Short Story Terms Term 1 Oct. 2024

Non-Fiction

writing that is true or factual

Fiction

writing that is not true - coing from the writers imagination

Subplot

a minor storyline, secondary to the main plot

Plot

a series of interwoven events that make up a story, what happens in a story.

plot: antecedent action

significant action that takes place before the story begins

plot: exposition

background info the reader needs to know to understand the story

plot: introduction

introduces the characters & setting and catches the readers interest.

plot: rising action

builds towards the climax-conflict starts developing/becomes complicated

plot: climax

turning point of story-highest emotional intensity in story

plot: anticlimax

occurs if climax is a let-down to what expected or a sudden shift from a serious to a comical/trivial mood

plot: falling action

part of story that follows climax and lasts until end of story, leads to ending, conflicts are solved.

plot: denouement

unknotting of a plot and conflict after climax

suspense

anxious or uncertainty about outcome of action

mystery

something not understood or beyond understanding-something which baffles/confuses/bewilders

dilemma

a difficult choice to be made , choices are undesirable

predicament

situation that is diffulcut to get out of/ presents a problem to hard to solve

conflict

struggle/confrontation between protag and opposing force

conflict: internal

struggle a character has with themselves

conflict: external

struggle character has between an outside force:

• person vs person

• person vs nature

• person vs society

• person vs supernatural

physical setting

where a story takes place

chronological setting

when a story takes place

mood or atmosphere setting

feeling of the story (haunting, peaceful, sad.)

theme

central idea of story-implied rather than stated-the message-suggestion about human life(not instruction)

moral

lesson or message author wants reader to learn from story-an instruction

character

individuals included in story or about who the story is written

character: protagonist

main character-action revolves around that character

character: antagonist

usually also a main character-in oppositions or in conflict-not always the bad guy

character: secondary or minor

plays supporting role-less important

describing characters: round

well developed- complex- descirbed in detail- reader learns alot about them

describing characters: flat

not well developed- 1dimensional - reader doesn’t learn much about them

describing characters: dynamic

undergoes a change during story

describing characters: static

no significant change during story

describing characters: stereotype

fits a fixed pattern- familiar figures in fiction

describing characters: stock

standard support character - flat character

motivation

causes a character to do what they do - they must have plausible motivation in order for reader to find story realistic/effective

foil

character whos attitude/behaviour/opinions contrast with the protagonists

antihero

protagonist who has no qualities normally expected from a hero - person who has humorous take of romantic hero stereotype

epiphany

moment of significant realization and insight experienced by the protagonist.