Short Story Terms Unit Flashcards
a brief work of fiction meant to be read in one sitting; 500-10,000 words
short story
series of events in a story
plot
problem in a story
conflict
struggle between two opposing forces
external conflict
struggle with himself
internal conflict
people in a story
characters
how the author develops the character, especially the main character
characterization
What are the two types of characterization?
- direct- author blatantly states
2. indirect- author drops hints
central message or insight into life
theme
What are the two types of theme?
- stated
2. implied
Vantage point from which the author tells the story
Point of view
What are the two main points of view?
1st person- I, we
3rd person- he/she
What are the two types of third person?
- omniscient- knows all
2. limited- focuses on one character
the time and place of the story’s action, involves the social, economical, cultural environment
setting
the emotions a piece of writing makes a reader feel
mood
the author’s attitude towards a subject
tone
a contrast between expectation and reality
irony
What are the three types of irony?
- dramatic
- verbal
- situational
What is dramatic irony?
contradiction between what audience knows and characters think
What is verbal irony?
words suggest ideas different from what is meant
What is situational irony?
events that occur contradict what is intended
What is foreshadowing?
clues the writer puts in the story that hints at what is to come
the use of an object, person, or event that stands for something more than itself
symbolism
uncertainty or anxiety the reader feels about what is going to happen next in a story
suspense
the present in the story in interrupted to go backward and tell what happened in an earlier time
flashback
