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

Definitions Definitions

Adapted byAdapted byAmy TraversoneAmy Traversone

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 Complication (Rising Action): Complication (Rising Action): The The

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

Complication: Rising Complication: Rising Action ExampleAction 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.

Complication ContinuedComplication Continued

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.

Parts of PlotParts of Plot

Climax:Climax: The main conflict is typically The main conflict is typically resolved at this place.resolved at this place. This is also This is also known as the turning point or highest known as the turning point or highest point of action in a story.point of action in a story.

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.

Parts of PlotParts of Plot

Resolution (Falling Action):Resolution (Falling Action): The The part of the story which occurs part of the story which occurs after the climax and continues to after the climax and continues to the end of the story. Here is the end of the story. Here is where loose ends are tied up where loose ends are tied up toward the end of the story.toward the end of the 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.

Parts of PlotParts of Plot

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.

Parts of PlotParts of Plot

ConflictBasic Situation

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

Com

plic

atio

n

Exposition

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.

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.

CharacterizationCharacterization

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

Flat Character:Flat Character: A character with only A character with only a couple characteristics; is often the a couple characteristics; is often the stereotypical character in a story. stereotypical character in a story.

CharacterizationCharacterization

Protagonist:Protagonist: The main character The main character of a story—who pushes the of a story—who pushes the action of the story forward.action of the story forward.

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.” character. i.e. “She is friendly.”

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. speech about her.

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

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

22ndnd Person POV: Person POV: The narrator The narrator brings “you”, the reader, into the brings “you”, the reader, into the story when telling the story. story when 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 narrator tells what happens without the narrator tells what happens without

stating more than can be inferred from the stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue. story's action and dialogue.

The narrator never discloses anything about The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer. a detached observer.

33rdrd person pronouns are used (he, she, etc.) person pronouns are used (he, she, 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: “Seventh Grade” is told in 3“Seventh Grade” is told in 3rdrd

person omniscient, allowing the reader to person omniscient, allowing the reader to access all characters perspective. What if access all characters perspective. What if the story was told solely from Victor’s the story was told solely from Victor’s perspective? What would change?perspective? What would change?

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

The feeling or atmosphere that The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader the writer creates for the reader through word choice and imagery.through word choice and imagery.

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

violent, hopeful, etc. violent, hopeful, etc.

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, mild, witty, example, sarcastic, mild, witty, angry)angry)

  

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

A perception about life that the writer A perception 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

““There are some things that can There are some things that can never be fixed or repaired, even if never be fixed or repaired, even if you spend a lifetime trying..” you spend a lifetime trying..”

““The cruelest lies are often told in The cruelest lies are often told in silence.”silence.”

““Money does not guarantee Money does not guarantee happiness.” happiness.”

Universal ThemesUniversal Themes

Recurring themes (such as good versus Recurring themes (such as good versus evil) that appear frequently across evil) that appear frequently across traditional and contemporary works.traditional and contemporary works.• LoveLove• Abuse of powerAbuse of power• Coming of ageComing of age• Effects of the pastEffects of the past• CourageCourage

What is the theme of this What is the theme of this film?film?

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 = new beginning, re-birth, birth = new beginning, re-birth, birth SummerSummer = youth, prime of life = youth, prime of life Fall/AutumnFall/Autumn = middle age, maturity = middle age, maturity WinterWinter = death, dying, old age, the end = death, dying, old age, the end WaterWater = birth, re-birth, renewal, purification = birth, re-birth, renewal, purification

Symbols in LiteratureSymbols in Literature

RoseRose = love, beauty = love, beauty SunriseSunrise = new start, beginning = new start, beginning SunsetSunset = coming to an end = coming to an end 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

Symbols in LiteratureSymbols in Literature

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