Elements of a Short Story Flashcards
Plot
sequent of incidents or events the story is composed of
Exposition
The part of the story that provides background information which the reader must be
aware of if he/she is going to understand the story.
setting, character, mood, prior knowledge
Initial Incident
the first conflict of the story, sets the motion
rising action
events that take place between the initial incident and climax
suspense
feeling of uncertainty that is created about the outcome of the story
climax
major conflict is to be solve, highest action point and creates suspense
falling action
all events of the story after the climax, conflicts being solved
resolution
final even, conflict is resolved
denouement
final revelation, explanation , not all stories have this
verisimilitude
using real events and dates in the story
point of view
perspective the story is told through
first person observer
narrator is telling the story and is not physically in action
first person participant
narrator is a character in the story
third person participant
narrator can see into mind and thoughts of one character but not a character in the story
third person omniscient
the narrator can see into minds of all characters and is not a character in the story
direct character
author tells character to reader directly, statements about thee character.
specifics about their personality and looks
in direct character
learn about character, how the character acts, talks, responds
flat character
a character that we know relatively little about
round character
a character with a variety of traits that make them believable
know a good amount about that character
static character
a character that does not change throughout the story, can be round or flat
dynamic character
round character who undergo permanent change to personality or appearance throughout the story
stock or stereotype character
character follows a stereotype in popular literature genes
external conflict
conflict between the protagonist and someone or something in their environment. the antagonist may be a person, society, animal
physical, emotional, psychological conflicts
internal conflicts
conflicts occurs within the mind of the protagonist, thoughts or emotion comflicts
