SHORT STORY TERMS

Short Story Terms Term and Definition What is Style? -Definition: the manner of expression of a particular writer produced by: Choice of words, sentence structure, the use of literary devices, and other elements of composition. Examples: Scientific, expository, poetic, and journalistic. For example: An article from a magazine or a newspaper is written in a different style than one from a scientific journal.

Short Story Terms What is motif? Definition: a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work. Motif and theme are linked in a literary work but there is a difference between them. In a literary piece, a motif is a recurrent image, idea or a symbol that develops or explains a theme while a theme is a central idea or message. Example: A Cinderella motif…

Short Story Terms What is Theme? The theme is a central idea or message. Example: The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave. In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself. Example: Overcoming obstacles, good conquers evil..

Short Story Terms What is a vignette? Definition: a short, well-written sketch or descriptive scene. It does not have a plot, which would make it a story, but it does reveal something about the elements in it… -It may reveal character, mood or tone -It may have a theme or idea of its own that it wants to convey -It is the description of a scene or character that is important… Example: Freedom Writers or House on Mango Street

Short Story Terms Term and Definition What is Allusion? -Definition: is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literature or political significance. Examples: Romeo and Juliet- “Montague must be so happy we can Capulet this all go”(Kaye).

Short Story Terms Term and Definition Simile -Definition: comparison using the words like or as. Example: As slow as molasses in January. She sings like an angel.

Short Story Terms Term and Definition Metaphor -Definition: A comparison without using the words like or as. Example: The cat is a bag of bones. We are the American Flags we draw.

Short Story Terms Term and Definition Personification -Definition: giving human characteristics to things that are not human. Example: The wind howled. The desk has legs.

Short Story Terms Term and Definition Hyperbole -Definition: An extreme exaggeration used to describe a person or thing. Example: She has as many pairs of shoes as there are stars in the sky.

Short Story Terms Term and Definition Onomatopoeia - Definition: Words that make noise. such as buzz or splash. Example: Buzz…splash…crash…

Short Story Terms Term and Definition Tone - Definition: is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject. Examples: The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, and cheerful or it may be any other existing attitudes.