INTRODUCTION TO SHORT STORIES Literary Devices

Theme Theme is the same idea that the author wants to convey about the human experience or the human condition. Theme is not the same as the subject of the work. Most themes are implied and not stated directly in works of literature. Themes are expressed in a complete sentence.

Common themes found in literature Man Struggles Against Nature Man Struggles Against Societal Pressure Man Struggles to Understand Divinity Crime Does Not Pay Overcoming Adversity Friendship is Dependant on Sacrifice The Importance of Family Yin and Yang Love is the Worthiest of Pursuits Death is Part of the Life Cycle Sacrifices Bring Reward Human Beings All Have the Same Needs

Plot Plot is a series of related events that make up a literary piece.

Plot continued… Exposition- provides background information Rising action- is a sequence of events that lead to a climax. Climaxes reach a point of highest dramatic tension or turning point in action. Most falling action followers the climax. Almost all resolution occurs at the end of a plot.

Setting Setting is the place and/or time in most literary texts. Place can be either real or imaginary. Time can be historical or chronological (clock/calendar) time.

Conflict Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces. Conflict is the problem(s) that moves the plot.

Types of Conflicts Some conflicts are internal: man vs. self. Some conflicts are external: man, man vs. society, man vs. environment/nature, man vs. fate/supernatural, and man vs. technology.

Character Character(s) is who or what drives the literary text. Some characters are people, animals, natural objects, or supernatural objects.

Main Types of Characters Protagonist and antagonist are two types of characters. Some protagonists are heroes or the principal character. Some antagonists are villains that oppose the protagonist.

Character Traits Character traits describe a protagonist or antagonist. Some traits are physical, personal (e.g., moral ethical, evil, compassionate, loving, wealthy/poor), or emotional.

Character Motivation Motivation is the reason behind a characters action. Some characters are motivated by emotional, physical, or mental needs.

Literary terms to describe characters Flat: character with few personality traits (few details given) Round: character with many personality traits (many details given) Static: a character that does not change personality, beliefs, ideas, etc. throughout the work Dynamic: a character that experiences some type of change during the course of the story due to events (remember--dynamite changes!)

Characterization Characterization is the way a writer creates and develops characters’ personalities.

Types of Characterization Direct- the narrator or a character in the story tells us what we need to know about a character Indirect- The physical description of a character, what the character says/does/thinks, and what other characters say/think about him.

Point of View Point of view is the vantage point fro which the story is told (“the narrator”). First-person: the narrator is a character in the story and refers to himself using first-person pronouns ( I, me, my, mine, we, our, ours, us) Second-person: uses the word "you" Third-person: (two kinds) 1. Limited-third: narrator relates the innermost thoughts and feelings of only one character and tells the story as seen through the eyes of that character (who may be biased) 2. Omniscient: (all knowing) the narrator tells the thoughts, feelings, and actions of all the characters (omnipotent--all powerful; omnipresent--everywhere at once)

Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters don’t. Element used to create suspense.