Short Story Unit Literary Terms

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Short Story Unit Literary Terms Definitions

• By Erin Salona

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Parts of Plot

• Plot The sequence of events in a story.
• Exposition The basic situation of a storythis
  is where the reader learns the background
  information necessary to understand the story.

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Parts of Plot

• Rising Action The part of the story which occurs
  between the exposition and climax. Here is where
  conflicts occur which build up the story and make
  it interesting.
• Climax The turning point or highest point of
  action in a story. The main conflict is
  typically resolved after this place.

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Parts of Plot

• Falling Action The part of the story which
  occurs after the climax and before the
  resolution. Here is where loose ends are tied up
  toward the end of the story.
• Resolution The final outcome of the story.

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Parts of Plot
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Resolution
Basic Situation
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Conflict

• Internal Conflict A conflict that occurs within
  a characters mind. (man vs. himself)

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Conflict

• External Conflict A conflict that occurs between
  a character and an outside force. Man vs. man,
  man vs. nature, for example.

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Characterization

• Static Character A character who does NOT change
  throughout the story.
• Dynamic Character A character who changes
  throughout the story.

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Characterization

• Round Character A character with many qualities
  and personality traits.
• Flat Character A character with only a couple
  characteristics is often the stereotypical
  character in a story.

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Characterization

• Protagonist The main character of a storyoften
  considered to be the hero of the story.
• Antagonist The character who frustrates,
  deceives, or works against the main character.

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Methods of Characterization

• Direct Characterization The narrator makes
  direct comments about the character. i.e. She is
  friendly.
• Indirect Characterization We learn about the
  character through her speech, thoughts, feelings,
  actions, physical appearance and through other
  characters thoughts, feelings, and speech about
  her.

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Setting

• Setting Where and when the story takes place.
• Place - geographical location. Where is the
  action of the story taking place?
• Time - When is the story taking place?
  (historical period, time of day, year, etc)
• Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy,
  etc?

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Point of View

• Who is telling the story?
• 1st Person POV The narrator is a character in
  the story and uses I or me when telling the
  story.
• 2nd Person POV The narrator brings you, the
  reader, into the story when telling the story.

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Point of View

• 3rd Person Limited POV The narrator tells only
  what one character thinks, feels, and observes,
  and uses he, they, she, etc.
• 3rd Person Omniscient POV The narrator sees into
  the minds of more than one character when telling
  the story uses he, she, they, etc.

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Theme

• A perception about life that the writer conveys
  to the reader. A theme must be written in a
  complete sentence, and must apply to the story as
  well as to life in general.
• Ones family may be his friends.
• Sometimes the cruelest words are said in
  silence.

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Irony

• Situational Irony When there is a contrast
  between what a reader or character expects and
  what actually exists or happens.
• Verbal Irony Saying one thing, but meaning
  something else. . . knowingly exaggerating.
  (sarcasm)

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Irony

• Dramatic Irony The audience or reader knows
  something another character does not know.
• Type of Irony?
• What a beautiful day! (said on a rainy, 40
  degree day)
• Its ironic that the man who reported the crime
  to police is actually the murderer!

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Symbol

• A person, place, thing, or event that stands for
  itself and for something beyond itself as well.
• Examples the American flag symbolizes freedom,
  liberty, and love for America.
• A wedding band symbolizes_______.
• A white flag symbolizes__________.

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Foreshadowing

• The use of hints or clues to indicate events and
  situations that will occur later in the plot.
• Spooky music
• Thunder and lightening
• A new suspicious character introduced (purpose
  unknown at the time)

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Suspense

• The excitement or tension a reader feels when
  reading.
• I wonder what will happen next?

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Mood

• The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates
  for the reader through word choice and imagery.
• Types of mood scary, romantic,
• violent, hopeful, etc.