short story terms and literary devices

7/27/2019 Short Story Terms and Literary Devices

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Short Story Terms andLiterary Devices


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Plot DiagramA plot graph shows the development of a story


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Short Story Terms Setting the place, time, and duration of a

story

Atmosphere the mood (eg. warm, tense,depressing, hilarious) which is established byaction, dialogue, setting, and character

Character either a specific character in thestory, or personality traits (not looks) ofindividual characters


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Characters Protagonist the main character

Antagonist the character who worksagainst the protagonist

Foil

a character who contrasts with

another, and in so doing, emphasizes thecharacter traits of the other


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Point of view A story is told from the viewpoint of the narrator.The narrator can be:

first person First person pronouns (I, me, we,us) are used.

third person limited The narrator is outsidethe story, but the story unfolds mainly throughthe limited perspective of one character.

third person omniscient The narrator isoutside the story, and the story unfolds throughthe perspectives of several differentcharacters.


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Conflicta struggle between two forces Four types of conflict are: 1. human vs. human a struggle between two

characters

2. human vs. self an internal struggle within acharacter

3. human vs. nature a character struggles against

forces of nature (harsh geography, weather, animals)

4. human vs. societya character struggles againstsocial forces (racism, the economy, declaration of war)


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Types of Endings:

1. wrap-up ending

the conflict isclearly resolved; a satisfying ending

2. anti-climax ending there is some

conflict resolution, but it is not complete;the reader is left with questions

3. open ending there is no resolution

of conflict 4. ironic twist ending the unexpected

happens


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Other Literary Techniques: Alliterationthe close repetition of

consonant sounds

eg. The car crashed quite close to thecurb, killing the kidnappers.

Al lus ion-a passing or casual reference;an incidental mention of something,either directly or by implication.

eg. an allusion to Shakespeare.


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Audience-The person or group to whom

an author directs his/her piece of writingeg. The audience for the film Tangledis

children.

Contrast-One element, object or idea is

presented in opposition to another to

create emphasis or clarity.eg. An author can contrast the difference

between childhood and adolescence.


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Diction-A word or a combination of

words used to support a specific tone.eg. The diction meddling busybody would

indicate a critical tone about a person.

Euphemism- A gentler, more politically

correct way of saying something that

could be offensive or upsetting.eg. The man passed away at the advanced

age of 91.


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Hyperbole an extreme exaggeration, often

used to convey an extreme emotion

eg. We had to walk a thousand kilometres

because we missed the bus.

I ronyoccurs where there is a difference

between what is expected and what actually

happens.

eg. Ahmed is called down to the office and hethinks hes in trouble. The Vice Principal

congratulates him on his excellent Math mark.


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Imagery The author writes in such a way that the

readers senses are impacted. Imagery

can impact any of the senses: sight,hearing, touch, taste, smell.

eg. A putrid stench from the rotting food

overwhelmed her.


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Motif- A recurring symbol, saying, event, word,

phrase that has significance beyond the

obvious and unifies a work.

eg. The motif of the conch is used

throughout Lord of the Flies.


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Onomatopoeia the word, often not a

real word, conveys a soundeg. The water glglglgled down the drain.

Oxymoron-When two words withopposite meanings are put side by side

to create an effect.

eg. jumbo shrimp


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Parallel Structure

The use of the same grammatical form

for words, phrases or clauses, that can

emphasize contrast, create balance andrhythm and/or create a memorable

beginning or ending.


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Personification human qualities are given to

something that is not human (animals, objects,plants, nature)

eg. The ship sank and was swallowed by thesea.

Pun a play on the double meaning of a word

eg. Being but heavy, I will bear the light.(Romeo)

The meaning of light can be taken as theopposite of heavy, but it also refers to thebrightness of the torch he carries.


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Suspense a feeling of tension, anxiety

or excitement resulting from uncertainty;used by the author to keep the reader

interested

Symbolism an object represents more

than the sum of its parts,

and stands for something greater thanitself


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Satire - A literary work which attacks

human follies or vices and holds them upfor ridicule.

Simile is the comparison of two unlikethings using like oras.

eg. He eats like a pig.


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Stream of consciousness: the unbroken flow of thought and

awareness of the waking mind

a special mode of narration that

undertakes to capture the full spectrum

and the continuous flow of a character's

mental process

'interior monologue' an alternate term


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Tone: the attitude of an author towards

his or her piece. Serious or comic,satirical or tragic

Tragedy: bad things may happen to aperson or a community, but the ending

reveals that the characters may have

learned something important about theirlives.

short story terms and literary devices

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