and/or physical traitstraits

– Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization: Uses a character’s : Uses a character’s thoughts, actions, and feelings, to suggest the thoughts, actions, and feelings, to suggest the character’s traits.character’s traits.

NarratorNarrator

The person The person from whose from whose perspective a perspective a story is toldstory is told

Round CharacterRound Character A character that exhibits many traits, faults A character that exhibits many traits, faults

as well as virtuesas well as virtues

Flat CharacterFlat Character A character who seems to have only a single A character who seems to have only a single

personality traitpersonality trait

FantasyFantasyA work of A work of

fiction with fiction with character’s, character’s, places, and places, and events that events that could not really could not really existexist

PlotPlotThe sequence of events The sequence of events

that make up a story, that make up a story, usually centering around a usually centering around a main conflictmain conflict

The Five Stages of PlotThe Five Stages of Plot

ExpositionExposition The first stage of plot!The first stage of plot!

In the Exposition, the scene is set: In the Exposition, the scene is set: – this part of the story introduces the this part of the story introduces the

characters, tells the reader the characters, tells the reader the setting, and provides all of the setting, and provides all of the necessary background informationnecessary background information

Rising ActionRising Action The second stage of plot!The second stage of plot!

This is where the action usually begins. This is where the action usually begins. In In the Rising Action, the conflict is introducedthe Rising Action, the conflict is introduced (either between characters, or with an (either between characters, or with an outside force). This conflict will build up outside force). This conflict will build up pressure until the Climaxpressure until the Climax

ClimaxClimax The climax is the The climax is the

highest point of highest point of conflict in the conflict in the story!! story!!

Generally, this is the Generally, this is the point after which point after which everything is different. everything is different. All of the pressure or All of the pressure or events of the Rising events of the Rising Action have stacked Action have stacked up to this moment, up to this moment, when something must when something must change change

Falling ActionFalling ActionThis stage begins the downward This stage begins the downward

slopeslope the conflict lessens, and the the conflict lessens, and the plot moves towards closureplot moves towards closure

Resolution/DenouementResolution/Denouement In the final stage of plot, the conflict In the final stage of plot, the conflict

concludes, and loose ends are tied up. concludes, and loose ends are tied up.