Short StoriesUnit Test Review

Protagonist Main character of the story

Antagonist Force or forces that oppose the main

character

Foreshadowing Hints about what is to come.

Flashback Interruption of the current events to show

the past.

Characterization A writer’s method of revealing the

characters.

Mood Emotional quality of the story.

Suspense The reader’s uncertainty about what will

happen in the story.

Motivation The reasons a character does or feels

something.

Symbol A concrete object that stands for something

else.

Style The arrangement of words and sentences

First-person point-of-view The narrator is a character in the story.

Third-person point-of-view Narrator is outside of the story.

Conflict The struggle between opposing forces.

Types of conflict Character vs. him/herself (internal) Character vs. character (external) Character vs. society (external) Character vs. fate/nature (external)

Types of characterization Narrator’s direct comments (direct) Physical description (direct) Character’s actions, thoughts, and feelings

(indirect) Other character’s thoughts, feelings, and

actions toward the character (indirect)

Characters Round characters (characters with many

traits) Flat characters (characters with only one or

two character traits) Dynamic characters (characters that

change as a result of the action) Static characters (characters that do not

undergo a change)

Types of irony Verbal Irony- Statements that are contrary

to what is meant. Situational Irony- Something happens that

is contrary to what is expected. Dramatic Irony- Readers are aware of

information the characters are not aware of.

Plot graph Exposition Conflict Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

Setting The time and place in which a story takes

place

“Lamb to the Slaughter” Mary Maloney is the protagonist. Dramatic and situational irony are used

throughout the story. The mood is darkly comic.

“The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant” Sheila is characterized as selfish and

unconcerned with the feelings of the narrator. The conflict revolves around whether or not to cut

the fish loose. The narrator feels that he made the wrong choice

because he did not take the action that reflected his enduring values.

“The Cold Equations” The story is told from a limited third-person point

of view. The voice of the narrator is calm, which increases

the story’s horror and characterizes Barton as compassionate towards Marilyn.

The theme is that survival can demand hard choices.

“The Leap” The fire is foreshadowed when the narrator

feels the “stitches burn” beneath her fingers.

The point of view is first person. Many of the events are told in flashback.

“The Pedestrian” The setting is Los Angeles in 2053, which is

important because it makes American readers identify with the disconnect in society.

The mood is eerie and surreal and shifts to terrifying when Mead is arrested for taking a walk.

“The Storyteller” Told from a third person omniscient point of

view which allows Saki to comment directly on each character.

The tone of the story is humorous and ironic because of the discrepancies between the aunt and the man.

“By the Waters of Babylon” Told in first-person to restrict the flow of

information and build suspense. The narrator’s (John’s) voice is scared but

amazed at the city of the gods since he is self-assured but inexperienced.