Short Story Terms Flashcards
Mood
FEELING of the story; the feeling you get as you read the story. It is also called the ATMOSPHERE.
Setting
WHEN and WHERE the story takes place; TIME and PLACE included. It can be very specific or somewhat general.
Characterization
People within the story. It describes not only how they LOOK but how they THINK and FEEL and RESPOND. They are divided into MAIN and SECONDARY.
Rising action
The BUILDING UP of the DETAILS within the story to the most exciting part.
Climax
High point. MOST EXCITING PART of the story.
Falling action
Where all of the events COME TOGETHER after the climax. The PROBLEM will be RESOLVED and the story will quickly end. This is also known as RESOLUTION.
Plot
WHAT HAPPENS in the story. The action of the story.
Conflict
PROBLEM in the story. There are FOUR KINDS of conflict and they are labeled as DRAMATIC CONFLICT -Man v. Man -Man v. Nature -Man v. Himself -Man v. Society
Theme
BASIC IDEA of the story. What the author is trying to COMMUNICATE. The MESSAGE.
Protagonist
The MAIN PERSON in the story who faces a problem.
Antagonist
The person or living thing that CAUSES THE PROBLEM. It does not have to be a living thing.
Foreshadowing
The events within a story that SUGGESTS something else that is GOING TO HAPPEN in the story.
Realism
DESCRIBING events in the story as they ACTUALLY HAPPENED - as if they are real. No pretty pictures.
Symbolism
Something that STANDS FOR something else.
Irony
Unusual TWIST. Two kinds:
Verbal - saying the OPPOSITE of what you mean (almost sarcastic)
Situational - UNEXPECTED happening or event
