1. Short Story Unit Literary Terms & Definitions By Erin Salona

2. Parts of Plot  Plot: The sequence of events in a story.  Exposition: The basic situation of a story—this is where the reader learns the background information necessary to understand the story.

3. Exposition Example  The reader learns Liz lives in an apartment by herself.  Liz is 25-years-old.  Liz is tired from a long day at work as a nurse.  Liz is talking on her cell-phone to her best friend Julie as she walks to the door of her own home.

4. Parts of Plot  Rising Action: The part of the story which occurs between the exposition and climax. Here is where conflicts occur which build up the story and make it interesting.

5. Rising Action Example  Liz hears some strange thumping sounds coming from the inside of her apartment as she is about to put her key in the door.  Liz tells Julie she hears something.  Julie suggests she calls the police.  Liz tells Julie that she was probably imagining the sounds but still hears them.

6. Parts of Plot  Climax: The turning point or highest point of action in a story. The main conflict is typically resolved after this place.

7. Climax Example  Liz opens the door to her apartment and sets her bag by the door.  Her heart jumps when she sees a pair of black shoes peeking out from under her living room curtains.  The curtain moves slightly.

8. Climax Example  Liz bravely walks up to the curtain and picks up a heavy candlestick on the way.  She strikes the candlestick against the curtain, and at the same time, something grabs her hand from behind the curtain.  Liz drops the candlestick, and a tall man with a black mask emerges from behind the curtain.  Suddenly, her front door is flung open.

9. Parts of Plot  Falling Action: The part of the story which occurs after the climax and before the resolution. Here is where loose ends are tied up toward the end of the story.

10. Falling Action Example  The police emerge, and the masked man releases Liz from his grasp.  He quickly exits her home through the open window, but is met with the gun from a policeman.  Julie had called the police for Liz.  Liz realizes many of her possessions are knocked over or broken.

11. Parts of Plot  Resolution: The final outcome of the story.

12. Resolution Example  The police try to comfort Liz while taking her statement.  Liz packs some possessions to take to Julie’s house for the night.  She decides to invest in a second lock for her door in the morning and to install a burglar system. She knows it will be difficult to continue living in her home.

13. Parts of Plot Basic Situation Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

14. Plot Curve Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Time Action

15. Conflict  Internal Conflict: A conflict that occurs within a character’s mind. (man vs. himself)

16. Conflict  External Conflict: A conflict that occurs between a character and an outside force. Man vs. man, man vs. nature, for example.

17. Person vs. Person  When the person (character) experiences conflict with another character in the story. {external}

18. Person vs. Self  When the character experiences conflict in his/her heart or mind. {internal}

19. Person vs. Nature  When the person (character) experiences conflict with aspects of nature (such as weather, animals, etc.) {external}

20. Person vs. Fate (Society)  When the person (character) experiences conflict with aspects in society out of his control (such as the law, rules set in society, etc.) {external}

21. CONFLICT EXTERNAL Person vs. Person Person vs. Nature Person vs. Fate (society) INTERNAL Person vs. Self

22. Characterization  Static Character: A character who does NOT change throughout the story.  Dynamic Character: A character who changes throughout the story.

23. Characterization  Round Character: A character with many qualities and personality traits.  Flat Character: A character with only a couple characteristics/ is simple; is often the stereotypical character in a story. His main purpose is to reveal things about other characters or move the plot along.

24. Characterization  Protagonist: The main character of a story—often considered to be the hero of the story.  Antagonist: The character who frustrates, deceives, or works against the main character.

25. Methods of Characterization  Direct Characterization: The narrator makes direct comments about the character. i.e. “She is friendly.” (TELLS)  Indirect Characterization: We learn about the character through her speech, thoughts, feelings, actions, physical appearance and through other characters’ thoughts, feelings, and speech about her. (SHOWS)

26. Irony  Situational Irony: When there is a contrast between what a reader or character expects and what actually exists or happens.

27. Situational Irony

36. Situational Irony Example  When John Hinckley attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, all of his shots initially missed the President; however a bullet ricocheted off the bullet-proof windows of the Presidential limousine and struck Reagan in the chest. Thus, the windows made to protect the President from gunfire were partially responsible for his being shot. John Hinckley assassinateRonald ReaganJohn Hinckley assassinateRonald Reagan

37. Situational Irony Example  In 1974 the Consumer Product Safety Commission had to recall 80,000 of its own lapel buttons promoting "toy safety", because the buttons had sharp edges, used lead paint, and had small clips that could be broken off and subsequently swallowed. Consumer Product Safety CommissionConsumer Product Safety Commission

38. Situational Irony Example  Jim Fixx, who did much to popularize jogging as a form of healthy exercise in his 1977 book The Complete Book of Running, died at the age of 52 of a heart attack (a death associated with sedentary, unhealthy lifestyles) while out jogging. Jim Fixx joggingheart attack Jim Fixx joggingheart attack

39. Situational Irony Example  Alfred Nobel invented the relatively stable explosive dynamite essentially to prevent deaths (such as in mining work which relied on the unstable explosives gunpowder and nitroglycerin), but his invention was soon taken up as a weapon in the Franco-Prussian War, among others, causing many deaths. Alfred Nobeldynamite gunpowdernitroglycerinFranco-Prussian War Alfred Nobeldynamite gunpowdernitroglycerinFranco-Prussian War

40. Irony  Verbal Irony: Saying one thing, but meaning something else... knowingly exaggerating. (sarcasm)  Example: A man yelling “I’m not mad!!!” as his face is turning red and his voice is rising.

41. Verbal Irony Example “It looks like you put a lot of thought into your outfit. Thanks for dressing up.”

42. Verbal Irony Example “Thanks so much!” said the man to the driver of the car.

43. Verbal Irony Example

45. Irony  Dramatic Irony: The audience or reader knows something another character does not know.  Dramatic Irony Example: We, the audience, know that there is a surprise party for Carlos; however, Carlos does not know and is surprised to find a room full of friends when he arrives home.

46. Dramatic Irony Example Although we, the audience, know Bob is in danger of being shot by Steve, poor Bob does not know Steve is around the corner. BOB STEVE

47. Dramatic Irony Example We, the audience, know the identity of Hannah Montana; yet other characters do not know that Miley Stewart is actually Hannah Montana.

48. Dramatic Irony Example For some reason, nobody could tell that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person. The cape and no glasses change his identity.

49. Dramatic Irony Example  In Titanic, we know that the ocean liner is going to hit an iceberg and sink but the passengers and crew cannot know this. Although we know this from historical fact, it is not made explicit to the audience in the story itself. Titanic

50. Dramatic Irony Example  When watching a talk show like Jerry Springer, the audience knows why a person has been brought on the show. However, the person sitting in the chair does not know that he is going to be reunited with a former lover.

51. Point of View  Who is telling the story?  1 st Person POV: The narrator is a character in the story and uses “I” or “me” when telling the story.  2 nd Person POV: The narrator brings “you”, the reader, into the story when telling the story.

52. Point of View  3 rd Person Limited POV: The narrator tells only what one character thinks, feels, and observes, and uses “he,” “they,” “she,” etc.  3 rd Person Omniscient POV: The narrator sees into the minds of more than one character when telling the story– uses “he,” “she,” “they,” etc.

53. Point of View 3 rd Person Objective Point of View:  the unbiased narrator tells what happens while only revealing the story's action and dialogue.  The narrator never tells us what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer.  3 rd person pronouns are used (he, she, etc.)

54. Point of View  How can the point of view from which the story is told affect the credibility (believability) of the story?  Consider: “The Necklace” is told in 3 rd person limited, following Madame Loisel’s perspective. What if the story was told from Monsieur Loisel’s perspective? What would change?

55. Setting  Setting: Where and when the story takes place.  Place - geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place?  Time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc)  Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?

57. Describe the Setting

58. Foreshadowing  The use of hints or clues to indicate events and situations that will occur later in the plot.  Spooky music  Thunder and lightening  A new suspicious character introduced (purpose unknown at the time)

59. Suspense  The excitement or tension a reader feels when reading.  I wonder what will happen next?

60. Mood  Mood is the emotions that you feel while you are reading. Some literature makes you feel sad, others joyful, still others, angry.  The general atmosphere created by the author’s words and imagery.  Types of mood: scary, romantic, violent, hopeful, mysterious, joyful...

61. Describe the MOOD

65. Tone  Tone - the manner in which written words might be said. For example: sarcastic, hateful, witty, angry  Tone is different from mood in that a story typically has one mood; whereas, tone can change a lot throughout a story.

66. Words That Describe Tone  Amused  Humorous  Pessimistic  Angry  Informal  Playful  Cheerful  Ironic  Witty  Horrifying  Light  Sad  Matter-of-fact  Serious  Formal  Suspicious  Gloomy  Optimistic

67. Examples of Tone  Sincere: She rose from her chair when I came in and exclaimed with a smile: "Wow! Nice outfit!"  Sarcastic: She gave me one look and said, with a short laugh, "Yeah, right! Nice outfit!"

68. Examples of Tone  Envious: She glanced at me quickly and muttered reluctantly, "Um, yeah... nice outfit."  Insulting: She looked at me incredulously and said, "Eww! Nice outfit!"

69. Genres of Literature Different types of writing each genre shapes a theme or topic differently. Genres include… Different types of writing each genre shapes a theme or topic differently. Genres include… Classic literature Classic literature Contemporary lit. Contemporary lit. Historical fiction Historical fiction Fantasy Fantasy Science fiction Science fiction Folklore Folklore Mythology Poetry Short stories Dramas Comedy

70. Theme  An observation about life that the writer conveys to the reader. A theme must be written in a complete sentence and must apply to the story as well as to life in general.  A good way to find the theme is to ask yourself the question, what does the main character learn in the course of the story?

71. Theme  Sometimes we must sacrifice something we value in order to save someone we love.  Money does not guarantee happiness.

72. Symbol  A person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for something beyond itself as well.  Examples: the American flag symbolizes freedom, liberty, and love for America.  A wedding band symbolizes_______.  A white flag symbolizes__________.

73. Symbols in Literature  Dove = Peace  Eagle = freedom, liberty, strength  Spring = youth, re-birth, birth, life  Autumn = middle age, maturity  Winter = death, dying, old age  Water = birth, re-birth, renewal, purification

74. Symbols in Literature  Rose = love, beauty  Sunrise = new start, beginning  Full moon = danger, bizarre behavior  Sleep = death  Skull = death  Forest = place of testing or challenge  Light = good, hope, freedom

75. Symbols in Literature  Darkness = evil, magic, fear, unknown  Red = anger, passion  Blue = happiness, peacefulness, sadness, intellect  Green = jealousy, wealth, growth  Black = death, evil  White = purity, innocence