Short Story Elements & Thought-Organizing Tools

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering major definitions, types, and stages related to short story elements and graphic organizers.

A is a visual display of key content information designed to help learners organize ideas.

graphic organizer

A diagram identifies similarities and differences between two or more concepts.

Venn

A map shows a central idea with its corresponding characteristics.

concept

A flow diagram or chart shows a series of steps or events in order.

sequence

The five elements of a short story include character, setting, plot, conflict, and .

theme

The of a story refers to the time and place in which events occur.

setting

The central message or underlying idea of a story is called its .

theme

A person or animal who takes part in the action of the story is a .

character

The series of events that make up the action of a story is its .

plot

The problem or opposition of forces that drives the story is known as the .

conflict

The perspective from which a story is told is its point view.

of

A story shorter than a novel that focuses on one incident is called a story.

short

Setting can be physical, social, historical, or .

psychological

The social setting involves the and cultural context of the narrative.

societal

A well-developed, multi-dimensional character is a character.

round

A character who does not change significantly during the story is .

static

A character who undergoes significant change is .

dynamic

Arguments between two characters represent the external conflict called character vs .

character

A conflict pitting a character against a storm or earthquake is character vs .

nature

When society’s rules oppose a character, the conflict is character vs .

society

Battles against ghosts or aliens illustrate character vs conflict.

supernatural

Struggles against robots or computer viruses show character vs conflict.

technology

An internal battle with one’s conscience is character vs .

self

In Freytag’s Pyramid, the story’s highest point of interest is the .

climax

The beginning part of a story that introduces characters and setting is the .

exposition

Events that complicate the story and build suspense form the action.

rising

Events that resolve complications after the climax make up the action.

falling

The final outcome or untangling of events is called the .

resolution (denouement)

Third-person point of view limits the narrator to one character’s thoughts.

limited

Third-person point of view allows the narrator access to multiple characters’ thoughts.

omniscient

Second-person point of view addresses the reader with the pronoun .

you

In a first-person narrative, the storyteller uses the pronoun .

I

A chart is a graphic organizer with two columns often used to list pros and cons.

T-

A diagram/organizer shows the sequence of story events such as exposition and climax.

plot

In a cause-and-effect diagram, arrows typically point from causes toward the .

effect

The overlapping section of a Venn diagram shows the between compared concepts.

similarities

A T-Chart has two columns separated by a vertical .

line

Concept maps are excellent tools for prior knowledge before learning.

activating

In plot structure, the event triggers the rising action.

inciting

A graphic organizer that shows details radiating from a central idea is a main-idea .

web

The visual tools like concept maps and Venn diagrams that help arrange ideas and information are collectively called __.

thought-organizing tools

The five key elements of a short story are character, __, plot, conflict, and theme.

setting

A __ is a fictional work of prose shorter than a novel, often focusing on one incident.

short story

A __ shows similarities and differences between two or more concepts by using overlapping circles.

Venn diagram

A __ displays a central idea with its connected characteristics and is excellent for brainstorming.

concept map

The __ of a story refers to the time and place in which events occur, including weather and cultural conditions.

setting

Physical, social, historical, and psychological are four types of __.

setting

A well-developed, multi-dimensional type of character is called a __ character.

round

A character who undergoes significant change during the story is a __ character.

dynamic

The stage of plot where characters and setting are introduced is called the __.

exposition

The highest point of interest or turning point in a story is the __.

climax

Character vs. Self is an example of __ conflict.

internal

Conflict between a character and a hurricane illustrates __ conflict.

Character vs Nature

A narrator who uses “I” to tell the story is employing __ point of view.

first-person

“You step into the room, and every eye turns toward you” is written in __ point of view.

second-person

When an all-knowing narrator reveals the thoughts of multiple characters, the story is told from __ point of view.

third-person omniscient

The central idea or message an author wants to convey is called the __.

theme

A __ or Sequence Chart shows a series of steps or events in the order they occur.

flow diagram

The __ diagram highlights the direct relationship between causes and outcomes.

cause-and-effect

Freytag’s Pyramid graphically represents the structure of a story’s __.

plot

The problem or opposition of forces that links one incident to another is the story’s __.

conflict

A __ character is relatively one-dimensional and lacks depth.

flat

A character who remains unchanged throughout the narrative is a __ character.

static

The __ is the final outcome or untangling of events in a story’s plot.

denouement (resolution)

In __ conflict, a character struggles against society’s norms or laws.

Character vs Society

When a character battles aliens, ghosts, or otherworldly forces, the story contains __ conflict.

Character vs Supernatural

A story in which the protagonist faces problems created by robots illustrates __ conflict.

Character vs Technology

A __ helps learners who struggle to organize information by visually displaying key content.

graphic organizer

The angle from which the story is told is known as the __.

point of view

In third-person __ point of view, the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

limited

The part of the plot where complications build and suspense increases is called the __.

rising action

Events that follow the climax and begin to resolve complications form the __.

falling action

A __ diagram/organizer is specifically designed to map exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

plot diagram