Short story terms

Literary terms every student should know.

1. Short Story Unit Short Story Unit
Literary TermsLiterary Terms

2. PlotPlot
The sequence of events The sequence of events
that make up a story, that make up a story,
usually centering around a usually centering around a
main conflictmain conflict

3. The Five Stages of PlotThe Five Stages of Plot

4. ExpositionExposition
The first stage of plot!The first stage of plot!
In the Exposition, the scene is set: In the Exposition, the scene is set:
–this part of the story introduces the this part of the story introduces the
characterscharacters, tells the reader the , tells the reader the
settingsetting, and provides all of the , and provides all of the
necessary necessary background background
informationinformation

5. SettingSetting
The setting of the The setting of the
literary work is the literary work is the
timetime andand placeplace of of
the action. the action.
Time can include not only Time can include not only
the historical period—past, the historical period—past,
present, or future—but also a present, or future—but also a
specific year, season, or time specific year, season, or time
of day. of day.
Place—though usually Place—though usually
physical—may also physical—may also
involve the social, involve the social,
economic, or cultural economic, or cultural
environment of the environment of the
story story

6. Rising ActionRising Action
The second stage of plot!The second stage of plot!
This is where the action usually begins. This is where the action usually begins. In In
the Rising Action, the conflict is the Rising Action, the conflict is
introducedintroduced (either between characters, or (either between characters, or
with an outside force). This conflict will build with an outside force). This conflict will build
up pressure until the Climaxup pressure until the Climax

7. ClimaxClimax
The climax is the The climax is the
highest point of highest point of
conflict in the conflict in the
story!! story!!
Generally, this is the Generally, this is the
point after which point after which
everything is different. everything is different.
All of the pressure or All of the pressure or
events of the Rising events of the Rising
Action have stacked Action have stacked
up to this moment, up to this moment,
when when something something
must change. must change.

8. Falling ActionFalling Action
This stage begins the downward This stage begins the downward
slopeslope the conflict lessens, and the the conflict lessens, and the
plot moves towards closureplot moves towards closure

9. Resolution/DenouementResolution/Denouement
In the final stage of plot, the conflict In the final stage of plot, the conflict
concludes, and loose ends are tied up. concludes, and loose ends are tied up.

10. ConflictConflict
INTERNAL INTERNAL
-Conflict that -Conflict that
occurs inside occurs inside
the characterthe character
-man Vs. self-man Vs. self
EXTERNAL EXTERNAL
––Conflict that occurs Conflict that occurs
outside of the outside of the
charactercharacter
-man Vs. man-man Vs. man
-man Vs. nature-man Vs. nature
-man Vs. society-man Vs. society
-man Vs. fate-man Vs. fate
A conflict is a struggle between opposing A conflict is a struggle between opposing
forces. forces.
There are two types of conflict: There are two types of conflict:

11. ProtagonistProtagonist
The protagonist is the The protagonist is the main main
charactercharacter in a literary work. in a literary work.
He/she is He/she is NOTNOT necessarily necessarily
the “good guy”, just the the “good guy”, just the mainmain
charactercharacter

12. AntagonistAntagonist
An antagonist is a character or An antagonist is a character or
force in conflict with the main force in conflict with the main
character character
This is This is NOTNOT necessarily the necessarily the
“bad guy”, just the person or “bad guy”, just the person or
thing that is working against the thing that is working against the
main charactermain character

13. NarratorNarrator
The person The person
from whose from whose
perspective a perspective a
story is toldstory is told

14. Point of ViewPoint of View
The perspective or angle from which a story The perspective or angle from which a story
is being toldis being told
There are several types:There are several types:
–First-Person-Point-of-ViewFirst-Person-Point-of-View: When the narrator : When the narrator
telling the story is one of the characters, and tells telling the story is one of the characters, and tells
the story as a personal accountthe story as a personal account
–Third-Person-Point-of-ViewThird-Person-Point-of-View: When the : When the
narrator is not one of the characters (has no narrator is not one of the characters (has no
name, and does not participate in any of the name, and does not participate in any of the
action of the plot)action of the plot)

15. Point of View (continued)Point of View (continued)
There are also two types of Third-Person-There are also two types of Third-Person-
Point-of-View:Point-of-View:
–Third-Third-Limited-Point-of-View-Point-of-View: When the : When the
narrator sees the world through narrator sees the world through oneone character’s character’s
eyes and reveals eyes and reveals onlyonly thatthat character’s thoughts character’s thoughts
–Third-Third-Omniscient-Point-of-View-Point-of-View: When the : When the
narrator sees into the minds of more than one narrator sees into the minds of more than one
character. Omniscient = all knowingcharacter. Omniscient = all knowing

16. IronyIrony
The difference between appearance and The difference between appearance and
reality or the expectation and result.reality or the expectation and result.
There are THREE kinds of Irony:There are THREE kinds of Irony:
--Verbal IronyVerbal Irony: a word or phrase used to suggest the : a word or phrase used to suggest the
opposite of its actual meaning. opposite of its actual meaning. “You look so “You look so
good in that dress,” said her best friend.good in that dress,” said her best friend.
--Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony: When there is a contradiction : When there is a contradiction
between what a character thinks and what the between what a character thinks and what the
readers know is true. readers know is true. You know something the You know something the
character doesn’t know.character doesn’t know. (You know the (You know the
murderer is hiding in the closet but the character murderer is hiding in the closet but the character
doesn’t know.)doesn’t know.)

17. Irony (continued)Irony (continued)
--Situational IronySituational Irony: When an event directly : When an event directly
contradicts expectations of the reader or of contradicts expectations of the reader or of
the characters the characters

18. ForeshadowingForeshadowing
Clues in a literary work that suggest events Clues in a literary work that suggest events
that have yet to occurthat have yet to occur
This literary device This literary device
helps to create helps to create
suspense, keeping suspense, keeping
readers wondering readers wondering
about what will happen about what will happen
next.next.

19. ThemeTheme
The central The central messagemessage or insight into or insight into
life revealed through a literary worklife revealed through a literary work

–This is the deeper meaning, the main This is the deeper meaning, the main
lesson/message/moral that the author lesson/message/moral that the author
hopes the reader will understand at the hopes the reader will understand at the
end of the storyend of the story

20. Denotation Vs. ConnotationDenotation Vs. Connotation
Denotation: Denotation:
The dictionary The dictionary
meaning of a word, meaning of a word,
independent of independent of
other associations other associations
that the word may that the word may
havehave
Connotation: Connotation:
Suggested Suggested
meaning. An meaning. An
emotional emotional
association with a association with a
word in addition to word in addition to
the word’s actual, the word’s actual,
explicit meaning. explicit meaning.
Ex., house, woman, Ex., house, woman,
Hollywood, jokingHollywood, joking

21. MoodMood
The feeling created in the reader The feeling created in the reader
by a literary workby a literary work
ToneTone
The attitude toward the subject The attitude toward the subject
that an author conveys in a piece of that an author conveys in a piece of
writingwriting

22. SimileSimile
A comparison between two unlike things A comparison between two unlike things
using “like” or “as”.using “like” or “as”.
Similes are used to make descriptions of Similes are used to make descriptions of
objects or people more powerful.objects or people more powerful.
Example: Example:
Without a simile: “It was dark outside.”Without a simile: “It was dark outside.”
With a simile: “The night was as dark as thick, With a simile: “The night was as dark as thick,
black velvet.” black velvet.”

23. MetaphorMetaphor
A comparison between two unlike things, A comparison between two unlike things,
without using the words “like” or “as”.without using the words “like” or “as”.
 Instead, one thing is spoken of as though it Instead, one thing is spoken of as though it isis
something else completely.something else completely.
Example (from the Langston Hughes poem Example (from the Langston Hughes poem
“Dreams”):“Dreams”):
“…if dreams die“…if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged birdLife is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly”That cannot fly”

24. PersonificationPersonification
A type of figurative language, where a non-A type of figurative language, where a non-
human object is given human characteristicshuman object is given human characteristics
Examples: Examples:
--The desk coughed and grunted as I shoved
it across the old wooden floor.
-The tea kettle whistled once the water was
boiling.

25. ImageryImagery
The The descriptivedescriptive or figurative language or figurative language
used in literature to create used in literature to create word word
picturespictures for the reader. for the reader.
These word pictures/images, are These word pictures/images, are
created by details of sight, sound, taste, created by details of sight, sound, taste,
touch, smell, or movement.touch, smell, or movement.

26. SymbolSymbol
Something that has a literal meaning, but Something that has a literal meaning, but
also stands for or represents an abstract also stands for or represents an abstract
idea.idea.
Example: The American Flag– on a Example: The American Flag– on a
literal level, it is just a flag, a piece of literal level, it is just a flag, a piece of
cloth. However, it also cloth. However, it also stands for stands for this this
particular county, for freedom, etc.particular county, for freedom, etc.

27. AllusionAllusion
When one literary work references a well-When one literary work references a well-
known person, place, event, work of art, or known person, place, event, work of art, or
another literary work to make a point.another literary work to make a point.
Example: In Taylor Swift’s song “Love Example: In Taylor Swift’s song “Love
Story”, she Story”, she alludesalludes to the play “Romeo to the play “Romeo and and
Juliet”.Juliet”.

28. DialogueDialogue
A dialogue is a A dialogue is a
conversation between conversation between
characters. characters.
It is often used to It is often used to
reveal things about a reveal things about a
character’s thoughts, character’s thoughts,
motivations, and motivations, and
personality to the personality to the
reader, and to reader, and to
advance the action of advance the action of
the plot.the plot.
Example: Example:
After walking into the After walking into the
kitchen, Susie cried, kitchen, Susie cried,
““Mom, how could you Mom, how could you
eat the last cupcake?!eat the last cupcake?!” ”
Mom replied, Mom replied, “I was “I was
hungry, and you hungry, and you
weren’t here. It was weren’t here. It was
delicious, my dear!”delicious, my dear!”

29. DictionDiction
Word choice, including vocabulary Word choice, including vocabulary
used, word appropriateness, and used, word appropriateness, and
vividness of languagevividness of language

30. CharacterizationCharacterization
The way a writer reveals a character’s The way a writer reveals a character’s
personality and traits. personality and traits.
There are two methods:There are two methods:
–Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization: The author directly : The author directly
states a character’s personality and/or physical states a character’s personality and/or physical
traitstraits
–Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization: Uses a character’s : Uses a character’s
thoughts, actions, and feelings, to suggest the thoughts, actions, and feelings, to suggest the
character’s traits.character’s traits.

31. Dynamic CharacterDynamic Character
A character that develops and changes A character that develops and changes
through the course of a storythrough the course of a story
Example: Ebenezer ScroogeExample: Ebenezer Scrooge at the at the
beginning of “A Christmas Carol”, he is a beginning of “A Christmas Carol”, he is a
mean, lonely man that is only interested in mean, lonely man that is only interested in
money. By the end of the story, he is money. By the end of the story, he is
generous, and interested in the “true spirit of generous, and interested in the “true spirit of
Christmas.”Christmas.”

32. Static CharacterStatic Character
A character that does A character that does notnot change or change or
develop through the course of the storydevelop through the course of the story
Example: Example:
Wile E. Coyote Wile E. Coyote

33. Round CharacterRound Character
A character that exhibits many traits, faults A character that exhibits many traits, faults
as well as virtuesas well as virtues
Flat CharacterFlat Character
A character who seems to have only a single A character who seems to have only a single
personality traitpersonality trait

34. StereotypeStereotype
A set of inaccurate, simplistic A set of inaccurate, simplistic
generalizations about a group that allows generalizations about a group that allows
others to categorize them and treat them others to categorize them and treat them
accordingly.accordingly.

35. Topic SentenceTopic Sentence
A sentence that expresses the main idea A sentence that expresses the main idea
or point of the paragraph, usually or point of the paragraph, usually
appearing at the beginning.appearing at the beginning.

36. Supporting DetailsSupporting Details
Statements that support the main Statements that support the main
idea/topic sentence with explanations, idea/topic sentence with explanations,
descriptions, definitions, or other descriptions, definitions, or other
information.information.

37. PurposePurpose
The author’s reason for writing a The author’s reason for writing a
specific piece specific piece
(Examples: To entertain, to inform, or (Examples: To entertain, to inform, or
to persuade the reader)to persuade the reader)

38. Thesis StatementThesis Statement
The sentence or two that contains the The sentence or two that contains the
focus of the essay and tells your reader focus of the essay and tells your reader
what your essay will be about.what your essay will be about.
The thesis statement unifies the essay The thesis statement unifies the essay
parts.parts.

39. GeneralizationGeneralization
A broad principle that is supported by evidence A broad principle that is supported by evidence
or particularsor particulars
EvidenceEvidence
Particulars, or details, that lead to generalizationsParticulars, or details, that lead to generalizations
Evidence
Evidence
EvidEncE
Evidence
GENERALIZATIO
N
(BIG
PICTURE!!!)