Unit 2 Short Stories Flashcards
Round character
A character that has many traits and characteristics who can change or grow throughout a story.
Flat character
A minor character who only has one or two traits.
Dynamic character
A character who changes significantly throughout a story.
Static character
A character who is one dimensional and does not change throughout the course of the story.
Protagonist
The main character who is central to the action of a story and moves against the antagonist.
Antagonist
The villain or force which opposes the protagonist.
Character
Any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work.
Setting
The time, place, environment, and cultural context of a story.
Plot
What happens in a story.
Conflict
A challenge the main character must face in order to progress through the plot of a story.
How many MAIN types of conflict are there?
2
What are the two main types of conflict?
Internal and external.
How many SUBTYPES of conflict are there?
7
Human vs Human (aka Person vs Person)
When the conflict is between the main character and another person.
Human vs Self (Person vs Self)
When the conflict is between the main character and something inside of themselves.
Human vs Nature (Person vs Nature)
When the conflict is between the main character and a force of the natural world (such as storms, natural elements like the ocean or earth quakes, etc.)
Human vs Society (Person vs Society)
When the conflict is between the main character and a major belief of the society they live in which they fight against.
Human vs Technology (Person vs Technology)
When the conflict is between the main character and a piece of technology (robot, machine, etc.) that control of/over has been lost.
Human vs Supernatural (Person vs Supernatural)
When the conflict is between the main character and a being or force with magical or mystical abilities.
Human vs Destiny (Person vs Destiny)
When the conflict is between the main character and fate, a god, or luck.
Theme
The main idea a writer explores through their literary work.
Point of view
The angle or perspective from which a story is told.
First person point of view
Where the narrator is also a character of the story who is acting as the narrator of the story. (I, me, my pronouns are used.)
Second person point of view
Where the narrator is talking to you as the reader. (We, us pronouns.)
Third person point of view
The narrator tells the story about the characters without being a character in the story or involved in the story.
(she/her, he/him, they/them pronouns)
Tone
The author’s or narrator’s attitude towards the subject matter or audience.
Style
The way an author writes and/or tells a story.
Characterization
The representation of characters in narrative and dramatic works.
How many types of characterization are there?
2
Direct characterization
The writer makes direct statements about a character and tells what the character is like. (You will be able to find it right in the text.)
Indirect characterization
The writer reveals information about a character through their thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they say, think, and feel about them.
Noun
A word which represents a person, place, or thing.
Adjective
A word that describes a noun.
Verb
A word that is used to describe an action, a state of being, or an occurrence.
Adverb
A word that describes a verb.
Action verb
Action verbs tell what someone or something does. And action isn’t always physical. An action can be mental too.
Linking verb
Linking verbs link or join a noun or pronoun to another word that tells something about the noun or pronoun. Forms of the verb to be are the most common linking verbs.
Helping verb
Helping verbs help the main verb do its job. Together the helping verb and the main verb make a verb phrase.
Simile
A comparison of two unlike objects using the words like or as.
Metaphor
A word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar.
Personification
A word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar.
Foreshadowing
A hint of what is to come in the story.
Flashback
A flashback interrupts the chronological sequence, the front line action or “present” line of the story, to show readers a scene that unfolded in the past.
Imagery
Vivid, descriptive writing that uses figurative and descriptive language to paint a picture in the reader’s head.
Denotative meaning
The direct and specific meaning of a word; the dictionary meaning.
Connotative meaning
Additional meaning associated with the word; the additional meanings can come from emotions and ideas.
Subject line
A clear, concise phrase that tells the reader the main subject of your email.
Greeting
The words you use to acknowledge the reader of your email (Dear Ms. Patel, Good Morning Mr. Chan, To whom it may concern)
Body
Where the full contents of the email are written; is written in formal language and grammar.
Closing
The last line of your email used to thank the reader, restate your point, or confirm details.
Signature
The polite salutation used to sign off your email.
