Short Story Terms Short Story Terms and Literary Devicesand Literary Devices

Plot DiagramPlot DiagramA plot graph shows the development of a storyA plot graph shows the development of a story

Short Story TermsShort Story Terms

Setting – Setting – the place, time, and duration of a the place, time, and duration of a storystory

Atmosphere – Atmosphere – the mood (eg. warm, tense, the mood (eg. warm, tense, depressing, hilarious) which is established by depressing, hilarious) which is established by action, dialogue, setting, and characteraction, dialogue, setting, and character

Character Character – either a specific character in the – either a specific character in the story, or personality traits (not looks) of story, or personality traits (not looks) of individual characters individual characters

CharactersCharacters

Protagonist Protagonist – the main character– the main character

Antagonist Antagonist – the character who works – the character who works against the protagonistagainst the protagonist

Foil – Foil – a character who contrasts with a character who contrasts with another, and in so doing, emphasizes the another, and in so doing, emphasizes the character traits of the othercharacter traits of the other

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

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

third person limited – The narrator is outside third person limited – The narrator is outside the story, but the story unfolds mainly through the story, but the story unfolds mainly through the limited perspective of one character.the limited perspective of one character.

third person omniscient – The narrator is third person omniscient – The narrator is outside the story, and the story unfolds through outside the story, and the story unfolds through the perspectives of several different the perspectives of several different characters.characters.

ConflictConflict – – a struggle between two forcesa struggle between two forces

FourFour types of conflict are: types of conflict are: 1. human vs. human – a struggle between two 1. human vs. human – a struggle between two

characterscharacters

2. human vs. self – an internal struggle within a 2. human vs. self – an internal struggle within a charactercharacter

3. human vs. nature – a character struggles against 3. human vs. nature – a character struggles against forces of nature (harsh geography, weather, animals)forces of nature (harsh geography, weather, animals)

4. human vs. society –a character struggles against 4. human vs. society –a character struggles against social forces (racism, the economy, declaration of war)social forces (racism, the economy, declaration of war)

Types of Endings:Types of Endings:

1. wrap-up ending – 1. wrap-up ending – the conflict is the conflict is clearly resolved; a satisfying endingclearly resolved; a satisfying ending

2. anti-climax ending – 2. anti-climax ending – there is some there is some conflict resolution, but it is not complete; conflict resolution, but it is not complete; the reader is left with questionsthe reader is left with questions

3. open ending – 3. open ending – there is no resolution there is no resolution of conflictof conflict

4. ironic twist ending – 4. ironic twist ending – the unexpected the unexpected happenshappens

Other Literary Other Literary Techniques: Techniques:

Alliteration – Alliteration – the close repetition of the close repetition of consonant soundsconsonant sounds

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

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

eg. an allusion to Shakespeare.eg. an allusion to Shakespeare.

AudienceAudience-The person or group to whom -The person or group to whom an author directs his/her piece of writingan author directs his/her piece of writing

eg. The audience for the film eg. The audience for the film TangledTangled is is children.children.

Contrast-Contrast-One element, object or idea is One element, object or idea is presented in opposition to another to presented in opposition to another to create emphasis or clarity.create emphasis or clarity.

eg. An author can contrast the difference eg. An author can contrast the difference between childhood and adolescence. between childhood and adolescence.

Diction-Diction-A word or a combination of A word or a combination of words used to support a specific tone.words used to support a specific tone.

eg. The diction “meddling busybody” would eg. The diction “meddling busybody” would indicate a critical tone about a person.indicate a critical tone about a person.

Euphemism-Euphemism- A gentler, more politically A gentler, more politically correct way of saying something that correct way of saying something that could be offensive or upsetting. could be offensive or upsetting.

eg. The man passed away at the advanced eg. The man passed away at the advanced age of 91.age of 91.

HyperboleHyperbole – an extreme exaggeration, often – an extreme exaggeration, often used to convey an extreme emotionused to convey an extreme emotion

eg. eg. We had to walk a thousand kilometres We had to walk a thousand kilometres because we missed the bus.because we missed the bus.

Irony – Irony – occurs where there is a difference occurs where there is a difference between what is expected and what actually between what is expected and what actually happens.happens.

eg. Ahmed is called down to the office and he eg. Ahmed is called down to the office and he thinks he’s in trouble. The Vice Principal thinks he’s in trouble. The Vice Principal congratulates him on his excellent Math mark.congratulates him on his excellent Math mark.

ImageryImagery

The author writes in such a way that the The author writes in such a way that the reader’s senses are impacted. Imagery reader’s senses are impacted. Imagery can impact any of the senses: sight, can impact any of the senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell.hearing, touch, taste, smell.

eg. eg. A putrid stench from the rotting food A putrid stench from the rotting food overwhelmed her.overwhelmed her.

Motif-Motif-

A recurring symbol, saying, event, word, A recurring symbol, saying, event, word, phrase that has significance beyond the phrase that has significance beyond the obvious and unifies a work. obvious and unifies a work.

eg. The motif of the conch is used eg. The motif of the conch is used throughout throughout Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies..

Onomatopoeia – Onomatopoeia – the word, often not a the word, often not a real word, conveys a soundreal word, conveys a sound

eg. eg. The water glglglgled down the drain.The water glglglgled down the drain.

Oxymoron-Oxymoron-When two words with When two words with opposite meanings are put side by side opposite meanings are put side by side to create an effect.to create an effect.

eg. jumbo shrimpeg. jumbo shrimp

Parallel StructureParallel Structure

The use of the same grammatical form The use of the same grammatical form for words, phrases or clauses, that can for words, phrases or clauses, that can emphasize contrast, create balance and emphasize contrast, create balance and rhythm and/or create a memorable rhythm and/or create a memorable beginning or ending. beginning or ending.

Personification – Personification – human qualities are given to human qualities are given to something that is not human (animals, objects, something that is not human (animals, objects, plants, nature)plants, nature)

eg. The ship sank and was swallowed by the eg. The ship sank and was swallowed by the sea.sea.

PunPun – a play on the double meaning of a word – a play on the double meaning of a wordeg. eg. Being but heavy, I will bear the light. Being but heavy, I will bear the light.

(Romeo)(Romeo) The meaning of light can be taken as the The meaning of light can be taken as the

opposite of heavy, but it also refers to the opposite of heavy, but it also refers to the brightness of the torch he carries.brightness of the torch he carries.

SuspenseSuspense – a feeling of tension, anxiety – a feeling of tension, anxiety or excitement resulting from uncertainty; or excitement resulting from uncertainty; used by the author to keep the reader used by the author to keep the reader interestedinterested

Symbolism Symbolism – an object represents more – an object represents more than the sum of its parts, than the sum of its parts,

and stands for something greater than and stands for something greater than itself itself

SatireSatire - A literary work which attacks - A literary work which attacks human follies or vices and holds them up human follies or vices and holds them up for ridicule.for ridicule.

SimileSimile is the comparison of two unlike is the comparison of two unlike things using things using likelike or or asas..

eg. He eats like a pig. eg. He eats like a pig.

Stream of consciousness:Stream of consciousness:

the unbroken flow of thought and the unbroken flow of thought and awareness of the waking mind awareness of the waking mind

a special mode of narration that a special mode of narration that undertakes to capture the full spectrum undertakes to capture the full spectrum and the continuous flow of a character's and the continuous flow of a character's mental processmental process

'interior monologue' an alternate term 'interior monologue' an alternate term

Theme Theme The central idea or universal truth The central idea or universal truth that the story examinesthat the story examines

Theme statement: Theme statement: a single sentence a single sentence that attempts to explain the story's truth that attempts to explain the story's truth (what the story worries about). (what the story worries about).

ToneTone: the attitude of an author towards : the attitude of an author towards his or her piece. Serious or comic, his or her piece. Serious or comic, satirical or tragicsatirical or tragic

Tragedy: Tragedy: bad things may happen to a bad things may happen to a person or a community, but the ending person or a community, but the ending reveals that the characters may have reveals that the characters may have learned something important about their learned something important about their lives. lives.