Intro to Short Stories Ms. De La O English 9
What is a short story?
Short Stories vs. Novels Length Complexity Character Development
How to Approach Reading Literal Reading Inferential Reading Critical Reading
Literal Reading Reading for details and facts.
Inferential Reading A conclusion that is reached on the basis of evidence Key in active reading
Critical Reading Evaluate a piece. We are all critics when we read as soon as we give feedback.
Literary Elements
Setting The time and place of the story
Plot line What are the five key parts of a plot line? 1. Exposition 2. Rising action 3. Climax 4. Falling action 5. Resolution
Metaphor and Simile Comparisons A simile uses “like” or “as”; a metaphor does not.
Point of View The view from which a story is told First-person Third-person limited Third-person omniscient
First-person Point of View Tells the story from a character’s perspective. I, me, we
Third-person limited Told from the perspective of a character, but it is not the character who is telling the story.
Third-person Omniscient Tells the story from a “God-like” point of view The narrator is all-knowing
Conflict The struggle between two opposing forces. Internal conflict External conflict
Tone The attitude the writer takes towards the subject or the reader
Theme Underlying idea Exploration of important questions and issues.
Characterization The way characters’ personalities are developed. Direct characterization Indirect characterization
Traits Alll the aspects of a person's behavior and attitudes that make up that person's personality
Foreshadowing Clues or details that hint at upcoming events in a story. Symbols and omens.
Symbol Something that stands for something else.
Flashback A scene that interrupts the current action in order to give some sort of background information. It tells of earlier events that are probably still important to the story.
Suspense Feeling of uncertainty or anxiety in a story. What keeps us reading
Irony A contrast between what is said and what is meant. A contrast between what is expected and what happens.
Alternate Ending Describe the ending of a story that was planned or debated but ultimately unused in favor of the actual ending
Motive Analyzing characters often entail deciphering their motives (reasons) behind an action
Personification A form of figurative language in which something that is not human is given human characteristics
Allusion Figure of speech that refers to a well-known story, event, person, or object in order to make a comparison
Onomatopoeia the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named