short story terms

Question 1

direct characterization

Answer 1

writer tells what the character is like

Question 2

characterization

Answer 2

act of creating or describing a character

Question 3

indirect characterization

Answer 3

writer shows what a character is like

Question 4

protagonist

Answer 4

the main character of a literary work

Question 5

antagonist

Answer 5

a character or force against the main character

Question 6

conflict

Answer 6

struggle between two opposing forces

Question 7

climax

Answer 7

turning or highest point of interest or suspense

Question 8

situational irony

Answer 8

unexpected events that change the story

Question 9

exposition

Answer 9

introduction of the characters and setting

Question 10

irony

Answer 10

the difference between appearance and reality

Question 11

rising action

Answer 11

conflict is introduced and developed

Question 12

plot

Answer 12

series of events that take place in a story

Question 13

dialogue

Answer 13

conversation between characters

Question 14

falling action

Answer 14

events following climax; conflict may be resolved

Question 15

resolution

Answer 15

conclusion in which conflicts are resolved

Question 16

short story

Answer 16

brief work of fiction

Question 17

novel

Question 18

tone

Answer 18

emotional attitude toward the reader

Question 19

theme

Answer 19

central idea or lesson in a literary work

Question 20

setting

Answer 20

time and place of story

Question 21

diction

Answer 21

author’s choice of words

Question 22

verbal irony

Answer 22

write says one thing but means another

Question 23

point of view

Answer 23

vantage point or perspective in which a story is story

Question 24

fiction

Answer 24

invented or imaginary story