Short Story

Question 1

Characteristics of short stories in 1900’s (20th century)

Answer 1

Story moves away from plot,character,theme and setting
Slower paced
Not as structures: can begin in middle or end conclusion often left to the reader
Emphasizes realism
Experimentation with style
Colloquial style(informal)

Question 2

Antecedent action

Answer 2

Events occurred before the story begins

Question 3

Characteristics of short stories in the 1800’s (19th century)

Answer 3

Emphasizes plot
Croon moves quickly 
Plot emphasizes surprise ending 
Beginning,complication,climax,resolution is definite
Climax near end and unexpected 
Formal style

Question 4

Atmosphere(mood)

Answer 4

Tone an author gives to the story( often set at beginning) (cheerful,angry…)

Question 5

Characters

Answer 5

People Given traits by the author
Can learn about them through: dialogue, action, thoughts, others say about the character and author’s direct statement about character

Must be consistent in behaviour, clear motivations, plausible

Question 6

Character motivations

Answer 6

Reason why a character acts the way they do

Question 7

Character presentation

Answer 7

Direct: author tells reader
Indirect: author shows reader what charac is like an leaves reader to make judgements

Question 8

Flat type characters

Answer 8

Built around a single quality or idea, not much detail, described in single phrase or sentence

Question 9

Round characters

Answer 9

Opposite to flat characters: as complex as real people. Motivations are complicated. Describe in longer composition

Question 10

Static character

Answer 10

Remain the same from beginning to end

Question 11

Dynamic characters

Answer 11

Opposite to static: undergo a change from beginning to end

Question 12

Plausible characters

Answer 12

Believable characters/ imperfect

Can’t behave another way without reason

Question 13

Dilemma

Answer 13

Refers to two undesirable choices a character faces

Question 14

Escape literature

Answer 14

Written for entertainment

Question 15

Interpretive literature

Answer 15

Provide entertainment but also to deepen reader’s awareness of life, usually has a theme

Question 16

Flashback

Answer 16

Plot often begins in present and moves back to an earlier point in time
Rewind in past

Question 17

In media res

Answer 17

No beginning and the reader is plunged into the action background information provides explanations m, flashbacks or illusions in dialogue

Question 18

Initial incident

Answer 18

First event in a story which rest of story depends on

Question 19

Irony

Answer 19

Show something different from what reader expects

Question 20

Verbal irony

Answer 20

Statement where what is said is opposite of what is meant (similar sarcasm)

Question 21

Situational irony

Answer 21

Unexpected ending

Question 22

Dramatic irony

Answer 22

Speaker is unaware that he is being ironic l, reader understands the irony but not the narrator, unintentional by the speaker.

Question 23

Plot

Answer 23

Plan or main action of a story

Question 24

Protagonist

Answer 24

Main character in a story not necessarily a hero or good guy

Question 25

Antagonist

Answer 25

Opposing force of main character. Not essentially a bad guy

Question 26

Plot manipulation

Answer 26

Unmotivated action in order for author to control the story. Outcome is manipulated by writer. Change plot, modify story anytime

Question 27

Conflict

Answer 27

Complication which builds and reaches a climax

Question 28

Point of view(3 types)

Answer 28

Three types: mental,physical,emotional

Question 29

Mental point of view

Answer 29

Mental point of view: who is telling the story

Two types: 
First person (participant pov): Uses I, me, my, mine, we , us. 

Subdivided into two categories:

Narrator as major character in story

Innocent eye narrator: Charac telling story is child or mentally challenged individual. Narrator is naive+ironic effect produces between what narrator says and what sophisticated reader understand

Narrator minor character: Tells story focuses on someone else in story. Less important than protagonist.

Question 30

Third Person (non-participant pov)

Answer 30

Third personal pronouns( he,him,she,her,they,them…)

Subdivided into 3 categories

Omniscient narrator: Knows all

Selective (limited) omniscient narrator: limits omniscience to minds of 1 or 2 characs

Objective narrator: does not enter minds of characs and acts like camera.

Question 31

Physical pov

Answer 31

Refers or the setting: Places narrator in specific place form which story is told. Reader able to visualize position persona tell story.

Question 32

Emotional pov

Answer 32

Involves tone (mood) of story. Author wishes to create many moods in minds of readers, may change as story progresses.

Question 33

Satire

Answer 33

Make fun of important matters
Does not criticize directly
Effective way of communication an opinion

Question 34

Stream of consciousness narration

Answer 34

Puts on paper what is going on in the mind of a particular character

Question 35

Style

Answer 35

How a writer has what he says
Maybe analyzed in terms of word choice (diction), sentence structure (syntax), types figurative language used, patterns of sound and rhythms. Can be classified as being high(grand), middle(mean) or low (pain)

Question 36

Symbolism

Answer 36

Somethings that stands for another

Question 37

Theme

Answer 37

What the story is about (love,hate,revenge…)

Question 38

Types of short stories (4 ways)

Answer 38

Examine whether plot,character, setting or theme has been emphasized. (Character type story)

Question 39

Unity

Answer 39

Story makes sense

Various stages of the story are linked together in cause and effect relationship

Question 40

Verisimilitude

Answer 40

Appears to be real or true

If a story is versimiltitude it’s true to life