Short story terms A fond review

Plot Diagram  Exposition  The beginning of a story that introduces characters, setting, tone, and any important background information.  Inciting Moment  An event which introduces the conflict and begins the events of the plot.

Plot Diagram  Rising Action  Events that move the plot along by adding complications or expanding the conflict – builds suspense to the climax of the story.  Climax  The turning point of the story, point of highest tension/interest – may happen towards the end.

Plot Diagram  Falling Action  Occurs after the climax – also called the resolution – conflict is resolved, loose ends tied up.  Dénouement  Also known as the resolution  A French word that literally means “to untie the know”  In America, though, we use the opposite idea and say that we tie up the loose ends  It’s how the story ends

The Plot Diagram Exposition Inciting Moment Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement

Theme / Setting  Theme  A message that the author wants to communicate to the reader about the human condition  Setting  When and where the story takes place

The Human Condition  A series of emotions, events, and experiences shared by most every person that help define what it means to be human  Examples: life, death, growing up, love, heartbreak, looking for happiness, looking for God, guilt, etc.

Protagonist / Antagonist  Protagonist  The main character who should go through a change  Antagonist  The person or force working against the protagonist

Characterization Revealed through…  The character’s physical appearance  The character’s own actions, thoughts and feelings  The thoughts, actions, feelings of a different character toward that character  The narrator’s direct comments about the character “He was a fearless man…”

Types of conflict  Man vs. man  Man vs. nature  Man vs. society  (which often includes Man vs. machine)  Man vs. God/Supernatural  Man vs. self aka Internal Conflict

Point of View  First person – “I” – the narrator is a character in the story  Second-person – when the writing tells the reader what the reader is doing. For example cookbooks, instructions, etc.  Third-person omniscient – “all knowing” narrator reveals thoughts/feelings of more than one character  Third-person limited – reveals thoughts/feelings of only one character

Tone / Mood  Tone  Reveals the feelings of the author toward the subject.  Mood  The feeling or atmosphere of a story created by the author

Simile / Metaphor  Simile  A comparison between two things using “like” or “as”  Metaphor  Making a direct comparison between to things – often using “is”, but not always

Imagery / Personification  Imagery  Description that appeals to one of the five senses  Personification  Giving human qualities to inanimate objects

Symbolism  An object or character which stands for a larger idea in the story

Foreshadowing / Flashback  Foreshadowing  Subtle hints that reveal what will happen later in the story  Flashback  When a story stops, and retells a past event for the purpose of helping the reader better understand the current or a future event

Irony  Verbal Irony  When a speaker says one thing but means the opposite (includes sarcasm)  Dramatic Irony  When the reader or audience knows one thing, but the character does not  Situational Irony  When one thing is expected but the opposite is the result