Short Story Terms English I

Fiction a story that is not true. a story that is not true.

Short Story A story that can be read in one sitting, has the six parts of the plot, and is a work of fiction. A story that can be read in one sitting, has the six parts of the plot, and is a work of fiction.

Plot the exposition, narrative hook, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution the exposition, narrative hook, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution

Exposition the beginning of the story where we find out the setting, characters, and the conflict. the beginning of the story where we find out the setting, characters, and the conflict.

Setting where and when a story takes place. where and when a story takes place.

Character Person or animal that appears in the action of a story. Person or animal that appears in the action of a story.

Conflict the problem in a story or the struggle between opposing forces. the problem in a story or the struggle between opposing forces.

Internal Conflict the problem that exists in a character’s mind the problem that exists in a character’s mind

External Conflict a problem outside of a character. a problem outside of a character.

Rising Action The action that takes place as the characters try to resolve the conflict. The action that takes place as the characters try to resolve the conflict.

Climax Highest point of interest or turning point in a story Highest point of interest or turning point in a story

Falling Action possible solutions to the problem possible solutions to the problem

Resolution At the end of the story, where all of the loose ends are tied up. At the end of the story, where all of the loose ends are tied up.

Theme The central idea of the story or life lesson that is taught. The central idea of the story or life lesson that is taught.

Tone the author’s attitude towards his subject matter the author’s attitude towards his subject matter

Mood the reader’s feelings about what he or she has read. the reader’s feelings about what he or she has read.

Protagonist the main character or "the good guy." the main character or "the good guy."

Antagonist the character or force that is against the protagonist the character or force that is against the protagonist

Characterization the process of revealing the personality of a character. the process of revealing the personality of a character.

Direct Characterization the author comes out directly and tells the reader about a character’s personality. the author comes out directly and tells the reader about a character’s personality.

Indirect Characterization When the author allows a character’s actions to tell you about their personality. When the author allows a character’s actions to tell you about their personality.

Description of Characters: Dynamic–A character that changes as a result of the action in the story Dynamic–A character that changes as a result of the action in the story Static-A character that remains the same throughout the story Static-A character that remains the same throughout the story Round-The reader sees many sides or traits of a character’s personality Round-The reader sees many sides or traits of a character’s personality Flat- The reader sees only one side or very few traits of a character. Flat- The reader sees only one side or very few traits of a character.

Narrative Hook the attention grabber in a story the attention grabber in a story

Irony the events turn out differently than what is expected the events turn out differently than what is expected

1. Situational Irony when there is a conflict between the expected outcome and what actually occurs when there is a conflict between the expected outcome and what actually occurs

2. Dramatic Irony the audience has information the characters on stage do not the audience has information the characters on stage do not

3. Verbal Irony when one thing is said, but another is meant when one thing is said, but another is meant

Symbolism something that stands for or represents something else something that stands for or represents something else

Foreshadowing clues as to what will happen later in the story clues as to what will happen later in the story

Flashback to interrupt the current events to show events that happened previously to interrupt the current events to show events that happened previously

Atmosphere a synonym for mood and it focuses on the reader’s feelings a synonym for mood and it focuses on the reader’s feelings

Dialogue a conversation between two or more characters a conversation between two or more characters

Omniscient Point-of-View an all-knowing and all-seeing narrator an all-knowing and all-seeing narrator

Third Person Point-of View the narrator is telling a story from a character’s perspective. the narrator is telling a story from a character’s perspective.

First Person Point-of View the narrator is in the story and is telling the story the narrator is in the story and is telling the story