English Short Story Unit Literary Terms

analogy

a point-by-point comparison between two things that are alike in some respect

antagonist

usually the principal character in opposition to the protagonist, or main character, of a narrative or drama

character

are the people who take part in the action of a story, novel, or drama

characterization

refers to the methods that a writer uses to develop characters

conflict

the plot of a story always involves some sort of conflict or struggle between opposing forces

connotation

refers to the attitudes and feelings associated with a word

denotation

literal or dictionary meaning of a word

dialect

a form of language as it is spoken in a particular geographic area or by a particular social or ethnic group

dialogue

written conversation between two or more characters in either fiction or nonfiction

figurative language

language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meanings of words

flashback

a conversation, an episode, or an event that happened before the beginning of a story

foreshadowing

a writers use of hints or clues to indicate events and situation that will occur later in a plot

hyperbole

a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or for humorous effect

imagery

consists of descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experiences for the reader

irony

special kind of contrast between appearance and reality-usually one in which reality is the opposite from what it seems

situational irony

the contrast between what a reader or character expects and what actually exists or happens

dramatic irony

the reader or viewer knows something that a character does not know

verbal irony

occurs when someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing and mean another

metaphor

a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike but that have something in common. DOES NOT USE LIKE OR AS

mood

the feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader

narrator

the character or voice from whose point of view events are told

paradox

a statement that seems to contradict itself but is, nevertheless, true

personification

figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea

plot

the sequence of events in a story

point of view

refers to the methods of narrating a short story, novel, narrative poem, or work of nonfiction

first person POV

narrator is a character in the story

third-person limited POV

the narrator tells only what one character thinks, feels, and observes

third-person omniscient POV

the narrator sees into the minds of more than one character

protagonist

central character or hero in a narrative or drama, usually the one with whom the audience tends to identify

setting

the time and place of action in a story

stereotype

simplified or stock characters who conform to a fixed pattern or are defined by a single trait

symbol

a person, place, activity, or object that stands for something beyond itself

symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

theme

the main idea in a work of literature

tone

the attitude a writer takes toward a subject; reflects the feelings of the writer

understatement

a technique of creating emphasis by saying less than is actually or literally true;opposite of a hyperbole