Short Story Unit- Terms to know

Setting Time and place Can create the conflict, atmosphere, mood of the story

Protagonist The central character in the story, the one that drives the action… usually the hero, but sometimes it can be the villain if he/she drives the action

Antagonist The opponent that struggles against the protagonist (may not be a person—could be nature or even the character’s own conscience)

Characterization The way an author reveals a character’s personality  By telling us directly  By describing how they look  By what they character says  By revealing the character’s thoughts  By the way others react or feel about him/her  By the character’s actions

Characterization Round: fully developed Flat: one dimensional Stereotype: a person, group, or issue considered to typify or conform to an unvarying pattern or manner and lacking individuality ( ex. dumb blonde)

Plot Events in the story (story line) Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

Conflicts Struggle between opposing forces in a story Internal- in a person’s mind External- person against another person, person against society, or person against nature

Complication/ Rising Action Obstacles that the character(s) face as the story progresses; all the actions that take place before the climax

Turning point/ climax Climax- emotional high point or turning point Outcome of conflict is about to happen

Falling Action All the actions that take place after the turning point/crisis/climax- leads to the final resolution of the conflict (happy or unhappy)

Resolution/ Denouement When the story’s problems are resolved (happy or unhappy) and the story comes to an end

Tone Attitude the writer takes toward the subject of the work, the characters in it or the audience- writers try to manipulate language to achieve a certain effect Single word examples: solemn, playful, sarcastic, ironic, critical, reverent (respectful), irreverent (disrespectful), philosophical (truth- seeking)

Tone Words dreamy afraid fanciful happy horrific humorous irreverent joking joyful mocking objective peaceful pitiful bitter boring candid childish cold complimentary condescending confused contemptuous detached dramatic proud shocking silly sentimental sharp sad sarcastic somber sweet sympathetic tired upset vibrant zealous

Symbolism A person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and stands for something more than itself

Metaphor Comparison not using like or as  Directly stated “Fame is a bee”  Implied “I like to see it (train) lap the Miles” (train moving is compared to an animal lapping water)  Extended- the comparison is continuously made throughout the work

Simile Comparison using like or as

Personification To give object or animal human characteristics

Imagery The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place or experience.

Irony - a discrepancy or difference between appearance and reality  Verbal irony- says something but means something else  Situational irony- is when what is expected to happen is the opposite of what really happens  Dramatic irony- the character thinks one thing is true, but the audience knows better

Foreshadowing Use of hints and clues to suggest what is going to happen. A writer can use foreshadowing to create suspense.

Theme The insight about human life that is revealed by the literature. Theme is not the same as the subject. Subject might be one word or a phrase like “growing up.” The theme is stated in at least one sentence or more. “For most young people, growing up is a process that involves the pain of achieving self-knowledge.”

Theme is not a moral A moral tells how to behave or what to do. Theme is an observation. Incorrect theme: The theme of “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” is that you shouldn’t hurt other people.

A theme is not a bumper sticker statement or a cliché Incorrect theme: The theme of “A Life You Save May Be Your Own” is that what comes around goes around.

Themes do not refer to the specific names or the events of the plot Incorrect theme: The theme of “The Life You Save” is that Mr. Shiftlet is a con artist and will be punished

Wording to use Avoid shallow words like “anyone” “all” “none” “everything” “everyone” “you” Use terms that suggest a more realistic view of human experience like “we” “us” “society often” “people sometimes”

Thematic Vocabulary Alienation Ambition Appearance/ reality Custom/ tradition Betrayal Courage/ cowardice Women/ feminism Cruelty/ violence Defeat/ failure Chance/ fate/ luck Heart vs Reason Law/ justice Free will/ will power Greed Guilt Falsity/ pretense Dreams/ fantasies Loyalty Materialism Mob psychology Search for identity Scapegoat/ victim Innocence/ illusion Prejudice Social status Persistence Repentance Revenge Journey