Short Story Terms & Literary Devices

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

An extended narrative in which the characters, their actions, and their surroundings represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

The repetition of initial consonants for emphasis and effect.

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

A reference to something or someone outside the story.

Question 4

Atmosphere

Answer 4

The effect or feeling brought about by the physical effects of the setting.

Question 5

Character is revealed through:

Answer 5

• his/her physical appearance or what the narrator/author reveals
• his/her actions or reactions to what others say or do
• his/her words or thoughts
• what other characters say or think about him/her

Question 6

The four types of character are:

Answer 6

• static
• dynamic
• flat
• round

Question 7

Static

Answer 7

A character who does not change throughout the story

Question 8

Dynamic

Answer 8

A character who undergoes a fundamental change

Question 9

Flat

Answer 9

A one dimensional character

Question 10

Round

Answer 10

A three dimensional- believable character

Question 11

Conflict

Answer 11

The struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs; the conflicts may be internal or external.

Question 12

Contrast

Answer 12

When an idea or object is thrown into opposition to another for the sake of emphasis or clearness.

Question 13

Dialogue

Answer 13

A conversation between two or more characters. It is often used to reveal character and conflict.

Question 14

Flashback

Answer 14

A jump back into the past to provide an explanation of something the reader needs to know to better understand the story.

Question 15

Foil

Answer 15

When a character is compared or contrasted to another character to emphasize distinctive characteristics.

Question 16

Foreshadowing

Answer 16

Hinting at future events in order to create suspense.

Question 17

Hyperbole

Answer 17

An exaggeration or overstatement for effect.

Question 18

Imagery

Answer 18

Language which invokes our senses. (i.e. sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell)

Question 19

Irony

Answer 19

The use of an idea, word, or phrase to elicit the opposite of its usual meaning.

Question 20

The two types of irony:

Answer 20

1. Dramatic Irony

2. Situational Irony

Question 21

Dramatic Irony

Answer 21

Occurs when the audience knows something that the character does not.

Question 22

Situational Irony

Answer 22

Occurs when circumstances turn out differently from what the reader expects or anticipates.

Question 23

Metaphor

Answer 23

A comparison between two things that does not use “like” or “as”. This often helps to make the abstract more concrete for the reader as well as to add emotion.

Question 24

Mood

Answer 24

The emotional state created in the reader by those effects.
• a story has an atmosphere which can create a mood in the reader. The feelings (pity, terror, sadness, shame…), aroused in the reader by the events of the story is the mood.

Question 25

Motif

Answer 25

A repeated image that has a symbolic meaning.

Question 26

Narration

Answer 26

Authors tell their story from a point of view that best enables them to reveal their theme.

Question 27

The four types of narration or point of view are:

Answer 27

1) omniscient
2) limited omniscient
3) objective
4) first person

Question 28

Omniscient

Answer 28

Not a character in the story, but knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

Question 29

Limited omniscient

Answer 29

A third person perspective that knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

Question 30

Objective

Answer 30

A third person p.o.v which only reveals that which can be seen or heard.

Question 31

First person

Answer 31

A character, major or minor, tells the story…this person may or may not be reliable.

Question 32

Pathetic Fallacy

Answer 32

Nature or an inanimate object is described in a way that is sympathetic or prophetic about events or the emotions of the characters.

Question 33

Pathos

Answer 33

Anything in a passage that elicits pity or sadness.

Question 34

Personification

Answer 34

When a non-human thing is given human characteristics.

Question 35

Satire

Answer 35

A literary work that ridicules human mistakes and problems, often with the purpose of teaching a lesson or encouraging change.

Question 36

Simile

Answer 36

A comparison of two things using “like” or “as”.

Question 37

Suspense

Answer 37

A lack of certainty or sense of tension on the part of the reader, about what is going to happen, especially, to the characters.

Question 38

Stereotype

Answer 38

A character that is represented according to preconceived ideas of how such a person should look, think, and/or act.

Question 39

Symbolism

Answer 39

When a literal object or symbol has a (or many) figurative meaning(s).

Question 40

Tone

Answer 40

The attitude (feeling of opinion) the author or narrator has towards a subject. Noticing an author’s choice of words is key to understanding.

Question 41

Theme

Answer 41

The message, meaning, moral or lesson revealed; often a universal truth.