Suspense Short Story Unit Characteristics Literary Elements n

Suspense Short Story Unit Characteristics

Literary Elements n Literary Elements such as irony, foreshadowing, symbolism, imagery, and even poetic elements such as simile, metaphor, and personification are often used in short stories.

What is IRONY? n Definition in your book: “the contrast between appearance and actuality”

There are different types of IRONY n Dramatic Irony n Readers know more about a situation or a character in a story than the characters do.

n Situational Irony n A contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.

n Verbal Irony n Occurs when someone states one thing and means another.

Short Story Techniques Foreshadowing Symbolism A writers use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur in a story. Something or someone that has a concrete meaning in itself but stands for something beyond itself, such as an idea or feeling.

n Flashback n A scene that interrupts the action of a story to describe events that took place at an earlier time.

Short Story Techniques n Imagery n Words or phrases that appeal to any combination of the senses. n Suspense n The excitement or tension that readers feel as they become involved in a story and eagerly await the outcome.

Poetic Devices Used in Short Stories n Simile A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two objects using “like” or “as” n Metaphor A figure of speech that compares two things that have something in common. -Does not use “like” or “as”

What are these statements examples of? n n n My love is like a red rose. My love is a red rose. Mr. Harris has thin hair like a bald eagle. He is as dumb as a rock. Famous quote by Jesus: “I am the bread of life” “I am the King of Pop”

Poetic Devices Used in Short Stories n Personification n A figure of speech in which an object, animal, or idea, is given human characteristics. n Sometimes, other poetic devices might be used in short stories such as: n n n Onomatopoeia Repetition Etc…

Examples n n The wind whispered in my ear “The dish ran away with the spoon” n n Personification used to add suspense: Fear danced upon my chest

Other things to consider… n When reading suspense short stories, one should also pay special attention to the use of setting and characterization. Suspense writers often use setting and the way a character is described to add suspense to a story.

Setting: A House (Use of suspense comparison) The house on Elm Street had a few broken windows and an old door. There was no electricity in it so with my fear of the dark, I was weary to enter it. The moldering manor on Elm Street had jagged windows that could stare a hole through you. It was so dark and dreary that my heart sat in my throat as I walked through the creaky old door.