short story exam (english 20-1)

antecedent action

these are the events that have occurred before the story begins

• are very important to the short story

verisimilitude

the appearance of being true or real

atmosphere (mood)

what the author gives to the story

• refers to the changing moods a reader is put into while reading the story

dues ex machina

a term used to describe the entry coincidence or implausible event that comes just in time to solve a problem in a story

• a latin term meaning “god out of a machine”

• originally referred to a god in greek and roman drama that was introduced to resolve complications in the plot

dilemma

refers to two choices a character faces, both being undesirable

escape literature

a type of literature written purely for entertainment

interpretive literature

the type of literature written to provide entertainment but also to deepen a reader’s awareness of life

• usually has a theme

flashback

when the plot of a story often begins in the present and then moves back to an earlier point in time

• the past provides important info that the reader needs to know

foreshadowing

refers to the clues in the story that warn the reader about the ending

• in well-written stories, these clues aren’t obvious when first reading

in media res

a latin term referring to a story which contains no introduction and instead the reader is plunged directly into the action and background info is usually later provided through explanations, flashbacks, or allusions in dialogue

verbal irony

a statement where the opposite of what is said is actually meant

• sarcasm!

situational irony

a situation appears to be developing to its natural conclusion and then the situation takes an opposite turn

• most common type of irony

dramatic irony

is similar to situational irony expect the speaker is unaware that he is being ironic

• the reader knows something the narrator does not

conflict

develops into a complication which builds and reaches a climax

satire

a form of writing where the author criticizes something such as religion, politics, or education

• the author doesn’t ridicule directly, but rather describes a completely different situation and makes direct references to event that the reader knows

setting

the time and place in which a story occurs

stream of consciousness narration

a narrative method in modern fiction in which the author attempts to duplicate the unbroken flow or thought or awareness in a character’s mind

• the technique puts on paper what is going on in the mind of a particular character

styles

how a writer says whatever he says

• reflects their personality

• can be analyzed using diction, syntax, figurative language, patterns, tone, etc.

symbolism

something that stands for another thing

theme

the controlling or central idea of a piece of writing

• is a generalization about life that is implied by the story

character motivations

the motivation a character has to behave a certain way

direct character presentation

the author tells the reader about the character

indirect character presentation

the author shows the reader what the character is like and the reader is left to make judgements

protagonist

the central or main character of a story

antagonist

the opposing force to the main character

flat character

a character built around a single quality or idea and are presented w/o much detail

round characters

are complex as real people w/ complicated motives that the reader knows lots about

static characters

characters that essentially remain the same from the beginning to the end of a story

dynamic characters

these characters undergo a change from the beginning to end of a story

plausible characters

are believable characters to the reader

stock/stereotypical characters

character types that occur repeatedly in literature

plot

the plan or main action of a story

exposition

sets the time, place, and conditions of the story while also introducing the characters and conflict

initial incident

refers to the first event in a story up which the story depends

narrative hook

arouses the reader’s interest by presenting an interesting problem or situation

rising action/complication

the interplay between character and events that cause the conflict

• the protagonist experiences a dilemma that causes them to take action

metaphor

an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of the verb ‘to be’

personification

giving the qualities of a person to an animal, object, or an idea

onomatopoeia

the use of words that mimic sounds

hyperbole

an exaggerated statement used to heighten effect

figure of speech

when the meanings of the words have '“deep” meaning, which is different from the “surface” meaning

oxymoron

two contradictory words used together

The _________ forces in “House” are the unconventional, “anti-house” instincts, tastes, and preferences of Harry’s wife and children.

Antagonist/Antagonistic

The third paragraph of “The Tell-Tale Heart” reviews the mad narrator’s seven-night surveillance of the old man. The opening section of “Forgiveness in Families” mentions the important ____________ of Cam’s getting sick on Val’s wedding cake.

Antecedent Action

The ______ of “The Lamp at Noon” is dark, sombre, and brooding.

Atmosphere

The supreme moment of emotional intensity (_________) in “All the Troubles of the World” occurs when Multivac reveals its death wish.

Climax

Two examples of __________ occur in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” first when the protagonist becomes obsessed with the old man’s eye and later when he wrestles with his guilty feelings and his subconscious desire to reveal himself at the end of the story.

Another example of __________ occurs in “Choices” when Peggy struggles with her feeling that Ken has denied and betrayed her when she needed him most after the accident.

Internal Conflict

In “Choices” Peggy experiences the _____ of a car accident, which leads to the main ____ (climax) — her isolation from Ken

Crisis

In “War” after the rock-throwing episode, the _______ occurs as Neil fills in the reconciliation with his father.

Denouement

Stories in which the characters speak in ____ include “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Clumsy One”

Dialect

Word choice (______) is significant in “The Possibility of Evil”

Diction

In “The Lamp at Noon” Ellen’s ________ is whether she should remain in the house and go mad or escape into the dust storm with the baby.

Dilemma

Characters that experience change are called __________ an example being Dan in “The Clumsy One” He hurts his brother and later comes to realize the mistake of “Putting him outside”

Dynamic character

After the car accident in “Choices” Peggy has a significant realization (________) that she and Ken are not as close as she previously imagined.

Epiphany

The first four paragraphs of “All the Troubles of the World” give important information about Multivac that is necessary for the following plot (The ____________)

Exposition

One story which uses a ________ is “The Tell-Tale Heart” ______ in this story underscores the fact that the murder is premeditated and the narrator is deranged as revealed by the narrator’s obsession with detail.

Flashback

In “The Lamp at Noon” Paul and Ellen are ____ to one another in that one wants to stay on the farm while the other longs to leave.

Foils

In “The Lamp at Noon” Ellen’s flight is _____ by her comments such as, “I’m so caged — If I could only break away and run”

Foreshadowed

“Harrison Bergeron” uses the ____ of satire to parody totalitarian control of society.

Form

An example of _________ occurs in “The Clumsy One” when Dan is lifting the heavy hemlock by himself, thinking he has the help of the others. Joe asks, tongue-in-cheek, “What’s the matter, Dan? Is she nailed down?”

Verbal Irony

Another example of ________ occurs in “The Tell-Tale Heart” when the over-confident narrator invites the police into the old man’s room and seats himself right above the spot where the old man is buried.

Dramatic Irony.

The _____ of “The Possibility of Evil” is that sooner or later evil people are destroyed by the malice they have created.

A ___ of “All the Troubles of the World” might be that human beings should not place too much faith in computers to solve the problems of the world.

Moral

In “House” the protagonists ______ for wanting to buy a house is that he feels insecure and restless as a result of social pressure

Motivation

“The Clumsy One” and “War” are examples of first person _______

Point of View.

“Harrison Bergeron” ridicules our society’s phobia about everyone being equal in every way.

“All the Troubles of the World” ____ the idea that computers are more infallible than their human masters.

Satire/satirizes

“The Lamp at Noon” has a _______ on the prairies during the Depression.

Setting

“Choices” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” all contain ________ passages which take the reader “inside” the protagonists’ minds.

Stream-of-consciousness

One example of a _______ occurs in “All the Troubles of the World” when the motivation for Multivac’s mischief is revealed as the computer’s own death wish.

Another _________ occurs in “The Possibility of Evil” when Miss Strangeworth is sent a poison-pen letter announcing the destruction of her precious roses.

Surprise Ending

The imaginary beating of the old man’s heart in “The Tell-Tale Heart” _______ the narrator’s guilt

Symbol/symbolizes

A ____ in “The Possibility of Evil” is that evil is circular and returns ultimately to plague the agents of evil.

Theme

The _____ of “Forgiveness in Families” and “The Clumsy One” is apparent in the recognizably real tensions and squabbling between siblings.

Verisimilitude

“Choices” Susan Kerslake

Peggy and Ken

“House” Jane Rule

Harry

Anna

Joey

Doll

Mr Mclean

“The Tell-Tale Heart” Edgar Allen Poe

Disturbed Man

Old Man

“Forgiveness in Families” Alice Munro

Valerie (Val)

Cameron (Cam)

Haro

The Mother

“The Lamp at Noon” Sinclair Ross

Paul

Ellen

Child

“The Clumsy One” Ernest Buckler

Daniel (smart)

David (strong)

who gives a shit about the friends.

“Harrison Bergeron” Kurt Vonnegut Jr

Hazel

George

Harrison

Diana Moon Glampers

“The Possibility Of Evil” Shirley Jackson

Miss Adela Strangeworth

The Crane’s family

Mrs Harper

Dave Harris

“All the Troubles of the World” Issac Asimov

Ali Othman

Ben Manners

Multivac

Bernard Gulliman

Michael Manner

Joseph Manner

“War” Timothy Findlley

Neil

Bud

Timothy Fendly

Mrs Currie

Dad