Short Story Terminology

Question 1

First Person

Answer 1

the narrators character is telling the story (uses “I” and “me”)

Question 2

Third Person, Omniscient

Answer 2

the narrator is not a character in the story and is “god-like” in his or her ability to describe the thoughts of the characters

Question 3

Third Person, limited

Answer 3

the narrators ability to describe characters in limited wherein he or she is unable to describe the thoughts of all the chracters

Question 4

Exposition

Answer 4

introduces setting and characters

Question 5

Rising Action

Answer 5

the conflict or complications are introduced to the protagonist which he or she struggles with

Question 6

Conflict

Answer 6

the protagonist will struggle with at least one type of conflict

Question 7

Person vs person

Answer 7

tension between two or more people

Question 8

person versus self

Answer 8

the tension is very internal; the character struggles with himself

Question 9

person vs society

Answer 9

the tension is between a person and members of society

Question 10

person vs environment

Answer 10

the tension is between the person and an element of nature or technology

Question 11

Climax

Answer 11

moment of greatest emotional tension, usually marking a turning point in the plot at which the rising action reverses to become the falling action

Question 12

Falling action

Answer 12

diminishing tensions of conflict are beginning to be resolved

Question 13

Resolution or Denouement

Answer 13

the final resolution or insight that the protagonist r reader takes at the end of the story

Question 14

Theme

Answer 14

general statement that the story makes about some significant aspect of life

Question 15

Narrative Point of View

Answer 15

refers to the position chosen by the narrator from which he or she views and reports about the characters or events in his or her narrative story

Question 16

Plot

Answer 16

action plan of the story; series of events

Question 17

Setting

Answer 17

time, mood, weather, and place of a story

Question 18

Atmosphere

Answer 18

refers to the feeling generated by a place.

Question 19

mood

Answer 19

refers to the feeling experienced by a reader

Question 20

Characterization

Answer 20

refers to the qualities of a person’s makeup or personality and identity

Question 21

protagonist

Answer 21

main character of the conflict

Question 22

antagonist

Answer 22

person who opposes the protagonist

Question 23

Direct characterization

Answer 23

• what the narrator says about the character
• what other characters say or act about the chracter

Question 24

Indirect Characterization

Answer 24

What the character does or says

Question 25

Diction

Answer 25

the authors choice of words

Question 26

Syntax

Answer 26

organization of those words in different sentence structures

Question 27

verbal Irony

Answer 27

a indirect form of communication; what is stated is the opposite of what is meant

Question 28

Situational Irony

Answer 28

occurs when what happens is the opposite of what is expected or intended

Question 29

Dramatic Irony

Answer 29

occurs when the audience know certain information that other characters in the literature don’t know

Question 30

Flashback

Answer 30

an incident which occurs before the time established in the story

Question 31

Foreshadowing

Answer 31

an indication of future events is given in the form of a hint or clue

Question 32

Metaphor

Answer 32

a comparison not using “Like” or “as”

Question 33

Simile

Answer 33

a comparison using “like” or “as”

Question 34

Oxymoron

Answer 34

comparison of two unlike things

Question 35

Personification

Answer 35

human attributes given to something/someone not human

Question 36

Symbol

Answer 36

a comparison whereby something stands for something else

Question 37

Suspense

Answer 37

the choice of words or events allows the author to create anticipation and eagerness to learn what is about to happen