Short Story Unit Literary Terms

1
Short Story Unit Literary Terms Definitions

• Adapted by Scott Victor
• from Erin Salona

2
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.

3
Exposition Example

• The reader learns Liz lives in an apartment by
  herself.
• Liz is 25-years-old.
• Liz is tired from a long day at work as a nurse.
• Liz is talking on her cell-phone to her best
  friend Julie as she walks to the door of her own
  home.

4
Parts of Plot

• Complication (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.

5
Complication Rising Action Example

• Liz hears some strange thumping sounds coming
  from the inside of her apartment as she is about
  to put her key in the door.
• Liz tells Julie she hears something.
• Julie suggests she calls the police.
• Liz tells Julie that she was probably imagining
  the sounds but still hears them.

6
Complication Continued

• Liz opens the door to her apartment and sets her
  bag by the door.
• Her heart jumps when she sees a pair of black
  shoes peeking out from under her living room
  curtains.
• The curtain moves slightly.

7
Parts of Plot

• Climax The main conflict is typically resolved
  at this place. This is also known as the turning
  point or highest point of action in a story.

8
Climax Example

• Liz bravely walks up to the curtain and picks up
  a heavy candlestick on the way.
• She strikes the candlestick against the curtain,
  and at the same time, something grabs her hand
  from behind the curtain.
• Liz drops the candlestick, and a tall man with a
  black mask emerges from behind the curtain.
• Suddenly, her front door is flung open.

9
Parts of Plot

• Resolution (Falling Action) The part of the
  story which occurs after the climax and continues
  to the end of the story. Here is where loose
  ends are tied up toward the end of the story.

10
Falling Action Example

• The police emerge, and the masked man releases
  Liz from his grasp.
• He quickly exits her home through the open
  window, but is met with the gun from a policeman.
  
• Julie had called the police for Liz.
• Liz realizes many of her possessions are knocked
  over or broken.

11
Parts of Plot

• Resolution The final outcome of the story.

12
Resolution Example

• The police try to comfort Liz while taking her
  statement.
• Liz packs some possessions to take to Julies
  house for the night.
• She decides to invest in a second lock for her
  door in the morning and to install a burglar
  system. She knows it will be difficult to
  continue living in her home.

13
Parts of Plot
Climax
Falling Action
Rising Action
Complication
Exposition
Resolution
Basic Situation
14
Plot Curve
15
Conflict

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

16
Conflict

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

17
Characterization

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

18
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.

19
Characterization

• Protagonist The main character of a storywho
  pushes the action of the story forward.
• Antagonist The character who frustrates,
  deceives, or works against the main character.

20
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.

21
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?

22
(No Transcript)
23
Describe the Setting
24
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.

25
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.

26
Point of View

• 3rd Person Objective Point of View
• the narrator tells what happens without stating
  more than can be inferred from the story's action
  and dialogue.
• The narrator never discloses anything about what
  the characters think or feel, remaining a
  detached observer.
• 3rd person pronouns are used (he, she, etc.)

27
Point of View

• How can the point of view from which the story is
  told affect the credibility (believability) of
  the story?
• Consider Seventh Grade is told in 3rd person
  omniscient, allowing the reader to access all
  characters perspective. What if the story was
  told solely from Victors perspective? What would
  change?

28
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)

29
Suspense

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

30
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.

31
Tone

• Tone - the manner in which written words might be
  said (for example, sarcastic, mild, witty, angry)
•  

32
Genres of Literature

• Different types of writing each genre shapes a
  theme or topic differently. Genres include
• Classic literature
• Contemporary lit.
• Historical fiction
• Fantasy
• Science fiction
• Folklore

• Mythology
• Poetry
• Short stories
• Dramas
• Comedy

33
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.
• A good way to find the theme is to ask yourself
  the question, what does the main character learn
  in the course of the story?

34
Theme

• There are some things that can never be fixed or
  repaired, even if you spend a lifetime trying..
• The cruelest lies are often told in silence.
• Money does not guarantee happiness.

35
Universal Themes

• Recurring themes (such as good versus evil) that
  appear frequently across traditional and
  contemporary works.
• Love
• Abuse of power
• Coming of age
• Effects of the past
• Courage

36
What is the theme of this film?
37
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__________.

38
Symbols in Literature

• Dove Peace
• Eagle freedom, liberty, strength
• Spring new beginning, re-birth, birth
• Summer youth, prime of life
• Fall/Autumn middle age, maturity
• Winter death, dying, old age, the end
• Water birth, re-birth, renewal, purification

39
Symbols in Literature

• Rose love, beauty
• Sunrise new start, beginning
• Sunset coming to an end
• Full moon danger, bizarre behavior
• Sleep death
• Skull death
• Forest place of testing or challenge
• Light good, hope, freedom

40
Symbols in Literature

• Darkness evil, magic, fear, unknown
• Red anger, passion
• Blue happiness, peacefulness, sadness,
  intellect
• Green jealousy, wealth, growth
• Black death, evil
• White purity, innocence