Literary Terms Short Story Short Story An imaginative

Literary Terms

Short Story ¡ Short Story: An imaginative piece that can be read in one sitting ¡ Examples we will read: l l l A Reasonable Sum The Open Window The Necklace The Scarlet Ibis Full Circle The Cask of Amontillado

Narrator ¡ Narrator: story. l l The person telling the The narrator exists within the world of the story A narrator may tell the story from his own point of view or from the point of view of one of the characters in the story.

Setting ¡ Setting: Time and place of the action in a story.

Characters ¡ Characters: The individuals who participate in a literary work l People– or animals, things, or natural forces presented as people– appearing in a short story

Characters (continued) Protagonist: the central (main) character or hero, usually the one with whom the audience identifies with in a story ¡ Antagonist: the character or force against the main character. It can also be a force of nature, some aspect of society, or an internal force within the protagonist. ¡

Characters (continued) ¡ Dynamic Character l Experience an essential change in personality or attitude. This usually involves more than a mere change in surroundings or conditions. l A character who grows and develops because of the actions he/she has been involved with ¡ Static Character l A character who remains unchanged from the events that happen around him

Characters (continued) ¡ Round Character – fully developed by an author-- physically, mentally, and emotionally-- and are detailed enough to seem real l ¡ complex and have many traits Flat Character – minor characters who do not undergo change or growth in a story l Have only one or two traits

Characterization ¡ ¡ Characterization: the methods that a writer uses to develop characters. Examples: l Describe physical appearance l A character’s nature may be revealed through his or her own speech, thoughts, feelings or actions l The speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characters can be used to develop a character l A narrator can make a direct comment about a character

Characterization (continued) ¡ Direct Characterization: the writer tells the audience what the character is like.

Characterization (continued) Indirect Characterization: allows the reader to draw his/her own conclusion by: ¡ 1) showing the character acting and speaking 2) giving a physical description of the character 3) revealing the character’s thoughts 4) revealing what other characters think about the character

Direct Characterization ¡ Example: l ¡ The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their parents. Explanation: l The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet. ”

Indirect Characterization Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect on others What is reveled through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Actions What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Theme ¡ Theme: the central idea or message in a work of literature The basic meaning of a literary work. l This message is usually about life, society, or human nature. l Most themes are implied rather than explicitly stated. l

Imagery ¡ Imagery: descriptive words and phrases that re-create sensory experiences for the reader l Five sense: Sight ¡ Hearing ¡ Smell ¡ Taste ¡ Touch ¡

Allusion ¡ Allusion: An indirect reference made to another literary work, event, famous person, religion, art, or place.

Allusion (continued) ¡ Example: l Martin Luther King Jr. alluded to the Gettysburg Address in starting his “I have a dream” speech by saying “five score years ago…” ¡ People listening to this speech were immediately reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s “Four score and seven years ago, ” which opened the Gettysburg Address.

Allusion ¡ Calling someone “Scrooge”— l ¡ Alludes to the rich and mean Ebeneezer Scrooge from Charles Dicken’s “Christmas Carol” Plan ahead. It was not raining when Noah built the Ark. l Allusion on the biblical Ark of Noah

Plot ¡ Plot: the sequence of events in a story

Exposition ¡ Exposition: Information essential to understanding the work Provides background information necessary to understand characters and their action. l Occurs at the beginning of the story. l

Exposition

Rising Action ¡ Rising Action: events in a story that move the plot along by adding complications or expanding the conflict l Usually builds suspense to a climax or turning point

Rising Action

Climax ¡ Climax: the moment when the interest and emotional intensity reach their highest point (turning point)

Climax

Falling Action ¡ Falling Action (Resolution): the conflict is resolved

Conflict ¡ Conflict: Struggle between opposing forces and the basis of the plot in literature l External Conflict: the conflict a character has with other characters, nature, or an outside force ¡ ¡ ¡ Person vs. Society Person vs. Nature

Conflict (continued) ¡ Internal Conflict: a struggle a character has with his/her own conscience

Figurative Language ¡ Figurative Language: Language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words

Metaphor ¡ Metaphor: a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike but have something in common; metaphors do not use the word like or as

Metaphor Examples ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Boiling mad A feverish pace Heated debate Chill out They were kindling a new romance. Things are going smoothly. When you're feelin' blue You light up my life. Deep dark secret A bright idea My memory is a little cloudy. Plans are still a little hazy. Her words rang true. The words were music to his ears.

Simile ¡ Simile: a figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared in a phrase introduced by like or as l l l As cute as a button He eats like a pig. Her skin was as cold as ice. She eats like a bird. As blind as a bat He ran as fast as the wind.

Irony ¡ Irony: contrast between what is expected and what actually happens l l Verbal Irony: someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing and means another Dramatic Irony: the reader or audience knows something that the character does not know

Irony http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Nm-1 xv. Wibt 0

Suspense ¡ Suspense: tension or excitement

Foreshadowing ¡ Foreshadowing: hints or clues as to what will happen later in the plot

Symbol ¡ Symbol: any action, person, place, or object that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, attitude, belief or value

Mood ¡ Mood: the feeling or atmosphere the writer creates for the reader

Personification ¡ Personification: giving human characteristics to nonhuman things l l l l The car danced across the icy road. The car engine coughed and sputtered. The trees swayed in the moonlight. The wind blew and the leaves fell. My computer hates me. The flowers were crying for attention. The sun was playing hide and seek amongst the clouds.

Point of View ¡ Point of View: perspective from which the story is told 1 st Person: the story is told by one of the characters in his/her own words from the “I” vantage point. l 2 nd Person: uses “you” l 3 rd Person: the narrator tells the story from the vantage point of “she” or “he. ” l

Point of View (continued) l l Omniscient: all-knowing observer who can describe all the characters and actions in the story as well as comment on what the characters think and feel. Limited third-person: from the point of view of only one character.