Short Story Unit Literary Terms & Definitions

Short Story Unit Literary Terms & Definitions Ms. Bridges English 9

Elements 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. • Considered the “introduction.”

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.

Narrative Hook The first incident that occurs to help develop the plot. It is the “hook” that makes you want to keep reading the story.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Parts of Plot Resolution: The final outcome of the story. The resolution is sometimes referred to as dénouement.

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.

Parts of Plot Climax Action Rising Falling Action Exposition Narrative Hook Resolution

Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Exposition Action Time Plot Curve

Conflict I can’t believe what I just heard out about Jill, my best friend! If I tell her it could ruin our friendship, but if I don’t then she might hate me for keeping secrets. What do I do? • Internal Conflict: A conflict that occurs within a character’s mind. • Example: • man vs. himself

Conflict • External Conflict: A conflict that occurs between a character and an outside force. • Examples include: • man vs. man • man vs. nature • man vs. society • man vs. supernatural • man vs. technology

Characterization • Static Character: A character who does NOT change throughout the story. (Hint: Static = stays the same) • Dynamic Character: A character who changes throughout the story. (Hint: Dynamic = Different)

Characterization • Round Character: A character with many qualities and personality traits. • Flat Character: A character with only a couple characteristics; is often the stereotypical character in a story.

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.

Methods of Characterization • Direct Characterization: The narrator makes direct comments about the character. i.e. “She is friendly.” • 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.

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?

Describe the Setting

Point of View • Who is telling the story? • 1st Person POV: The narrator is a character in the story and uses “I” or “me” when telling the story. • 2nd Person POV: The narrator brings “you”, the reader, into the story when telling the story.

Point of View • 3rd Person Limited POV: The narrator tells only what one character thinks, feels, and observes, and uses “he,” “they,” “she,” etc. • 3rd Person Omniscient POV: The narrator sees into the minds of more than one character when telling the story– uses “he,” “she,” “they,” etc.

Mood • The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader • Conveyed through descriptive words, the setting, and figurative language. • Types of mood: scary, romantic, violent, hopeful, etc.

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

Foreshadowing • The use of hints or clues to indicate events and situations that will occur later in the plot. • Spooky music • Thunder and lightning • A new suspicious character introduced (purpose unknown at the time)

Flashback Flashback– a conversation, an episode, or an event that happened before the beginning of the story. Often flashbacks interrupt the flow of a story to give the reader information to help in understanding the character’s present situation.

Allusion An indirect reference to another literary work or to a person, place, event, or some other branch of popular culture.

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__________.

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

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

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

Symbols in Logos Can you find the symbols in these popular logos?

Figurative Language Figurative language is language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary literal meanings of words. Some examples include: personification, hyperbole, simile, and metaphor.

Simile Simile- a comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as. Examples: Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get. He’s dumb as a rock.

Metaphor • Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that have something in common. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the words like or as, but make comparisons directly. • Example: “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” -- William Shakespeare, from As You Like It

Personification Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea. “The grey-eyed morn’ smiles on the frowning night…” --William Shakespeare, from Romeo and Juliet

Onomatopoeia The use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings. Examples include: pow, buzz, and crunch

Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Examples: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore.

Hyperbole Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or a humorous effect. Example: She’s as big as a house! I called you a million times last night!

Irony • Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is apparent and what is reality. • It refers to a contrast between appearance and actuality. • There are three different types of irony. • Dramatic irony • Situational irony • Verbal irony

Situational Irony • Situational Irony is a discrepancy between the expected results and the actual results.

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.

Short Story Unit Literary Terms & Definitions