SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY

Purpose – Short stories combine the purpose of entertaining with that of revealing life. Stories that are intended for escape focus on: Plot 2. Suspense 3. Conflict 4. Humor Interpretative stories focus on: Theme 2. Character A story gains depth and significance as the characterization becomes more developed and realistic. A story that reveals life provides us with an experience that may be significant because it may affect our understanding of ourselves and others.

Purposes of short stories: 1. Entertain 2. Provide insight There is nothing to prevent a story from making a serious point while being entertaining, and a story that aims chiefly to entertain can provide us with thought-provoking insights about humanity. ***NOTE*** Thinking about the purpose of the story is important, however, because it leads us beyond the surface qualities to consider the meaning, value, and success of the story. Purposes of short stories: 1. Entertain 2. Provide insight 3. To question 4. Presents a view of life 5. Provides a set of values These purposes are achieved through short story elements such as: 1.Plot 2. Characters 3. Setting 4. Themes

Elements of a Short Story

Plot -Serves as a framework for the story -Action that takes place within the story -Has five main features: Introduction Rising action Climax Falling action Conclusion -The events within the story generally focus on one dominant incident Introduction -Should arouse interest -Gives background information -Introduces the main characters -Introduces the setting (time and place) -May suggest a possible ending (flashback or foreshadowing) -Initial incident takes place to get the story rolling

2) Rising Action -Series of steps that develop and show an obstacle or problem in a story -Largest part of the plot -The clash or fight between opposing forces/persons/ideas/emotions 3) Climax -Highest point of interest in the story -Turning point of the story or change in action -Often the problem or mystery is about to be solved

4) Falling Action or Dénouement The “unknotting” of plot and conflict following the climax -Follows quickly after the climax and lasts until the end of the story -Ties up all the loose ends in a story -All questions answered and problems solved -Sometimes the author leaves the ending to the reader’s imagination (open ended story) 5) Conclusion -Usually the last paragraph or last couple of sentences to draw a story to a close

Basic plot diagram that hasn’t changed since Grade 7… !!!!!!FUN STUFF!!!!!! Climax !!!!!!BAM!!!!!! Rising Action Falling Action Introduction Conclusion

Characters Protagonist – main character - dominates the story - action revolves around him/her/it 2) Antagonist – force or character in opposition to the protagonist - often known as the villain or evil force 3) Subordinate – minor character - acts as a contrast to other characters - often in the story to reveal information - usually adds detail to the setting and about other characters 4) Round character – many sides to their personality - the author allows the reader to see all areas of this character - usually only one round character in a story because of development time - main character of a story 5) Flat character - only see one side of the character - not a developed character - usually a minor character within the story

6) Dynamic character – usually the major character will go through a permanent change in some aspect of their life or personality - the change can be large or small - the change is important to the character’s personality and development - the change comes from a crucial situation in the life of the character 7) Static character – the character undergoes no change in the story - this type of character will remain the same from the beginning to the end of the story 8) Stock character – also known as a stereotyped character - usually a flat character - occurs so often in literature that the character and his/her/its traits are easily recognized Examples: Rigid Army Sergeant Mad Scientist Wicked Witch or Stepmother

Character Presentation Direct Presentation The author tells the reader crucial information about the protagonist This information is usually given through exposition (facts) or using another character 2. Indirect Presentation The author shows the reader the character by what the: A) Author says B) Character says C) Character does D) Other characters say about them *****Often authors will intertwine both direct and indirect presentation to create a realistic and lifelike characteristic***** Stories are often written for the purpose of showing human nature through characters

Convincing Characterization There are three qualities that an author uses for characterization to be convincing to the reader: Consistent in Behavior – The character behaves in a realistic manner - will not change abruptly or without good reason Motivated – what motivates the character to act the way he or she does -without motivation the character becomes unbelievable Plausible – the character is very lifelike and believable to the reader The author is successful in his characterization if he convinces the reader that his characters are real by being believable Character Foil Two characters set in opposition whose strengths and weaknesses are enlarged by one another Any character or thing that, by strong contrast, underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another From the TV show “Seinfeld”. George and Jerry or Kramer and Jerry

C. Point of View The perspective from which a story is seen or told It establishes the relationship of author, reader, and protagonist The three most common points of view are: First Person Narrative -The protagonist or main character tell his or her own story directly to the reader -”I” is used in telling the story -This point of view tells what the main character thinks and feels 2. Limited Omniscient Narrative -The story is told from third person -Refers to the main character as “he” or “she” -Shows the reader only what one character thinks or feels in the story -Usually the story is told from the perspective of someone “outside” the story 3. Omniscient Narrative -Usually the story is told from the perspective of someone outside of the story -Reveals the minds (thoughts and feelings) of several or all characters in the story

D. Conflict -Conflict is a struggle to understand something, to solve a problem, to reach a goal, or to satisfy a need -The struggle may be physical, mental, emotional, moral, or it may be a combination of types -It may not have a clear outcome of who is the winner or the loser in the struggle There are two main categories that conflict is found within: External and Internal Conflict External Conflict – A character is struggling against factors such as other human beings, animals, nature, or the environment. Character vs. Character Character vs. Nature Character vs. Environment Character vs. Machine Character vs. Society Character vs. Supernatural 2. Internal Conflict – A character is struggling within their own mind and soul g) Character vs. Ownself

E. Theme The central idea of a story that is usually implied rather than directly stated. Theme is a generalization made about life *****NOTE***** Theme is not a moral or plot of a story The following are ways to locate or find the theme of a story, novel, or play Look at how the main character(s) has changed Look at the central conflict and outcome of that conflict Look at the story, novel, or play’s title for clues Consider #1-3 as a whole, not separately.

F. Irony A literary device which reveals concealed or contradictory meanings. Verbal Irony – when a contrast is evident between what a character says and what the character actually means - character will say one thing but really mean something entirely different - sarcasm can many times be a strong example of this type of irony 2) Dramatic Irony – when the author shares with the reader information not known by the character - the reader becomes aware that a character’s actions may not appropriate for the actual circumstances - what is to come is the opposite of what the character expects 3) Situational Irony – also known as irony of the situation - this occurs when a set of circumstances turns out differently from what is expected or considered appropriate Irony is an important tool of literature because the author suggests meanings without actually stating them

G. Symbol Something that stands for or represents something else. Example: -White Dove represents Peace - Red Rose represents Love -Flag represents a Country H. Suspense Is the feeling of anxiety and uncertainty experienced by the reader about the outcome of events within a piece of literature An author will try to keep a reader guessing Contrast -Looking at the differences in things, people, ideas -Comparing one thing to another -Mixing of situations, characters, settings, moods, tones, or points of view in order to clarify meaning, purpose, of characters within literature