1. Short Story Literary Terms
English 12

2. 120. Character Character is the main personality (ies) in a story.
Dynamic: Grows and changes in the course of the story
Static: The character does not grow or change in the course of the story
Round: Several traits are explored
Flat: Only one or two traits are explored

3. 17. Climax
The height of the action in the story. The conflict reaches a changing point.

4. 109. Direct/Indirect Presentation
Direct Presentation: A narrator tells the reader about a character.
Indirect Presentation: The reader must infer a character based upon what they say and do.

5. 76. Personification
Describing a non-human entity as a human entity for literary effect.
Eg. The trees danced to the wind’s music.

6. 102. Theme The main idea or message of a story.
Theme statements are a general statement that you use in a thesis.
Those who work to cultivate love in their lives will be rewarded with many friends.

7. 89. Setting
The time and place of a story

8. 99. Symbol
An object or character that represents an idea, emotion or concept.
Water as a symbol of struggle and redemption

9. 79. Protagonist
The main character in a story

10. 78. Point of View 1st Person: The narrator uses “I” to tell the story.
Third Person/Limited Omniscient: An omniscient/god-like narrator follows the thoughts and feelings of one character. Uses he/she.
Omniscient: A god-like narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of all character.
Objective/dramatic: The narrator tells the story using dialogue and action.

11. 4. Antagonist
The force against the protagonist

12. 53. Irony
What happens when the opposite of what is expected takes place.
Situational irony: When the action that happens is the opposite to what was expected
Dramatic irony: When the audience knows something that the characters do not expect
Verbal irony: The opposite of what is meant is said

13. 20. Conflict Problem of the story Internal: Person vs. Self
External: Person vs. Person, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. supernatural, Person vs. society

14. 121. Character Round: More than two traits described (protagonist)
Dynamic: Grow and change in a story
Static: Do not grow and change
Flat: few traits are described (minor characters or antagonist)

15. 91. Simile Comparison using “like” or “as”
Eg. The sun shines like Isshin’s smile

16. 57. Metaphor/Extended Metaphor
Comparison of two apparently unlike things/objects for literary effect
Eg. The way that we talk about emotion—like love—is conceptualized entirely through metaphor. “My heart is full of love” = heart is a container and love is a tangible substance.
Eg. His voice was furry and fluffy to the ear.
Soft, higher pitched voice, perhaps

17. 98. Repetition
Repeating a word or phrase for literary effect.

18. 2. Alliteration
The repetition of a sound at the beginning of two or more words in a row for literary effect. They may be separated by a short word.
The dusty dog drank deeply.
Leaves that leaned to the sway of the wind.
Kindly, the cat looked on.
Apples atrophied on the tree

19. 68. Onomatopoeia A sound word Eg. Buzz Eg. Whisper Eg. Murmur
Eg. Mumble

20. 119. Dialogue
What characters are saying in a piece of writing. Usually indicated using quotation marks and paragraphing.
SOMETIMES, however, in poems or some stories, this dialogue will be indicated using italics.

21. 71. Parallel Structure
The grammatical organization of a sentence where there is deliberate repetition of a grammatical form
Eg. They were running, hopping, and leaping.

22. 70. Paradox
An apparently contradictory statement that reveals a truth or epiphany (realization).

23. 118. Euphemism
A way of describing something terrible or unsavory in a subtle or less direct way. Eg. He died He passed away

24. 69. Oxymoron
Two apparently contradictory words put together for enhanced meaning Eg. Living dead

25. 120. Understatement
A phrase that deliberately describes something as less than it is for effect.
Einstein was average