Elements of the short story Flashcards
Plot
the structure of a story; the sequence of events or actions that take place in the
story
Plot- Intro (exposition):
should spark interest, provide background
formation and establish the setting
Plot- Motivating Incident:
the event which begins the story’s action
Plot- Rising Action
a series of obstacles or problems that lead to the
climax
Plot- Climax
the high point of tension or suspense in a story. Usually
involves a resolution of conflicts
Plot- Falling Action
deals with the effects that the climax has on the
characters
Plot- Conclusion
(denouement
briefly explains any details that
require further clarification
Character:
the people, animals etc. who perform the actions of the story
Protagonist:
the main character in the story - can be good or evil
Antagonist
the character or force opposing the antagonist
Round:
a character that is well developed or well rounded
Flat:
A character that only shows one or two aspects
Static
A character that does not change - often used for contrast
Dynamic
A character that changes in a significant way during the story or a character that learns something significant
Stereotyped (Stock)
a character immediately identified with a group (Evil step-mother, the smart greek)
Setting
the time and place where the events of the story take place eg. Romeo
and Juliet is set in Verona, Italy during the Middle Ages
Mood/Atmospehre
the emotional tone of the story. What effect does the
author wish to produce (humour, suspense, curiosity, anger etc)
Theme
: the central idea behind the story. The theme is more than a moral; it is
a general comment or observation on human behaviour rather than a summary
A theme should meet the following requirements:
a. The theme must be expressed as a complete sentence
b. The theme must be stated as a generalization about life rather than
referring specifically to the characters in the story
c. The theme should not generalize beyond what can be justified by the tory. Qualify your statements carefully and avoid words like every, all,
never, etc.
d. The theme must account for all of the major details of the story and
must not be contradicted by any detail of the story.
e. The theme should not be reduced to a cliché or moral that we have
heard all our lives.
Conflict
: Occurs when the protagonist is opposed by a person or force in a story.
• Person vs. person / self / society / environment / technology /
supernatural etc
Resolution
the point in the story where the conflict is resolved
Escape literature
Is written purley for entertainment
Interpretive literature
written to broaden, deepen and sharpen our awareness
of life. Interpretive literature, through our imagination, takes us deeper into the
real world. It enables us to understand our problems
Narrator
the teller of the story. The narrator may or may not be a character in
the story. There are two basic types:
A. First person - gives a personal account of events
B. Third person - tells what happens to others
Point of view
The perspective from which the story is told by the narrator
first person
i did this
third person
he said, she did
third person omniscient
narrator knows and can tell us everything about any character
third person limited omniscient:
the narrator knows only partial details eg. one characters thoughts and feelings
objective
presents information without comment and lets the reader draw his/her own conclusions
Atmospehere
The general feeling of a piece of writing
Audience
The person or group of people that a writer or author is writing for. eg. the vancouver sun is for news readers while the Province is for sports fans
Character:
The fictional people an author creates in a story or poem. Can also
refer to a person’s character or moral values and behaviour
Characterization
The method an author uses to describe or create a distinctive character. Methods include indirect and direct presentations. Characters can be revealed by what they do and say or through what other characters say about them
Cliche
A metaphor, simile, or saying that has become so overused that it is no longer unique. Eg. love conquers all/strong as a bull
Comedy
:Is a type of fiction or drama that depicts humorous plots where the
protagonist is faced with a light-hearted challenge and in the end overcomes it
and the story or play ends happily.
Drama
A piece of writing, especially with a serious topic, that is intended to be
acted out for presentation to an audience. Eg. A theatrical play, a TV show, a
webcast drama
Flashbacks
Where a writer presents information that happened before the story
begins - can occur in dreams, memory of the past or in stories of past events
Foil
A character that is used to contrast with another character. Eg. In
Cinderella, the ugly stepsisters are foils to Cinderella and their differences
emphasize Cinderella’s sweetness and virtue.
Foreshadowing
a warning or hint for the reader about incidents that follow.
Genre
The type or kind, as in what kind of novel do you you like?
Narrator
A character in the story who tells the story. In all works other than
autobiographies, the narrator is not the author.
Propaganda
Information or ideas that are spread for the purpose of promoting
some person or group’s opinions. Propaganda is usually misleading as not other
perspectives are considered.
Sarcasm
A form of irony whereby a person or a writer says or writes the opposite of what is meant. Eg, that was fun! (when the speaker means the event was boring)
Satire:
A way of writing to make fun of a person, topic or human quality by
making it appear ridiculous. This often involves the use of irony or sarcasm. Eg.
The John Stewart Show, Or SNL
Slang:
Words that are used popularly, or in a particular class of society, but are
not generally acknowledged as correct English. Eg. Calling a car a “beater” is
slang and means that it is old and undependable.
Speaker
An imaginary voice taken on by a poet to tell you a poem. Do not assume that the speaker of a poem or story is the author
Style
A distinctive way in which a writer uses language, both choice and
arrangement of words. Style is the way authors express what they have to say.
Eg. Formal / familiar / plain / complex
Suspense
A feeling of curiosity or expectation about events to follow or an
outcome in a story. The tension an author creates in a story or narrative poem.
As a reader, you want to know what will happen next.
Symbol/ism:
An object that represents or stands in for a more abstract idea: Eg, yellow roses= friendship
Tone:
Expresses the author’s attitude towards his or her subject; the words a writer carefully uses will help you identify tone. Eg, bitter, angry, sarcastic
Tragedy
A story or play in which the main character is brought to death or
suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a result of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or
an inability to manage bad circumstances. Eg. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth
Understatement
A statement that lessens or minimizes the importance of
what is meant. Eg. If you are in the middle of a blizzard in northern Nunavut you
might say, “It’s rather cool out today
