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Literary Terms S
A short story contains key elements such as a plot, characters, setting, and theme. The plot involves a conflict that is presented and resolved. Main characters include the protagonist and antagonist. Suspense is created through devices like foreshadowing, dilemmas, mysteries, and reversals. A climax and resolution conclude the story. Characters are developed through characterization and can be flat, round, static, or dynamic. The setting provides the time and place. The theme makes a statement. Point of view and irony are also literary techniques used in short stories.
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Literary Terms S
- 1. Elements of aShort Story Terms
- 2. Plot • A seriesof related events that present and resolve a conflict
- 3.
- 4. Conflict • The Primarystruggle between the main character or characters and an adverse character, group or force • Internal Conflict – A struggle between a character and him/herself • External Conflict – A struggle between a character and an outside force. • Man vs. Man • Man vs. Nature • Man vs. Supernatural • Man vs. Society
- 5. Main characters • Protagonist –MAIN CHARACTER of the story – Often, hero or character the audience is supposed to feel most sympathetic for • Antagonist – primary adversary of the protagonist – Sometimes the villain
- 6. Complications • Small problemsin addition to the conflict that add interest to the story
- 7. Suspense • The uncertaintyor anxiety that a reader feels about what will happen in a story – Foreshadowing – Dilemma – Mystery – Reversal
- 8. Foreshadowing • Clues (realor false) that hint at a story’s outcome
- 9. Dilemma • A characterthat we care about is in peril or must choose between two dangerous courses of action
- 10. Mystery • The creationof suspense by withholding information or by presenting unusual circumstances
- 11. Reversal • A suddenchange in a character’s situation from good to bad or vice versa
- 12. Climax and Resolution •Climax – The most exciting point in the story, when the conflict is decided • Resolution – The conflict is resolved (positively or negatively) and the story is brought to a close – Also know as “Denouement”
- 13. Characterization • The techniqueused by a writer to create and reveal the personalities of the characters in a written work. This may be done by: • Direct Characterization – The author directly states aspects of the character’s personality • Indirect Characterization – describing the character’s physical appearance and situation, – revealing a characters thoughts, or – showing the reaction of other characters.
- 14. Types of Characters •Flat Character – shows only one trait • Round Character – Shows many different traits, good and bad • Static Character – character does not change through the course of the story • Dynamic Character – character develops and grows during the course of the story
- 15. Setting • The timeand place in which the action of a narrative occurs
- 16. Theme • The underlyingmeaning of a literary work. • This differs from the subject in that it involves a statement of opinion about that subject. • The theme may be stated or implied. • Not every literary work has a theme, and some have more than one
- 17. Point of View •The relationship between the narrator of a story and the characters in it • Narrator is NOT the same as author • Types of POV: – First Person – Third Person, Omniscient – Third Person, Limited Omniscient – Third Person, Objective
- 18. P.O.V. continued • FirstPerson – The narrator offers a personal account of their own experiences or describes what happens to other characters as the narrator sees it • Third Person – The narrator stands outside the action (non- participatory) and presents • Omniscient – (all-knowing) point of view – Can see the thoughts & emotions of all (or numerous) characters • Limited Omniscient – focuses on one character’s thoughts and viewpoints • Objective – Describes only what can be seen – “Reporter style”
- 19. Irony • Irony: differencesin appearance and reality, or expectations and results, or meaning and intention – Dramatic Irony: • a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true – Situational Irony: • an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, readers, or audience – Verbal Irony: • words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant (i.e. sarcasm, double-entendre, etc.)