The document defines and provides examples of key terms and concepts related to analyzing short stories, including: - The main parts of a plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution - Types of characters: static, dynamic, round, flat, protagonist, antagonist - Methods of characterization: direct and indirect - Types of conflicts: internal and external - Literary devices like irony, foreshadowing, suspense, mood, tone, theme, symbolism, and figurative language - Elements like setting, point of view, historical context, ambiguity, subtlety, and contradiction

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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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)

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

22. Situational Irony

23. Situational Irony

24. Situational Irony

25. Situational Irony

26. Situational Irony

27. Situational Irony

28. Situational Irony

29. Situational Irony

30. Situational Irony

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

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

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

38. Verbal Irony Example

39. Verbal Irony Example

40. 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.

41. 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

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. 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?

48. Describe the Setting

49. 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.

50. 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.

51. Point of View 3 rd Person Objective Point of View: the narrator tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer. 3 rd person pronouns are used (he, she, etc.)

52. 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?

53. 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)

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

55. Mood The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader through word choice and imagery. Types of mood: scary, romantic, violent, hopeful, etc.

56. Tone Tone - the manner in which written words might be said (for example, sarcastic, mild, witty, angry)

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

58. 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?

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

60. 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__________.

61. 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

62. 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

63. 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

64. Figurative Language Allegory - the use of fictional figures and actions to express truths about human experiences

65. Historical Context To analyze the way in which a work of literature is related to the themes and issues of its historical period

66. Ambiguity Allows for two or more simultaneous interpretations of a word, phrase, action, or situation Many times authors end their stories with a sentence which could be interpreted in more than one way. See “The Story of an Hour.” Many poems contain ambiguity

67. Subtlety Subtleties are delicate hints or clues for the reader within a text They are often difficult to perceive or understand and can foreshadow Authors use subtleties for many reasons. Example : In a mystery, the author may use “subtleties” to help the reader discover the perpetrator of the crime

68. Contradiction Direct opposition between things compared; inconsistency. Within a text, contradictions may exist within characters or setting. In The Great Gatsby , Gatsby is a wealthy man surrounded by many people; however, the fact that he is actually lonely, despite the situation is a contradiction.