Short Story Elements Terminology

Plot: series of related events Exposition: the beginning of the story where the characters and their conflicts are introduced Complications: rising action/problems leading to the climax Climax: highest emotional/exciting point of the story Falling Action: events leading to the resolution Resolution: (denouement) conclusion

Plot Diagram

Conflict: a struggle or clash between opposing forces External Conflict: when the conflict takes place with an outside force. Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society Man vs. Supernatural

Internal Conflict: takes place in a character’s mind. Man vs. Self

Setting: Where and when the story takes place.

Character: Individual in a story, poem, or a play. Static Character – does not change much in the course of a story. Dynamic Character – changes in some important way as a result of the action of the story. Flat Character – has only one or two personality traits Round Character – has complex and different traits.

Character continued. . . Direct Characterization – the writer tells us directly what the character is like Indirect Characterization – the author lets us figure out the character through clues (appearances, what they say, what they do, how others feel about them, and listening to their inner thoughts.)

Irony The difference between what we expect and what really happens. Verbal – say one thing but mean something else Situational – occurs when a situation that is expected to happen is the opposite of what actually happens. Dramatic – when the audience knows something that the characters do not. (play or movie)

Theme The central idea of a story. It makes some revelation about the subject of the story.

Point of View First person – one of the characters is telling the story. Uses the pronoun – “I” Third person limited – the narrator will focus in on the thoughts and feelings of just one character. (He, they, she, etc.) Third person omniscient – the narrator knows everything; this narrator is able to tell us everything about every character.

Imagery Using words that call forth the use of one of our senses. *sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste