Short Story Unit- Terms to know

Setting

Time and placeCan create the conflict, atmosphere, mood of the story

ProtagonistThe central character in the story, the one that drives the action… usually the hero, but sometimes it can be the villain if he/she drives the action

Antagonist

The opponent that struggles against the protagonist

(may not be a person—could be nature or even the character’s own conscience)

CharacterizationThe way an author reveals a character’s

personality By telling us directly By describing how they look By what they character says By revealing the character’s thoughts By the way others react or feel about him/her By the character’s actions

Characterization

Round: fully developedFlat: one dimensionalStereotype: a person, group, or issue

considered to typify or conform to an unvarying pattern or manner and lacking individuality

( ex. dumb blonde)

Plot

Events in the story (story line)

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

ConflictsStruggle between opposing

forces in a storyInternal- in a person’s mindExternal- person against another

person, person against society, or person against nature

Complication/ Rising Action

Obstacles that the character(s) face as the story progresses; all the actions that take place before the climax

Turning point/ climax

Climax- emotional high point or turning point

Outcome of conflict is about to happen

Falling Action

All the actions that take place after the turning point/crisis/climax- leads to the final resolution of the conflict (happy or unhappy)

Resolution/ Denouement

When the story’s problems are resolved (happy or unhappy) and the story comes to an end

ToneAttitude the writer takes toward the

subject of the work, the characters in it or the audience- writers try to manipulate language to achieve a certain effect

Single word examples: solemn, playful, sarcastic, ironic, critical, reverent (respectful), irreverent (disrespectful), philosophical (truth-seeking)

Tone Wordsdreamy afraid fancifulhappy horrifichumorous irreverentjoking joyfulmocking objectivepeaceful pitiful

bitter boringcandid childishcoldcomplimentary condescendingconfusedcontemptuousdetacheddramaticproud

shockingsillysentimentalsharp sad sarcasticsombersweet sympathetic tiredupsetvibrantzealous

Symbolism

A person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and stands for something more than itself

MetaphorComparison not using like or as

Directly stated “Fame is a bee” Implied “I like to see it (train) lap the Miles” (train moving is compared to an animal lapping water)

Extended- the comparison is continuously made throughout the work

Simile

Comparison using like or as

Personification

To give object or animal human characteristics

Imagery

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

Irony - a discrepancy or difference between appearance and realityVerbal irony- says something but means

something elseSituational irony- is when what is

expected to happen is the opposite of what really happens

Dramatic irony- the character thinks one thing is true, but the audience knows better

Foreshadowing

Use of hints and clues to suggest what is going to happen. A writer can use foreshadowing to create suspense.

ThemeThe insight about human life that is

revealed by the literature. Theme is not the same as the subject. Subject might be one word or a phrase like “growing up.” The theme is stated in at least one sentence or more. “For most young people, growing up is a process that involves the pain of achieving self-knowledge.”

Theme is not a moral

A moral tells how to behave or what to do. Theme is an observation.

Incorrect theme: The theme of “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” is that you shouldn’t hurt other people.

A theme is not a bumper sticker statement or a cliché

Incorrect theme: The theme of “A Life You Save May Be Your Own” is that what comes around goes around.

Themes do not refer to the specific names or the events of the plot

Incorrect theme: The theme of “The Life You Save” is that Mr. Shiftlet is a con artist and will be punished

Wording to useAvoid shallow words like

“anyone” “all” “none” “everything” “everyone” “you”

Use terms that suggest a more realistic view of human experience like “we” “us” “society often” “people sometimes”

Thematic VocabularyAlienation

Ambition

Appearance/ reality

Custom/ tradition

Betrayal

Courage/ cowardice

Women/ feminism

Cruelty/ violence

Defeat/ failure

Chance/ fate/ luck

Heart vs Reason

Law/ justice

Free will/ will power

Greed

Guilt

Falsity/ pretense

Dreams/ fantasies

Loyalty

Materialism

Mob psychology

Search for identity

Scapegoat/ victim

Innocence/ illusion

Prejudice

Social status

Persistence

Repentance

Revenge

Journey