Terminology: short stories

Alllusion

casual or implied reference

Antagonist

main character’s opponent

Atmosphere

overall emotional impression; like mood.

Stock character

specific type of flat character built around common stereotypes (e.g. the princess, the monster etc.)

Foil character

Behaviors and attitudes are in contrast to those of another character, usually protagonist.

Antihero

Central character who lacks heroic attributes.

Characterization

Creating a lifelike character.

Direct characterization

telling the reader

Indirect characterization

showing the reader.

3 elements of characterization

Consistency, plausibility, motivation

Conflict

a disagreement or problem, external or internal.

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Deus Ex Machina

“god from out of the machine”, coincidental resolution of conflicts.

Figurative language

departs from literal meaning to achieve special effect or meaning.

Foreshadowing

hinting at events that may occur later

Genre

style of literature marked by distinctive style, form or content.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

Imagery

Language that evokes one or all of the five senses.

Dramatic irony

reader knows more about reality than character does.

Situation irony

Opposite of what is expected; straightforward situation altered in context by which its spoken

Verbal irony

Says the opposite of what they intent; sarcasm.

Juxtaposition

place two things side by side in order to compare/contrast.

In media res

begin in the middle.

Metaphor

Comparison that speaks of one thing as if it were another; does not use like or as.

Mood

Emotional state or feeling created in the reader

Onomatopoeia

use of words that mimic sounds they describeP

Parallelism

identical or similar grammatical structure

Pathos

evoking pity or sadness

Personification

giving human qualities or actions to inanimate objects.

Antcedent action

provides reader with knowledge of events that happened prior

third persom omniscent

all knowing narratorth

third person limited

only knows thoughts/feelings of one character

third person objective

can only see external

Satire

use of irony to ridicule or criticize society or an element of human nature.

Similie

comparison of two things unlike using like or as

Suspense

excitement and curiosity; wonder how conflict will be resolved.

Symbol

Use of a concrete object to represent a more complex idea or concept.

Theme

main point of story; central idea

Tone

author’s attitude towards subject.