1. ELEMENTS AND TECHNIQUES Literary Terms

2. Short Story A work of fiction that can be read in one sitting. 1 or 2 major characters and 1 major conflict. Tells of an epiphany (moment of insight or discovery) in which a character’s life is changed. Can tell of a character initiated into maturity.

3. Conflict A struggle between opposing forces that is the basis of the story’s plot. External  Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society Internal  Man vs. himself

4. Plot The sequence of actions and events in a literary work

5. Five parts of Plot: exposition- when the author lays the groundwork for the plot and introduces the reader to the setting, characters, and conflict rising action- when complications begin to arise and cause difficulties in a story climax-the turning point in the plot; when a decision is made or an action taken that results in a change in the characters or a solution to the conflict falling action- shows the effects of the climax resolution- when the outcome of the conflict is revealed

6. Characterization The author’s use of appearance, words or actions to reveal something about a character.  Character’s own actions, words, thoughts, feelings  Actions, words, thoughts, feelings of another character  Physical description  Narrator’s direct comments

7. Narrator Protagonist The character or voice that tells the story. Main character (not always a hero) Characters

8. First person POV Third person POV The narrator is a character telling the story. When a story is told by a voice outside of the action, not by one of the characters. Point of View: the narrative perspective from which the story is told (Who’s telling the story?)

9. Foreshadowing A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur in a story. It creates suspense and prepares the reader for what is to come.

10. Irony refers to a contrast between appearance and actuality.

11. Situational irony A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen. Examples: A thief’s house is broken into at the same time he is robbing someone else’s house. There is a rat infestation at the Department of Sanitation.

12. Dramatic Irony When the reader knows more about a situation or character than the characters do. Examples: In Romeo and Juliet, the reader knows that Juliet is not truly dead, she just took the potion from Friar Lawrence; Romeo does not know this and he kills himself. When you are watching a horror movie and you know where the killer is but the victim doesn’t.

13. Verbal Irony When someone states one thing but means something else. Examples: Mom walks into your messy bedroom and says, “I see you’ve cleaned your room!” “I see you just ironed your shirt.” Boy: “But I just dug it out of the bottom of the hamper.”

14. Unreliable Narrator A narrator whose credibility is compromised. This type of narrator speaks with a bias, makes mistakes, and sometimes even lies.

15. Mood The overall atmosphere of a literary work; the feeling a reader gets while reading the story.

16. Figurative Language  language that communicates ideas beyond the literal meaning of words  Includes:  simile  metaphor

17. Simile Metaphor a figure of speech that compares two things using like or as. “My love is like a red, red rose.” a figure of speech that compares two things and does not use the words like or as. “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” Similes and Metaphors (Comparisons!)

18. Symbolism when the author uses an object or reference to add deeper meaning to a story. symbol-a person, place, or object that has a concrete meaning in itself and also stands for something beyond itself, such as an idea or feeling.

19. Theme the central point or message of a literary work

20. Setting The time and place in which the action occurs in a literary work.

21. Antagonist the character or force which the main character is pitted against; could be another character, an aspect of society or nature, or an internal force within the protagonist.

22. Static character a character who remains the same throughout the literary work

23. Dynamic character a character who changes throughout the course of the literary work; change is significant