SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

1.Setting the place and TIME of the action of the story 2.Plot series of events in a story 3.Climax the turning point in the story that affects the outcome of the story 4.External conflict struggle of man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. machine, or man vs. society

5.internal conflict is always man vs. himself-(man struggles mentally with opposing needs, desires, and emotions) 6.protagonist the main character 7.antagonist character or force that comes into contact with or against the protagonist

8.imagery when a writer appeals to the reader’s senses (smell, sight, taste, sound, touch) 9.dramatic irony when the reader knows something in the story that the other characters don’t know 10.resolution occurs when all of the conflicts are resolved

11.foreshadowing The use of clues that hint at what is going to happen later in the story 12.tone attitude a writer takes toward a reader, subject, or character

13.complications anything that gets in the way of the conflict being resolved or RISING ACTION- where the conflict intensifies 14.exposition the basic situation –background of the story 15.motivation person’s reasons for doing something or feeling a certain way

16.falling action the part directly after the climax that gives explanation and is followed by the resolution 17.mood The atmosphere created by a literary work

18.Flat character A. is not fully developed; we know only one side of the character. 19. (static) This character does not change throughout the story. 20.Round character-- is fully-developed, with many traits--bad and good--shown in the story. 21. dynamic ) This character often changes. 22. in media res (means in the middle of things)-when an author begins in the middle of the story and fills in the background later

23.point of view whoever is telling the story First person - uses "I Second person - uses "you" Third person - uses "he," "she," or "it" Limited omniscient)- Know thoughts of only 1 character Omniscient –know thoughts/feelings of ALL characters

24.theme underlying meaning of the story and is usually repeated throughout a work 25.diction An author's choice of words 26.symbolism A device in literature where an object represents an idea. (Ex: Neo in the Matrix represents a Christ-like figure.) 27.flashback A reference to an event which took place prior to the beginning of a story or play

28.Characterization How an author tells you what a character is like 29. Direct Characterization-when an author tells you directly what a character is like Example: Mrs. Nelson was an amazing ninja”

30. Indirect Characterization When an author shows you what a character is like Says (what a character says) Thinks (a character’s thoughts) Effect on others ( how other characters react to character) Actions (what a character does) Looks (how a character looks)

31.Indirect characterization example Mrs. Nelson crept silently down the hallway, wearing all black; she was virtually invisible. She attacked two students with flying ninja stars.