SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

1.Setting• the place and TIME of the action of the story 2.Plot • series of events in a story 3.Climax• the turning point in the story that affects the

outcome of the story4.External conflict• struggle of man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. machine, or man vs. society

• 5.internal conflict• is always man vs. himself-(man struggles

mentally with opposing needs, desires, and emotions)

• 6.protagonist• the main character• 7.antagonist character or force that comes into contact with or against the protagonist

• 8.imagery• when a writer appeals to the reader’s senses (smell,

sight, taste, sound, touch)

• 9.dramatic irony• when the reader knows something in the story that the other characters don’t know

• 10.resolution• occurs when all of the conflicts are resolved

• 11.foreshadowing• The use of clues that hint at what is going to happen later in the story

• 12.tone• attitude a writer takes toward a reader, subject, or character

• 13.complications• anything that gets in the way of the conflict

being resolved or RISING ACTION- where the conflict intensifies

• 14.exposition• the basic situation –background of the story

• 15.motivation• person’s reasons for doing something or feeling a certainway

• 16.falling action• the part directly after the climax that

gives explanation and is followed by the resolution

• 17.mood• The atmosphere created by a literary

work

• 18.Flat characterA. is not fully developed; we know only one side of the character.19. (static) This character does not change

throughout the story.

• 20.Round character--is fully-developed, with many traits--bad and good--shown in the story.

21. dynamic) This character often changes.

• 22. in media res• (means in the middle of things)-when an

author begins in the middle of the story and fills in the background later

• 23.point of view• whoever is telling the story • First person - uses "I• Second person - uses "you" • Third person - uses "he," "she," or "it"• Limited omniscient)- • Know thoughts of only 1 character• Omniscient –know thoughts/feelings of ALL

characters

• 24.theme• underlying meaning of the story and is

usually repeated throughout a work• 25.diction• An author's choice of words• 26.symbolism• A device in literature where an object

represents an idea. (Ex: Neo in the Matrix represents a Christ-like figure.)

• 27.flashback• A reference to an event which took place

prior to the beginning of a story or play

28.Characterization

• How an author tells you what a character is like

• 29. Direct Characterization-when an author tells you directly what a character is like

• Example: Mrs. Nelson was an amazing ninja”

30. Indirect Characterization

• When an author shows you what a character is like

• Says (what a character says)

• Thinks (a character’s thoughts)

• Effect on others (how other characters react to character)

• Actions (what a character does)• Looks (how a character looks)

31.Indirect characterization example

• Mrs. Nelson crept silently down the hallway, wearing all black; she was virtually invisible.

• She attacked two students with flying ninja stars.