Short Story Unit Short Story Unit Literary TermsLiterary Terms

PlotPlot

The sequence of The sequence of events that make up events that make up a story, usually a story, usually centering around a centering around a main conflictmain conflict

The Five Stages of PlotThe Five Stages of Plot

ExpositionExposition

The first stage of plot!The first stage of plot!

In the Exposition, the scene is set: In the Exposition, the scene is set: – this part of the story introduces this part of the story introduces

the the characterscharacters, tells the reader , tells the reader the the settingsetting, and provides all of , and provides all of the necessary the necessary background background informationinformation

SettingSetting

The setting of the The setting of the literary work is literary work is the the timetime andand placeplace of the of the action. action.

Time can include not only Time can include not only the historical period—the historical period—past, present, or future—past, present, or future—but also a specific year, but also a specific year, season, or time of day. season, or time of day.

Place—though Place—though usually physical—usually physical—may also involve may also involve the social, the social, economic, or economic, or cultural cultural environment of environment of the story the story

Rising ActionRising Action

The second stage of plot!The second stage of plot!

This is where the action usually This is where the action usually begins. begins. In the Rising Action, the In the Rising Action, the conflict is introducedconflict is introduced (either (either between characters, or with an between characters, or with an outside force). This conflict will build outside force). This conflict will build up pressure until the Climaxup pressure until the Climax

ClimaxClimax The climax is The climax is

the highest the highest point of point of conflict in the conflict in the story!! story!!

Generally, this is the Generally, this is the point after which point after which everything is everything is different. All of the different. All of the pressure or events pressure or events of the Rising Action of the Rising Action have stacked up to have stacked up to this moment, when this moment, when something must something must change. change.

Falling ActionFalling Action

This stage begins the This stage begins the downward slopedownward slope the conflict the conflict lessens, and the plot moves lessens, and the plot moves towards closuretowards closure

Resolution/DenouementResolution/Denouement

In the final stage of plot, the conflict In the final stage of plot, the conflict concludes, and loose ends are tied concludes, and loose ends are tied up. up.

ConflictConflict

INTERNAL INTERNAL -Conflict that -Conflict that occurs inside occurs inside the characterthe character

-man Vs. self-man Vs. self

EXTERNAL EXTERNAL ––Conflict that occurs Conflict that occurs

outside of the characteroutside of the character-man Vs. man-man Vs. man-man Vs. nature-man Vs. nature-man Vs. society-man Vs. society-man Vs. fate-man Vs. fate

A conflict is a struggle between A conflict is a struggle between opposing opposing forces. forces. There are two types of conflict: There are two types of conflict:

ProtagonistProtagonist

The protagonist is the The protagonist is the main main charactercharacter in a literary work. in a literary work.

He/she is He/she is NOTNOT necessarily necessarily the “good guy”, just the the “good guy”, just the mainmain character character

AntagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character An antagonist is a character

or force in conflict with the or force in conflict with the main character main character

This is This is NOTNOT necessarily the necessarily the “bad guy”, just the person “bad guy”, just the person or thing that is working or thing that is working against the main characteragainst the main character

NarratorNarrator

The person The person from from whose whose perspectivperspective a story is e a story is toldtold

Point of ViewPoint of View The perspective or angle from which a The perspective or angle from which a

story is being toldstory is being told

There are several types:There are several types:– First-Person-Point-of-ViewFirst-Person-Point-of-View: When the : When the

narrator telling the story is one of the narrator telling the story is one of the characters, and tells the story as a characters, and tells the story as a personal accountpersonal account

– Third-Person-Point-of-ViewThird-Person-Point-of-View: When the : When the narrator is not one of the characters (has narrator is not one of the characters (has no name, and does not participate in any no name, and does not participate in any of the action of the plot)of the action of the plot)

Point of View (continued)Point of View (continued)

There are also two types of Third-There are also two types of Third-Person-Point-of-View:Person-Point-of-View:

– Third-Third-Limited-Point-of-View-Point-of-View: When the : When the narrator sees the world through narrator sees the world through oneone character’s eyes and reveals character’s eyes and reveals onlyonly thatthat character’s thoughtscharacter’s thoughts

– Third-Third-Omniscient-Point-of-View-Point-of-View: When the : When the narrator sees into the minds of more than narrator sees into the minds of more than one character. Omniscient = all knowingone character. Omniscient = all knowing

IronyIrony The difference between appearance and The difference between appearance and

reality or the expectation and result.reality or the expectation and result.

There are THREE kinds of Irony:There are THREE kinds of Irony:

--Verbal IronyVerbal Irony: a word or phrase used to suggest : a word or phrase used to suggest the opposite of its actual meaning. the opposite of its actual meaning. “You look “You look so good in that dress,” said her best so good in that dress,” said her best friend.friend.

--Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony: When there is a contradiction : When there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the between what a character thinks and what the readers know is true. readers know is true. You know something You know something the character doesn’t know.the character doesn’t know. (You know the (You know the murderer is hiding in the closet but the murderer is hiding in the closet but the character doesn’t know.)character doesn’t know.)

Irony (continued)Irony (continued)--Situational IronySituational Irony: When an event : When an event

directly contradicts expectations of directly contradicts expectations of the reader or of the characters the reader or of the characters

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

Clues in a literary work that suggest Clues in a literary work that suggest events that have yet to occurevents that have yet to occur

This literary This literary device helps to device helps to create suspense, create suspense, keeping readers keeping readers wondering about wondering about what will happen what will happen next.next.

ThemeTheme

The central The central messagemessage or insight or insight into life revealed through a into life revealed through a literary workliterary work

– This is the deeper meaning, the This is the deeper meaning, the

main lesson/message/moral that main lesson/message/moral that the author hopes the reader will the author hopes the reader will understand at the end of the storyunderstand at the end of the story

Denotation Vs. ConnotationDenotation Vs. Connotation Denotation: Denotation:

The dictionary The dictionary meaning of a meaning of a word, word, independent of independent of other associations other associations that the word that the word may havemay have

Connotation: Connotation:

Suggested Suggested meaning. An meaning. An emotional emotional association with a association with a word in addition to word in addition to the word’s actual, the word’s actual, explicit meaning. explicit meaning. Ex., house, woman, Ex., house, woman, Hollywood, jokingHollywood, joking

MoodMoodThe feeling created in the The feeling created in the

reader by a literary workreader by a literary work

ToneToneThe attitude toward the The attitude toward the

subject that an author subject that an author conveys in a piece of writingconveys in a piece of writing

SimileSimile

A comparison between two unlike A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”.things using “like” or “as”.

Similes are used to make Similes are used to make descriptions of objects or people descriptions of objects or people more powerful.more powerful.

Example: Example: Without a simile: “It was dark outside.”Without a simile: “It was dark outside.”With a simile: “The night was as dark With a simile: “The night was as dark

as thick, black velvet.” as thick, black velvet.”

MetaphorMetaphor A comparison between two unlike A comparison between two unlike

things, without using the words “like” things, without using the words “like” or “as”.or “as”.

Instead, one thing is spoken of as Instead, one thing is spoken of as though it though it isis something else completely. something else completely.

Example (from the Langston Hughes poem Example (from the Langston Hughes poem “Dreams”):“Dreams”):

“…if dreams die“…if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly”That cannot fly”

PersonificationPersonification

A type of figurative language, where a A type of figurative language, where a non-human object is given human non-human object is given human characteristicscharacteristics

Examples: Examples:

--The desk coughed and grunted as I shoved it across the old wooden floor.

-The tea kettle whistled once the water was boiling.

ImageryImagery The The descriptivedescriptive or figurative or figurative

language used in literature to language used in literature to create create word picturesword pictures for the for the reader.reader.

These word pictures/images, are These word pictures/images, are created by details of sight, sound, created by details of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement.taste, touch, smell, or movement.

SymbolSymbol

Something that has a literal Something that has a literal meaning, but also stands for or meaning, but also stands for or represents an abstract idea.represents an abstract idea.

Example: The American Flag– on Example: The American Flag– on a a literal level, it is just a flag, a literal level, it is just a flag, a piece of piece of cloth. However, it also cloth. However, it also stands for stands for this this particular county, particular county, for freedom, etc.for freedom, etc.

AllusionAllusion

When one literary work references a When one literary work references a well-known person, place, event, well-known person, place, event, work of art, or another literary work work of art, or another literary work to make a point.to make a point.

Example: In Taylor Swift’s song “Love Example: In Taylor Swift’s song “Love Story”, she Story”, she alludesalludes to the play to the play

“Romeo “Romeo and Juliet”.and Juliet”.

DialogueDialogue

A dialogue is a A dialogue is a conversation conversation between characters. between characters.

It is often used to It is often used to reveal things about a reveal things about a character’s thoughts, character’s thoughts, motivations, and motivations, and personality to the personality to the reader, and to reader, and to advance the action advance the action of the plot.of the plot.

Example: Example:

After walking into the After walking into the kitchen, Susie cried, kitchen, Susie cried, ““Mom, how could Mom, how could you eat the last you eat the last cupcake?!cupcake?!” ”

Mom replied, Mom replied, “I was “I was hungry, and you hungry, and you weren’t here. It was weren’t here. It was delicious, my dear!”delicious, my dear!”

DictionDiction

Word choice, including Word choice, including vocabulary used, word vocabulary used, word appropriateness, and vividness appropriateness, and vividness of languageof language

CharacterizationCharacterization

The way a writer reveals a character’s The way a writer reveals a character’s personality and traits. personality and traits.

There are two methods:There are two methods:– Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization: The author : The author

directly states a character’s personality directly states a character’s personality and/or physical traitsand/or physical traits

– Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization: Uses a : Uses a character’s thoughts, actions, and character’s thoughts, actions, and feelings, to suggest the character’s traits.feelings, to suggest the character’s traits.

Dynamic CharacterDynamic Character

A character that develops and changes A character that develops and changes through the course of a storythrough the course of a story

Example: Ebenezer ScroogeExample: Ebenezer Scrooge at the at the beginning of “A Christmas Carol”, he is beginning of “A Christmas Carol”, he is a mean, lonely man that is only a mean, lonely man that is only interested in money. By the end of the interested in money. By the end of the story, he is generous, and interested in story, he is generous, and interested in the “true spirit of Christmas.”the “true spirit of Christmas.”

Static CharacterStatic Character

A character that does A character that does notnot change or change or develop through the course of the develop through the course of the storystory

Example: Example:

Wile E. Coyote Wile E. Coyote

Round CharacterRound Character

A character that exhibits many traits, A character that exhibits many traits, faults as well as virtuesfaults as well as virtues

Flat CharacterFlat Character A character who seems to have only A character who seems to have only

a single personality traita single personality trait

StereotypeStereotype

A set of inaccurate, simplistic A set of inaccurate, simplistic generalizations about a group that generalizations about a group that allows others to categorize them and allows others to categorize them and treat them accordingly.treat them accordingly.

Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

A sentence that expresses the main A sentence that expresses the main idea or point of the paragraph, idea or point of the paragraph, usually appearing at the beginning.usually appearing at the beginning.

Supporting DetailsSupporting Details

Statements that support the main Statements that support the main idea/topic sentence with idea/topic sentence with explanations, descriptions, explanations, descriptions, definitions, or other information.definitions, or other information.

PurposePurpose

The author’s reason for writing a The author’s reason for writing a specific piece specific piece

(Examples: To entertain, to (Examples: To entertain, to inform, or to persuade the inform, or to persuade the reader)reader)

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

The sentence or two that contains The sentence or two that contains the focus of the essay and tells your the focus of the essay and tells your reader what your essay will be about.reader what your essay will be about.

The thesis statement unifies the The thesis statement unifies the essay parts.essay parts.

GeneralizationGeneralization

A broad principle that is supported by A broad principle that is supported by evidence or particularsevidence or particulars

EvidenceEvidence Particulars, or details, that lead to Particulars, or details, that lead to

generalizationsgeneralizationsEvidence

Evidence

Evidence

Evidence

GENERALIZATION

(BIG PICTURE!!!)