Short Story and Literary Terms Vocabulary Foldable Protagonist This word describes the main character (USUALLY the good guy ). I m a good person Antagonist This word describes the characters or forces that work against the main character. I m against you! Setting This word describes the time and + place of the story Internal Conflict man vs himself This word describes things that happen within the character Did I do the right thing? man vs man This word describes the conflict between man and man. man vs nature conflict between man and nature. man vs society man vs technology conflict between man and society. conflict between man and technology.
man vs supernatural The conflict is between man and supernatural beings or experiences. Suspense This is a feeling of tense excitement about how the will end. Foreshadowing This word describes hints or clues about what will happen later in the story. Flashback This term describe a person remembering past events. Static Character who is stuck and stays the same throughout the story. Character remains stuck not able to change Dynamic Character who grows, changes, or matures over the course of the story. Flat Character not fully developed and shows one character trait.
Round Character who is fully developed and shows many traits. (Usually a main character) Friendly Kind Caring Helpful Gentle Usually fails Direct Characterization way an Author TELLS you about the character Peter was an adventurous person who decided to drive his motorcycle across the country. Indirect Characterization Imagery way an author indirectly SHOWS you about the character through: What the character o SAYS or o DOES or WHAT OTHERS SAY about the character This word describes how a writer paints a picture with words appealing to all the senses. I m adventurous! I m driving my motorcycle across the country? Verbal Irony This type of irony happens when a character says one thing and means another. I m going to love you forever (NOT really) Situational Irony This type of irony happens when there is a difference between what the reader or character expects and what actually happens. I expect this will happen I didn t think this would happen!
Dramatic Irony This type of irony happens when the reader or viewer knows something the character does not know. He does NOT know he is about to get fired! Symbolism This word is used to describe when something that represents or stands for something else Theme This word describes the universal statement about life in a literary work. 1 st Person Point of view I point of view told by a character in the story. 3 rd person Limited Point of view This term describes a story that told in a narrative voice outside the action and is told using he she they. 3 rd Person Omniscient Point of View This term describes a story where the reader and the author KNOW ALL about the about the characters. We KNOW ALL Speaker In POETRY, this term describes the VOICE that talks to the reader It is NOT the poet Narrator In a story, this term describes character or voice from whose point of view events are told.
Dialect This term describes a form of language that is spoken in a particular area or by a certain group of people. Figurative Language This term describes language that uses simile, metaphor, hyperbole, etc. Literal Language This term describes words that are meant to be EXACT. These words do not have deeper meaning. Exact words Yes, Stop, Go, No, Fly, Drive Hyperbole This term describes a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated. I m so hungry I could eat a horse Cliché This term describes an overused expression or idea. He has ants in his pants. Cool! I m all thumbs. Anyhoo! Oldie but a goodie! Rhetorical Question Analogy This term describes a question to which no answer is expected (or to which only one answer may be made) This term describes a point by point comparison between two things that are alike in some way. Analogies Do fish get thirsty? Do pilots take crash-courses? Can you cry under water? kittens and cats puppies and dogs seeds and plants Stereotype This term describes a generalized belief about a group of people or stock characters who conform to a fixed pattern with a single trait. All teenagers are rebels.
Plot sequence of events in a story. Exposition part of the story that explains the setting and introduces the characters. Narrative hook or Initiating Action part of the story where the central conflict is introduced. HOOKS the reader Hook people into the story Rising Action parts of the story that include all of the events from the narrative hook to the climax. Climax TURNING POINT --- or the most exciting part of the story. Falling Action This term describes all of the events from the climax to the resolution. Resolution or Denouement This term describes how the story concludes ( the conflict is resolved)