Short Story Terminology

1. Short Story Terminology Allegory – a story in which people, things and actions represent an idea or a generalization about life; often contains strong moral lessons Allusion – a reference in literature to a person, event, or literary work Apostrophe – the addressing of someone or something, usually not present, as though present (O Captain! My Captain!... Death, be not proud)

2. Short Story Terminology Catastrophe – the concluding action of a drama, especially a classical tragedy, following the climax and containing a resolution of the plot. The finale even in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denoument, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy

3. Short Story Terminology Character – a person or thing in a story Antagonist – is the person or thing working against the protagonist Dynamic – one that undergoes some type of change because of the action of the plot Flat – embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that can be readily accessible to readers (could be stereotypes “dumb blonde” or “evil stepmother”) Main – central character to the story – see protagonist Minor – less important character in a literary work, but still is needed for explanation or development of plot

4. Short Story Terminology Protagonist – central character who engages the reader’s interest and empathy Round – display inconsistencies and internal conflicts found in most real people Static – one that doesn’t change throughout the work, reader’s knowledge of character does not grow

5. Short Story Terminology Tragic Hero – A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on. TRAGIC HEROES ARE: BORN INTO NOBILITY: RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATE ENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAW DOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES FALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEM REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE FACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONOR MEET A TRAGIC DEATH FOR ALL TRAGIC HEROES THE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEAR

6. Short Story Terminology Character Development – how a character develops throughout the story Character Sketch – short, but detailed description of a character Characterization – creation of characters for a play or story Direct – telling the audience/reader exactly what you want them to know about the characters (Killer is a really mean guy.) Indirect – showing the reader the character instead of telling them about the character

7. Short Story Terminology Climax – high point of the story; is the turning point, and usually the most intense point in the story Conflict – the problem or struggle in a story that triggers the action. There are five basic types: person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. self, person vs. nature, person vs. fate/God Connotation – creating associations while also using explicit definitions

8. Short Story Terminology Denotation – dictionary definition Denouement – the outcome, solution, unraveling, or clarification of a plot in a drama; final revelation or outcome Dialect – a type of information diction, dialects are spoken by definable groups of people from a particular geographic region, economic group, or social class. Writers often use dialect to contrast and express differences in educational, class, social, and regional backgrounds of their characters

9. Short Story Terminology Dialogue – the conversations carried on by the characters in a literary work Epiphany – in fiction, when a character suddenly experiences a deep realization about himself or herself; a truth which is grasped in an ordinary rather than melodramatic moment Flashback – going back to an earlier time in a story for the purpose of making something present clearer

10. Short Story Terminology Foil – character in a work whose behavior and values contrast with those of another character in order to highlight the distinctive temperament of that character ( usually the protagonist) Foreshadowing – to be a sign of something to come; indicate or suggest before hand Imagery – the words of phrases a writer selects to create a certain picture in the reader’s mind, usually based on sensory detail.

11. Short Story Terminology Irony – combination of circumstances or a result that is opposite of what is or might be expected or considered appropriate Dramatic – where the reader/audience sees a character’s mistake or misunderstandings, but the character does not Situational –there is a great difference between the purpose of a particular action and the result. Verbal – where the writer says one thing and means another

12. Short Story Terminology Legend – an unverified story handed down from earlier times, especially one popularly believed to be historical Metaphor – a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one the applied to another ( all the world’s a stage) Mood – the feeling a piece of literature arouses in the reader; happiness, sadness, peacefulness

13. Short Story Terminology Motif – an often-repeated idea or theme in literature Myth – a traditional story that attempts to explain a natural phenomenon or justify a certain practice of belief of a society Narrator – a person who relates a story or account; a person who reads descriptive or narrative passages, as between the scenes of a play

14. Short Story Terminology Paradox – a statement that seems contrary to common sense, yet may, in fact, be true Plot – the action or sequence of events in a story; contains 5 basic elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement

15. Short Story Terminology Point of View – the vantage point from which the story is told 1st Person – point of view where a central character or another minor character tells the story using “I” 3rd Person – Point of view where a voice outside of the story tells the story using “he” or “she” to describe characters and actions Limited / Objective – when the narrator limits the action and information/or the reader receives to that which centers on and can be known by only one character in the story Omniscient – having infinite knowledge; knowing all things (usually 3rd person)

16. Short Story Terminology Repetition – the act of repeating something over and over again Setting – to place in a given locale; to make up or arrange on the stage Simile – a comparison of two unlike things in which a word of companion (like or as) is used

17. Short Story Terminology Stream of Consciousness – a style of writing in which the thoughts and feelings of the writer are recorded as they occur Symbol – a person, place, or thing or even used to represent something else Syntax – the ordering of words into meaningful verbal patterns such as phrase, clause, and sentences; poets often manipulate syntax, changing conventional word order, to place certain emphasis on particular words

18. Short Story Terminology Theme – the statement about life a particular work is trying to get across to the reader Tone – the overall feeling, or effect, created by a writer’s words. May be serious, mock-serious, humorous, or satirical