250 likes | 391 Views
SHORT STORIES. Literary Terms for Fiction. Literature in the form of stories that originated in the imagination of the author and are intended to bring entertainment to the reader. Fiction. Characters. Characters: the people, animals. or imaginary creatures who take part in the action.
E N D
SHORT STORIES Literary Terms for Fiction
Literature in the form of stories that originated in the imagination of the author and are intended to bring entertainment to the reader. Fiction
Characters Characters: the people, animals. or imaginary creatures who take part in the action. Protagonist – the character that is the center of action in the story. Antagonist: any force that goes up against the protagonist and causes the conflict
Characters can be described as: • FLAT: shows only one side of personality; not well-rounded • ROUND: shows more than one side of personality; has depth of emotion • STATIC: no change throughout the story; does not grow despite events • DYNAMIC: changes throughout the story; grows and learns from events
CHARACTERS……………. • MOTIVE: the reasons characters act the way they do • TRAITS: the permanent qualities of a character that are revealed through • Speech • Appearance • Private thoughts • Other character's opinions • Actions
TIME and PLACE • The setting can be either real or imaginary • Often the setting plays a large role as it changes throughout the story • Setting can create an atmosphere or mood for the story SETTING
THE PAST TODAY SETTING - WHEN
CHRISTMAS IN THE NORTH CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH SETTING - WHERE
A problem or struggle between opposing forces in a piece of literature. • Internal – conflict within a character • External- conflict between characters, nature, or society CONFLICT
The sequence of events in the story centered around the conflict • The plot of a story is a series of related events • One event causes an effect. In turn, that effect then becomes the cause of another event, and so on……. PLOT
Exposition – description and introduction of the characters, setting, and conflict • Rising Action – main character takes action to resolve the conflict and meets more complications and problems; the plot becomes more complex and suspense develops PLOT DEVELOPMENT
Climax – the emotional moment in the story when the outcome of the conflict is finally revealed; the moment that brings about change to the situation that cannot be undone • Falling Action – loose ends are ties up • Resolution (Denouement) – the end result: “The End” PLOT….con’t.
NARRATOR FIRST PERSON • THE VOICE OF THE STORY • THE NARRATOR IS A CHARACTER IN THE STORY TALKING TO THE READER (USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS: “I” “ME”); • READERS ONLY KNOW THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF ONE CHARACTER POINT OF VIEW
THIRD PERSON LIMITED THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT • THE NARRATOR (NOT A CHARACTER IN THE STORY) ONLY FOCUSES ON ONE CHARACTER; THE READER WITNESSES EVENTS IN THE SAME WAY AS THE CHARACTER DOES • THE NARRATOR IS NOT A CHARACTER, BUT KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERY CHARACTER IN THE STORY POINT OF VIEW
SUBJECT: the topic of the story • Simple – stated as the story goes on – what the story is about • THEME: the meaning, moral, or main message of the story the writer wishes to share with the reader • Complex – requires explanation – not directly stated in the story SUBJECT VS THEME
How to determine theme…. • Consider meaning of the title • Skim story for key phrases about big ideas such as freedom, courage, or honesty • Examines how the main character changes throughout the story • Draw conclusions about major events in the plot THEME
IRONY • A literary technique that portrays differences between appearance and reality OR • Between expectation and result IRONY
The real meaning of words are sharply different from the meaning that is supposedly expressed. • ” VERBAL IRONY
NOT sarcasm – which is aggressive humor that pokes fun Verbal Irony…con’t
A contradiction between what a character thinks or believes AND What the reader or audience know to be true The evil man lurking behind the door…… DRAMATIC IRONY
An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience. The Wizard of oz SITUATIONAL IRONY
Tone – the writer’s attitude toward his or her subject and audience • Closely related to VOICE - the personality that a writer shows to readers • Examples: Matter-of-fact/Calm • Serious • Humorous • Formal • Anxious • Judgmental TONE
SYMBOL – a character, place, thing, or event in a literary work that stands for a larger idea. • Examples: a raven symbolizes death a door symbolizes opportunity an eagle symbolizes the U.S. SYMBOLISM