Short Story Terms

Fiction

a story that is not true.

Short Story

A story that can be read in one sitting, has the five parts of the plot, and is a work of fiction.

Plot

the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution

Exposition

the beginning of the story where we find out the setting, characters, and the conflict.

Setting

where and when a story takes place.

Character

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist

the main character or "the good guy."

Antagonist

the character or force that is against the protagonist

Description of Characters:

Dynamic–A character that changes as a result of the action in the story

Static-A character that remains the same throughout the story

Round-The reader sees many sides or traits of a character’s personality

Flat- The reader sees only one side or very few traits of a character.

Characterization

the process of revealing the personality of a character.

Direct Characterization

the author comes out directly and tells the reader about a character’s personality.

Indirect Characterization

When the author allows a character’s actions to tell you about his or her personality.

Conflict

the problem in a story or the struggle between opposing forces.

Internal Conflict

the problem that exists in a character’s mind

External Conflict

a problem outside of a character.

Rising Action

Adds conflict to the problem

Climax

Highest point of interest or turning point in a story

Falling Action

possible solutions to the problem

Resolution

how the story ends

Theme

the central idea or meaning of the story

Irony

the events turn out differently than what is expected

1. Situational Irony

when there is a conflict between the expected outcome and what actually occurs

2. Dramatic Irony

the audience has information the characters on stage do not

3. Verbal Irony

when one thing is said but another is meant

Tone

the author’s attitude towards his or her subject matter

Mood

the reader’s feelings about what he or she has read.

Also known as the “atmosphere” of the story.

Symbolism

something that stands for or represents something else

Foreshadowing

clues as to what will happen later in the story

Flashback

to interrupt the current events to show events that happened previously

Dialogue

a conversation between two or more characters

Third Person Omniscient Point-of-View

an all-knowing and all-seeing narrator

Third Person Limited Point-of View

the narrator is telling a story from a character’s perspective.

First Person Point-of View

the narrator is in the story and is telling the story