short story unit literary terms & definitions by erin salona

Short Story Unit Short Story Unit Literary Terms & Literary Terms &

Definitions Definitions

By Erin SalonaBy Erin Salona

Parts of Plot Parts of Plot

Plot:Plot: The sequence of events in a The sequence of events in a story. story.

Exposition:Exposition: The basic situation of The basic situation of a story—this is where the reader a story—this is where the reader learns the background learns the background information necessary to information necessary to understand the story.understand the story.

Exposition ExampleExposition Example

The reader learns Liz lives in an The reader learns Liz lives in an apartment by herself.apartment by herself.

Liz is 25-years-old.Liz is 25-years-old. Liz is tired from a long day at work as a Liz is tired from a long day at work as a

nurse.nurse. Liz is talking on her cell-phone to her Liz is talking on her cell-phone to her

best friend Julie as she walks to the door best friend Julie as she walks to the door of her own home.of her own home.

Parts of PlotParts of Plot Rising Action: Rising Action: The part of the The part of the

story which occurs between the story which occurs between the exposition and climax. Here is exposition and climax. Here is where conflicts occur which build where conflicts occur which build up the story and make it up the story and make it interesting. interesting.

Rising Action ExampleRising Action Example

Liz hears some strange thumping sounds Liz hears some strange thumping sounds coming from the inside of her apartment coming from the inside of her apartment as she is about to put her key in the door.as she is about to put her key in the door.

Liz tells Julie she hears something.Liz tells Julie she hears something. Julie suggests she calls the police.Julie suggests she calls the police. Liz tells Julie that she was probably Liz tells Julie that she was probably

imagining the sounds but still hears them.imagining the sounds but still hears them.

Parts of PlotParts of Plot

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

Climax ExampleClimax Example

Liz opens the door to her apartment and Liz opens the door to her apartment and sets her bag by the door.sets her bag by the door.

Her heart jumps when she sees a pair of Her heart jumps when she sees a pair of black shoes peeking out from under her black shoes peeking out from under her living room curtains.living room curtains.

The curtain moves slightly.The curtain moves slightly.

Climax ExampleClimax Example Liz bravely walks up to the curtain and Liz bravely walks up to the curtain and

picks up a heavy candlestick on the way.picks up a heavy candlestick on the way. She strikes the candlestick against the She strikes the candlestick against the

curtain, and at the same time, something curtain, and at the same time, something grabs her hand from behind the curtain.grabs her hand from behind the curtain.

Liz drops the candlestick, and a tall man Liz drops the candlestick, and a tall man with a black mask emerges from behind with a black mask emerges from behind the curtain. the curtain.

Suddenly, her front door is flung open.Suddenly, her front door is flung open.


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

Falling Action ExampleFalling Action Example

The police emerge, and the masked man The police emerge, and the masked man releases Liz from his grasp.releases Liz from his grasp.

He quickly exits her home through the He quickly exits her home through the open window, but is met with the gun open window, but is met with the gun from a policeman. from a policeman.

Julie had called the police for Liz.Julie had called the police for Liz. Liz realizes many of her possessions are Liz realizes many of her possessions are

knocked over or broken.knocked over or broken.


Resolution:Resolution: The final outcome of The final outcome of the story. the story.

Resolution ExampleResolution Example

The police try to comfort Liz while taking The police try to comfort Liz while taking her statement.her statement.

Liz packs some possessions to take to Liz packs some possessions to take to Julie’s house for the night.Julie’s house for the night.

She decides to invest in a second lock for She decides to invest in a second lock for her door in the morning and to install a her door in the morning and to install a burglar system. She knows it will be burglar system. She knows it will be difficult to continue living in her home.difficult to continue living in her home.


Basic Situation

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

Plot CurvePlot Curve

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

Time

Act

ion

ConflictConflict

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

Conflict Conflict

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

Person vs. PersonPerson vs. Person

When the person (character) When the person (character) experiences conflict with another experiences conflict with another character in the story.character in the story.

{external}{external}

Person vs. SelfPerson vs. Self When the character experiences When the character experiences

conflict in his/her heart or mind. conflict in his/her heart or mind. {{internalinternal}}

Person vs. NaturePerson vs. Nature

When the person (character) When the person (character) experiences conflict with aspects of experiences conflict with aspects of nature (such as weather, animals, nature (such as weather, animals, etc.)etc.)

{{externalexternal}}

Person vs. Fate Person vs. Fate (Society)(Society)

When the person (character) When the person (character) experiences conflict with aspects in experiences conflict with aspects in societysociety out of his controlout of his control (such as (such as the law, rules set in society, etc.)the law, rules set in society, etc.)

{{externalexternal}}

CharacterizationCharacterization

Static Character:Static Character: A character who A character who does NOT changedoes NOT change throughout the throughout the story. story.

Dynamic Character:Dynamic Character: A character A character who who changeschanges throughout the throughout the story.story.


Round Character:Round Character: A character with many A character with many qualities and personality traits.qualities and personality traits.

Flat Character:Flat Character: A character with only a A character with only a couple characteristics/ is simple; is often couple characteristics/ is simple; is often the stereotypical character in a story. the stereotypical character in a story. His His main purpose is to reveal things about other main purpose is to reveal things about other characters or move the plot along.characters or move the plot along.


Protagonist:Protagonist: The main character The main character of a story—often considered to of a story—often considered to be the hero of the story.be the hero of the story.

Antagonist:Antagonist: The character who The character who frustrates, deceives, or works frustrates, deceives, or works against the main character. against the main character.

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Direct Characterization:Direct Characterization: The narrator The narrator makes direct comments about the makes direct comments about the character. i.e. “She is friendly.” (TELLS)character. i.e. “She is friendly.” (TELLS)

Indirect Characterization:Indirect Characterization: We learn We learn about the character through her speech, about the character through her speech, thoughts, feelings, actions, physical thoughts, feelings, actions, physical appearance and through other appearance and through other characters’ thoughts, feelings, and characters’ thoughts, feelings, and speech about her. (SHOWS)speech about her. (SHOWS)

IronyIrony

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

Situational IronySituational Irony

Situational Irony ExampleSituational Irony Example

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


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


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


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

IronyIrony

Verbal Irony:Verbal Irony: Saying one thing, but Saying one thing, but meaning something else. . . knowingly meaning something else. . . knowingly exaggerating. (sarcasm) exaggerating. (sarcasm)

Example:Example: A man yelling “I’m not mad!!!” A man yelling “I’m not mad!!!” as his face is turning red and his voice is as his face is turning red and his voice is rising. rising.

Verbal Irony ExampleVerbal Irony Example

“It looks like you put a lot of thought into your outfit. Thanks

for dressing up.”


“Thanks so much!” said the man to the driver of the car.

IronyIrony

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony: The audience or reader : The audience or reader knows something another character knows something another character does not know.does not know.

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic Irony Example: We, the : We, the audience, know that there is a surprise audience, know that there is a surprise party for Carlos; however, Carlos does party for Carlos; however, Carlos does not know and is surprised to find a room not know and is surprised to find a room full of friends when he arrives home.full of friends when he arrives home.

Dramatic Irony ExampleDramatic 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.

BOBSTEVE


We, the audience, know the identity of Hannah Montana; yet other characters do not know that

Miley Stewart is actually Hannah Montana.


For some reason, nobody could tell that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person. The cape and

no glasses change his identity.


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


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

Point of ViewPoint of View

Who is telling the story?Who is telling the story? 11stst Person POV: Person POV: The narrator is a The narrator is a

character in the story and uses “I” or character in the story and uses “I” or “me” when telling the story. “me” when telling the story.

22ndnd Person POV: Person POV: The narrator brings The narrator brings “you”, the reader, into the story when “you”, the reader, into the story when telling the story. telling the story.

Point of ViewPoint of View 33rdrd Person Limited POV: Person Limited POV: The narrator The narrator

tells only what one character thinks, tells only what one character thinks, feels, and observes, and uses “he,” feels, and observes, and uses “he,” “they,” “she,” etc. “they,” “she,” etc.

33rdrd Person Omniscient POV: Person Omniscient POV: The The narrator sees into the minds of more narrator sees into the minds of more than one character when telling the than one character when telling the story– uses “he,” “she,” “they,” etc.story– uses “he,” “she,” “they,” etc.

Point of ViewPoint of View33rdrd Person Objective Point of View: Person Objective Point of View: the unbiased narrator tells what happens the unbiased narrator tells what happens

while only revealing the story's action while only revealing the story's action and dialogue. and dialogue.

The narrator never tells us what the The narrator never tells us what the characters think or feel, remaining a characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer. detached observer.

33rdrd person pronouns are used (he, she, person pronouns are used (he, she, etc.) etc.)

Point of ViewPoint of View

How can the point of view from which the How can the point of view from which the story is told affect the credibility story is told affect the credibility

(believability) of the story?(believability) of the story? Consider: Consider: “The Necklace” is told in 3“The Necklace” is told in 3rdrd

person limited, following Madame person limited, following Madame Loisel’s perspective. What if the story Loisel’s perspective. What if the story was told from Monsieur Loisel’s was told from Monsieur Loisel’s perspective? What would change?perspective? What would change?

SettingSetting

Setting:Setting: Where and when the Where and when the story takes place.story takes place.

Place Place - geographical location. Where is - geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place?the action of the story taking place?

Time Time - When is the story taking place? - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc)(historical period, time of day, year, etc)

Weather conditionsWeather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc?stormy, etc?

Describe the SettingDescribe the Setting

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing

The use of hints or clues to The use of hints or clues to indicate events and situations indicate events and situations that will occur later in the plot.that will occur later in the plot. Spooky music Spooky music Thunder and lightening Thunder and lightening A new suspicious character A new suspicious character

introduced (purpose unknown at the introduced (purpose unknown at the time)time)

SuspenseSuspense

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

MoodMood

MoodMood is the emotions that you feel while is the emotions that you feel while you are reading. Some literature makes you are reading. Some literature makes you feel sad, others joyful, still others, you feel sad, others joyful, still others, angry. angry.

The general atmosphere created by the The general atmosphere created by the author’s words and imagery.author’s words and imagery.

Types of mood: scary, romantic,Types of mood: scary, romantic,

violent, hopeful, mysterious, joyful. . .violent, hopeful, mysterious, joyful. . .

Describe the MOODDescribe the MOOD

ToneTone

Tone - the manner in which Tone - the manner in which written words might be said. For written words might be said. For example: sarcastic, hateful, witty, example: sarcastic, hateful, witty, angryangry

Tone is different from mood in that Tone is different from mood in that a story typically has one mood; a story typically has one mood; whereas, tone can change a lot whereas, tone can change a lot throughout a story.throughout a story.

Words That Describe Words That Describe ToneTone

Amused Amused Humorous Humorous Pessimistic Pessimistic Angry Angry Informal Informal Playful Playful Cheerful Cheerful IronicIronic WittyWitty

Horrifying Horrifying Light Light Sad Sad Matter-of-fact Matter-of-fact Serious Serious Formal Formal Suspicious Suspicious Gloomy Gloomy OptimisticOptimistic

Examples of ToneExamples of Tone

Sincere:Sincere: She rose from her chair when I She rose from her chair when I came in and exclaimed with a smile: came in and exclaimed with a smile: "Wow! Nice outfit!""Wow! Nice outfit!"

Sarcastic:Sarcastic: She gave me one look and She gave me one look and said, with a short laugh, "Yeah, right! said, with a short laugh, "Yeah, right! Nice outfit!"Nice outfit!"

Examples of ToneExamples of Tone

Envious:Envious: She glanced at me quickly and She glanced at me quickly and muttered reluctantly, "Um, yeah . . . nice muttered reluctantly, "Um, yeah . . . nice outfit."outfit."

Insulting:Insulting: She looked at me She looked at me incredulously and said, "Eww! Nice incredulously and said, "Eww! Nice outfit!"outfit!"

Genres of LiteratureGenres of Literature

• Different types of writing each genre Different types of writing each genre shapes a theme or topic differently. Genres shapes a theme or topic differently. Genres include…include…

• Classic literatureClassic literature• Contemporary lit.Contemporary lit.• Historical fictionHistorical fiction• FantasyFantasy• Science fictionScience fiction• FolkloreFolklore

•Mythology•Poetry•Short stories•Dramas•Comedy

ThemeTheme

An observation about life that the writer An observation about life that the writer conveys to the reader. A theme must be conveys to the reader. A theme must be written in a complete sentence and written in a complete sentence and must apply to the story as well as to life must apply to the story as well as to life in general.in general.

A good way to find the theme is to ask A good way to find the theme is to ask yourself the question, yourself the question, what does the main what does the main character learncharacter learn in the course of the story? in the course of the story?

ThemeTheme

Sometimes we must sacrifice Sometimes we must sacrifice something we value in order to something we value in order to save someone we love.save someone we love.

Money does not guarantee Money does not guarantee happiness.happiness.

SymbolSymbol

A person, place, thing, or event A person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for that stands for itself and for something beyond itself as well. something beyond itself as well.

ExamplesExamples: the American flag : the American flag symbolizes freedom, liberty, and love symbolizes freedom, liberty, and love for America.for America.

A wedding band symbolizes_______.A wedding band symbolizes_______. A white flag symbolizes__________.A white flag symbolizes__________.

Symbols in LiteratureSymbols in Literature

DoveDove = Peace = Peace EagleEagle = freedom, liberty, strength = freedom, liberty, strength SpringSpring = youth, re-birth, birth, life = youth, re-birth, birth, life AutumnAutumn = middle age, maturity = middle age, maturity WinterWinter = death, dying, old age = death, dying, old age WaterWater = birth, re-birth, renewal, = birth, re-birth, renewal,

purificationpurification


RoseRose = love, beauty = love, beauty SunriseSunrise = new start, beginning = new start, beginning Full moon Full moon = danger, bizarre behavior= danger, bizarre behavior SleepSleep = death = death SkullSkull = death = death ForestForest = place of testing or challenge = place of testing or challenge LightLight = good, hope, freedom = good, hope, freedom


DarknessDarkness = evil, magic, fear, unknown = evil, magic, fear, unknown RedRed = anger, passion = anger, passion BlueBlue = happiness, peacefulness, = happiness, peacefulness,

sadness, intellectsadness, intellect GreenGreen = jealousy, wealth, growth = jealousy, wealth, growth BlackBlack = death, evil = death, evil WhiteWhite = purity, innocence = purity, innocence

short story unit literary terms & definitions by erin salona

Documents

liz lives

main conflict

action examplethe police

parts of plotfalling

parts of plotrising

rising action exampleliz

masked man

tall man