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English 12 > Short Story Terms > Flashcards

Short Story Terms Flashcards

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0
Q

Plot

A

The events and actions that make up a story

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1
Q

Short story

A

A fictional tale that is short enough to be read in a single sitting

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2
Q

Introduction

A
  • The reader meets the characters and discovers the setting

- reader’s interest is aroused

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3
Q

Rising Action

A

Builds up the story, giving us more information about conflict and characters

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4
Q

Climax

A

Reader finds out how the conflict might be resolved

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5
Q

Falling Action

A

The brief section of the story where the plot begins to wrap up

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6
Q

Denouement/conclusion/resolution

A

Provides last pieces of info for the reader/wraps up the plot

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7
Q

Expository Happy

A

All loose ends are tied up and explained & the ending is resolved in favour of protagonist

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8
Q

Expository Sad

A

All loose ends are tied up and the ending is resolved in favour of the antagonist

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9
Q

Surprise or Twist

A

Something happens that the reader doesn’t expect at all

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10
Q

Unresolved/indeterminate/cliffhanger

A

The reader is left with questions and has to supply the ending himself. Some loose ends are left - conflict is not resolved

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11
Q

Anti-Climax

A

A dull or disappointing ending to something after increasing excitement (it’s anti-climactic)

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12
Q

Plot Diagram

A

Aka: Freytag’s pyramid, a visual representation of the 5 plot parts. Modern stories may or may not fit in with the pyramid

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13
Q

Characterization

A

The collection of characters in a story

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14
Q

Protagonist

A

The main character (usually the good guy, but not always)

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15
Q

Antagonist

A

The force against the protagonist (not always another character)

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16
Q

Flat

A

A character with minimal sides to their personality. May not seem realistic because so little is known about them.

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17
Q

Round

A

Believable, complex characters with several sides to their personality. Behave like real people would.

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18
Q

Dynamic

A

Aka: kinetic character, changes in an important way due to plot events

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19
Q

Static

A

Don’t change through the course of the story

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20
Q

Stereotypical

A

Easily recognized as “types”

- ex. The smart Asian

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21
Q

Cliche

A

An over-used expression

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22
Q

Character foil

A

When two characters balance each other in some way or help emphasize one another’s characteristics

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23
Q

Caricature

A

A character with very exaggerated characteristics for comic effect

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24
Q

Hero

A

A main character with only admirable traits

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25
Q

Anti-hero

A

A main character having none of the traits of a traditional hero; easy to dislike

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26
Q

Character analysis

A

Author reveals character through…

  • physical appearance
  • what the character says
  • what the character does (actions)
  • what the character thinks
  • what other characters say about that character
  • author information
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27
Q

Character sketch

A
  • A description of a character’s moral and personality qualities
  • written in paragraph form
  • uses specific examples from the story
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28
Q

Setting

A
  • Can be stated clearly or inferred through textual clues

- 2 parts: emotional setting & physical setting

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29
Q

Emotional setting

A
  • the mood/atmosphere

- words evoke feeling/emotion

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30
Q

Physical setting

A

Time, place, and season: physical details

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31
Q

Theme

A

Message of the story; what can be learned; insight into life

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32
Q

Conflict

A

Drives plot forward, discovered during initiating incident

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33
Q

Internal conflict

A

Struggle within a character

- man vs self

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34
Q

External conflict

A

Conflict is outside the character

  • man vs man
  • man vs environment
  • man vs supernatural/machine
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35
Q

Point of view

A

Author picks POV that best suits their intentions for the story

36
Q

1st person POV

A
  • “I”

- character tells own story

37
Q

2nd person POV

A
  • “you”
38
Q

3rd person omniscient

A
  • “he/she”

- reader knows all characters thoughts

39
Q

3rd person limited omniscient

A
  • “he/she”

- reader can see into the mind of some characters, others are objective

40
Q

3rd person objective

A
  • “he/she”

- reader can’t get into the heads of any character

41
Q

Deus ex Machina

A

Improbable plot event that allows for an easy resolution of conflict

42
Q

In medias res

A

Beginning in the middle of the action

43
Q

Flashback

A

When the character thinks back to an event that happened before the story began

44
Q

Foreshadowing

A

Hinting at events to come

45
Q

Suspense

A
  • Anxiety/apprehension resulting from an uncertain situation
  • Created by:
    • mystery/unknown
    • dilemma
    • setting/atmosphere
    • dangerous situations/crisis
    • suspense & surprise endings
    • coincidence
46
Q

Dilemma

A

When a character must make a decision between two choices that aren’t ideal

47
Q

Style

A

Techniques used by writers to attract readers attention and accomplish literary purposes

48
Q

Antithesis

A
  • use of contrast for effect

- ex. “Give me liberty or give me death”

49
Q

Chronological order

A

Events are told one after another in the order they occurred

50
Q

Dialect

A

The style of speaking used by a particular character, influenced by where they’re from

51
Q

Diction

A

The arrangement of words in a literary work

52
Q

Direct presentation

A

When writers provide information about their characters directly to the reader

53
Q

Epiphany

A

When a character makes a sudden realization about something critical

54
Q

Indirect presentation

A

Information about characters is shown, not told, to the readers, who must then infer it

55
Q

Types of Irony

A
  • verbal irony
  • situational irony
  • dramatic irony
56
Q

Verbal irony

A

The opposite of what is said is meant (ex sarcasm)

57
Q

Situational irony

A

When an event occurs that is the opposite of what one might expect

58
Q

Dramatic irony

A

When the readers know more about other characters/events than the character does

59
Q

Narration

A
  • noun: something that is narrated…a story

- verb: to tell the story

60
Q

Paradox

A

A seemingly contradictory statement that, upon further examination, reveals a truth

61
Q

Satire

A
  • Writing that mocks/scorns a person or society
  • angry/bitter: Juvenalian satire
  • gentle mockery: Horatian satire
62
Q

Sarcasm

A

When a character uses verbal irony to express bitterness/anger

63
Q

Stream-of-consciousness

A

When a characters thoughts are presented in random form, without logical sequence or conventional word order, to mimic the way people really think

64
Q

Symbol

A

Something with a literal and figurative meaning - represents something beyond itself

65
Q

Symbolism

A

The collection of symbols in a story

66
Q

Universal symbol

A

Recognized by many people

Ex. Lightbulb represents an idea

67
Q

Personal symbol

A

Recognized by an individual, family, or friends

68
Q

Cultural symbol

A

Recognized by a particular culture

Ex. Black symbolizes death in Western society

69
Q

Allegory

A

A story with a deeper meaning in addition to its surface meaning
Ex. Lord of the Flies

70
Q

Legend

A

A story of a hero, with a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material
Ex. King Arthur

71
Q

Myth

A

A tale of unknown origins that explains a natural phenomenon

72
Q

Fable

A

A brief narrative that illustrates a moral truth

Ex. Tortoise & the hate

73
Q

Proverb

A

A short popular saying offering a piece of advice

74
Q

Folk tale

A

A traditional story handed down in either oral or written form
Ex. Fairy takes

75
Q

Graphic text

A

Combination of a novel and a comic book

76
Q

Crisis

A

Turning point in action where character must make a decision that will determine an outcome

77
Q

Plot manipulation

A

When a writer gives a story an unjustified turn

78
Q

Coincidence

A

Chance occurrence of two events that have a peculiar correspondence/relationship

79
Q

Chance

A

Occurrence of an event which has no apparent cause in preceding events

80
Q

Artistic unity

A

Everything in the story is relevant, contributes to meaning, and advances intention of the story

81
Q

Dramatis personae

A

All characters in a story (human or non-human)

82
Q

Archetype

A

Original model from which copies are made and used over and over
Ex. Epic hero

83
Q

Stock character

A
  • immediately recognized & predictable
  • often used as character foils
    Ex. Damsel in distress, evil scientist
84
Q

Parody

A

A work that imitates the style of another work for comedic effect/ridicule

85
Q

Tone

A

The manner, atmosphere, or attitude that conveys a feeling

86
Q

Mood

A

The feeling conveyed by the tone of a piece

87
Q

Motif

A

Recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that help develop the major themes of a story

English 12 (2 decks)

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