Short story termsShort story terms

A fond reviewA fond review

Plot DiagramPlot Diagram

ExpositionExposition The beginning of a The beginning of a

story that introduces story that introduces characters, setting, characters, setting, tone, and any tone, and any important background important background information.information.

Inciting MomentInciting Moment An event which An event which

introduces the conflict introduces the conflict and begins the events and begins the events of the plot.of the plot.

Plot Diagram Plot Diagram

Rising ActionRising Action Events that move the Events that move the

plot along by adding plot along by adding complications or complications or expanding the conflict expanding the conflict – builds suspense to – builds suspense to the climax of the the climax of the story.story.

ClimaxClimax The turning point of The turning point of

the story, point of the story, point of highest highest tension/interest – may tension/interest – may happen towards the happen towards the end.end.

Plot DiagramPlot Diagram Falling ActionFalling Action

Occurs after the Occurs after the climax – also called climax – also called the resolution – the resolution – conflict is resolved, conflict is resolved, loose ends tied up.loose ends tied up.

DénouementDénouement Also known as the Also known as the

resolutionresolution A French word that A French word that

literally means “to untie literally means “to untie the know”the know”

In America, though, we In America, though, we use the opposite idea and use the opposite idea and say that we tie up the say that we tie up the loose endsloose ends

It’s how the story endsIt’s how the story ends

The Plot DiagramThe Plot Diagram

Exposition

Exposition

Inciting Moment

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Denouement

Theme / SettingTheme / Setting

ThemeTheme A message that the A message that the

author wants to author wants to communicate to the communicate to the reader about the reader about the human conditionhuman condition

SettingSetting When and where the When and where the

story takes placestory takes place

The Human ConditionThe Human Condition

A series of emotions, events, and A series of emotions, events, and experiences shared by most every experiences shared by most every person that help define what it means to person that help define what it means to be humanbe human

Examples: life, death, growing up, love, Examples: life, death, growing up, love, heartbreak, looking for happiness, heartbreak, looking for happiness, looking for God, guilt, etc.looking for God, guilt, etc.

Protagonist / AntagonistProtagonist / Antagonist

ProtagonistProtagonist The main character The main character

who should go who should go through a changethrough a change

AntagonistAntagonist The person or force The person or force

working against the working against the protagonistprotagonist

Characterization Characterization

Revealed through…Revealed through… The character’s physical appearanceThe character’s physical appearance The character’s own actions, thoughts The character’s own actions, thoughts

and feelingsand feelings The thoughts, actions, feelings of a The thoughts, actions, feelings of a

different character toward that characterdifferent character toward that character The narrator’s direct comments about the The narrator’s direct comments about the

character “He was a fearless man…”character “He was a fearless man…”

Types of conflictTypes of conflict

Man vs. manMan vs. man Man vs. natureMan vs. nature Man vs. society Man vs. society

(which often includes Man vs. machine)(which often includes Man vs. machine)

Man vs. God/SupernaturalMan vs. God/Supernatural Man vs. self aka Internal ConflictMan vs. self aka Internal Conflict

Point of ViewPoint of View

First person – “I” – the narrator is a character in First person – “I” – the narrator is a character in the storythe story

Second-person – when the writing tells the Second-person – when the writing tells the reader what the reader is doing. For example reader what the reader is doing. For example cookbooks, instructions, etc.cookbooks, instructions, etc.

Third-person omniscient – “all knowing” Third-person omniscient – “all knowing” narrator reveals thoughts/feelings of more than narrator reveals thoughts/feelings of more than one characterone character

Third-person limited – reveals Third-person limited – reveals thoughts/feelings of only one characterthoughts/feelings of only one character

Tone / MoodTone / Mood

ToneTone Reveals the feelings Reveals the feelings

of the author toward of the author toward the subject. the subject.

MoodMood The feeling or The feeling or

atmosphere of a story atmosphere of a story created by the authorcreated by the author

Simile / MetaphorSimile / Metaphor

SimileSimile A comparison A comparison

between two things between two things using “like” or “as”using “like” or “as”

MetaphorMetaphor Making a direct Making a direct

comparison between comparison between to things – often using to things – often using “is”, but not always“is”, but not always

Imagery / PersonificationImagery / Personification

ImageryImagery Description that Description that

appeals to one of the appeals to one of the five sensesfive senses

PersonificationPersonification Giving human Giving human

qualities to inanimate qualities to inanimate objectsobjects

SymbolismSymbolism

An object or character which stands for a An object or character which stands for a larger idea in the storylarger idea in the story

Foreshadowing / Foreshadowing / FlashbackFlashback

ForeshadowingForeshadowing Subtle hints that Subtle hints that

reveal what will reveal what will happen later in the happen later in the storystory

FlashbackFlashback When a story stops, When a story stops,

and retells a past and retells a past event for the purpose event for the purpose of helping the reader of helping the reader better understand the better understand the current or a future current or a future eventevent

IronyIrony

Verbal IronyVerbal Irony When a speaker says one thing but means When a speaker says one thing but means

the opposite (includes sarcasm)the opposite (includes sarcasm) Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony

When the reader or audience knows one When the reader or audience knows one thing, but the character does notthing, but the character does not

Situational IronySituational Irony When one thing is expected but the opposite When one thing is expected but the opposite

is the resultis the result