Short Story Terms!

FlashbackIs a device in a narrative in which an event that happened in the past is inserted into the chronological order of the work.It is as if the story stops for a scene to go back to the pastIt provides background for the current narrativeIt can give insight into a character's motivation and or background to a conflict.

Flashback exampleMary telling Sarah about her weekend when she hears “Poker Face” and becomes distracted in her story when she begins to remember the first time she heard the song.

Can you think of an example in a story or movie that has a flashback?

DilemmaA situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive (cannot exist at the same time) Di a prefix for two, indicating there should be two problems

Dilemma

What is the dilemma?A ship has sank and the survivors are on a life boat. A storm is coming and the boat has too many people on board to stay afloat during the storm. If three people leave the boat, the boat will not sink.

FantasyAny literature that is removed from reality--especially poems, books, or short narratives set in nonexistent worlds.

The characters are often something other than humans, or human characters may interact with nonhuman characters such as trolls, dragons, munchkins, kelpies, etc.

FantasyCan you think of any movies or TV shows that would be fantasy?

PathosFrom a Greek origin, pathos means “suffering”Today, pathos refers to an appeal to emotionspathos causes an audience not just to respond emotionally but to identify with the writer's point of view - to feel what the writer feels.

DictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech and writingFrom diction, we can infer what the tone, style, characterization, etc.When looking at diction, we want to look at elements such as choice of nouns, verbs, adjectives, syllables, dialogue, etcExample: Looking at the phrase “safe as porcupine juggling”

Indeterminate EndingAn ending to a work in which the central conflict is left unresolved.

- This leaves the reader/viewer guessing

- TV shows love to do this at the end of a season

Surprise EndingEnding that is…. (you guessed it!) a surprise!

Ending is not what is expected

Can you think of a movie with a surprise ending??

SatireThe use of humor, irony and exaggeration in an attempt to make fun of people or ideas

Ex. Saturday Night Live, Scary Movie,

FableA fable is a short story with a didactic (educational or moralizing) purpose. A fable illustrates a moral or general truth about human nature

In the beast fable, the moral or general truth is represented by the experiences of animals with human characteristics.

For example, Aesop's fable about a lion and a boar who fight over drinking rights at a spring while vultures look on awaiting their deaths. The fable concludes with this epigram:

Strife and contention are ill things, which end in danger for all parties, if they have not the sense to be reconciled.

Most Famous Fable ?

AllegoryAn allegory is a narrative which has both a literal meaning and a representative one.

Fables are a type of allegory.

Could “Identities” be a type of allegory?

Active VoiceA grammar structure where the subject is “acting upon” the verbThe Man must have eaten five hamburgers

The man (subject) is doing the eating (verb).

Marilyn mailed the letterMarilyn (subject) is doing the mailing (verb)

Colorful parrots live in the rainforestsParrots (subject) are doing the living (verb)

Passive VoiceA grammar structure where the subject is “acted upon”

Five hamburgers must have been eaten by the man

Hamburgers (subject) are being eaten (verb)

The letter was mailed by MarilynThe letter (subject) was being mailed (verb)