Short Story Terms English I. Fiction a story that is not true. a story that is not true.

Short Story TermsShort Story Terms

English IEnglish I

FictionFiction

• a story that is not true. a story that is not true.

Short StoryShort Story

• A story that can be read in one A story that can be read in one sitting, has the six parts of the plot, sitting, has the six parts of the plot, and is a work of fiction. and is a work of fiction.

PlotPlot

• the exposition, narrative hook, rising the exposition, narrative hook, rising action, climax, falling action, and action, climax, falling action, and resolution resolution

ExpositionExposition

• the beginning of the story where we the beginning of the story where we find out the setting, characters, and find out the setting, characters, and the conflict. the conflict.

SettingSetting

• where and when a story takes place. where and when a story takes place.

Character Character

• Person or animal that appears in the Person or animal that appears in the action of a story. action of a story.

ConflictConflict

• the problem in a story or the struggle the problem in a story or the struggle between opposing forces.between opposing forces.

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict

• the problem that exists in a the problem that exists in a character’s mind character’s mind

External ConflictExternal Conflict

• a problem outside of a character. a problem outside of a character.

Rising ActionRising Action

• The action that takes place as the The action that takes place as the characters try to resolve the conflict. characters try to resolve the conflict.

ClimaxClimax

• Highest point of interest or turning Highest point of interest or turning point in a story point in a story

Falling ActionFalling Action

• possible solutions to the problem possible solutions to the problem

Resolution Resolution

• At the end of the story, where all of At the end of the story, where all of the loose ends are tied up.the loose ends are tied up.

ThemeTheme

• The central idea of the story or life The central idea of the story or life lesson that is taught.lesson that is taught.

ToneTone

• the author’s attitude towards his the author’s attitude towards his subject matter subject matter

MoodMood

• the reader’s feelings about what he the reader’s feelings about what he or she has read. or she has read.

ProtagonistProtagonist

• the main character or "the good the main character or "the good guy." guy."

Antagonist Antagonist

• the character or force that is against the character or force that is against the protagonist the protagonist

CharacterizationCharacterization

• the process of revealing the the process of revealing the personality of a character. personality of a character.

Direct Characterization Direct Characterization

• the author comes out directly and the author comes out directly and tells the reader about a character’s tells the reader about a character’s personality.personality.

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

• When the author allows a character’s When the author allows a character’s actions to tell you about their actions to tell you about their personality.personality.

Description of Characters:Description of Characters:

• Dynamic–A character that changes Dynamic–A character that changes as a result of the action in the story as a result of the action in the story

• Static-A character that remains the Static-A character that remains the same throughout the story same throughout the story

• Round-The reader sees many sides Round-The reader sees many sides or traits of a character’s personality or traits of a character’s personality

• Flat- The reader sees only one side or Flat- The reader sees only one side or very few traits of a character.very few traits of a character.

Narrative HookNarrative Hook

• the attention grabber in a story the attention grabber in a story

IronyIrony

• the events turn out differently than the events turn out differently than what is expected what is expected

1. Situational Irony1. Situational Irony

• when there is a conflict between the when there is a conflict between the expected outcome and what actually expected outcome and what actually occurs occurs

2. Dramatic Irony2. Dramatic Irony

• the audience has information the the audience has information the characters on stage do not characters on stage do not

3. Verbal Irony3. Verbal Irony

• when one thing is said, but another is when one thing is said, but another is meant meant

SymbolismSymbolism

• something that stands for or something that stands for or represents something else represents something else

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing

• clues as to what will happen later in clues as to what will happen later in the story the story

FlashbackFlashback

• to interrupt the current events to to interrupt the current events to show events that happened show events that happened previously previously

AtmosphereAtmosphere

• a synonym for mood and it focuses a synonym for mood and it focuses on the reader’s feelings on the reader’s feelings

DialogueDialogue

• a conversation between two or more a conversation between two or more characters characters

Omniscient Point-of-View Omniscient Point-of-View

• an all-knowing and all-seeing an all-knowing and all-seeing narrator narrator

Third Person Point-of View Third Person Point-of View

• the narrator is telling a story from a the narrator is telling a story from a character’s perspective. character’s perspective.

First Person Point-of View First Person Point-of View

• the narrator is in the story and is the narrator is in the story and is telling the story telling the story