Literary Terms - Short Story Unit 2022

Conflict

Conflict

A clash of actions, desires, ideas, or goals in the plot of a story. (a struggle between two opposing forces.)

Indirect characterization

a process by which the author shows the reader about the character

examples: our observing the speech, thoughts, feelings, actions of the character or other character's reactions to the character

Theme

The central idea or unifying generalization implied or stated by a literary work

Symbol

Something that means more than what it is; an object, person, situation, or action that in addition to its literal meaning suggests other meanings as well

External Conflicts

Can occur 1.) between two characters, 2.) between a character and society, or 3) between a character and nature.

Irony

A contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens. (Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic)

Irony: Situational

Contrast between what a character expects and what actually happens.

Foreshadowing

A writer's use of hints or clues to indicate events will occur later in the story.

Flashback

A conversation, and episode, or event that happened before the beginning of a story.

Antagonist

The character who works against the protagonist in the story

Protagonist

The principal character in a work of fiction

Direct characterization

The author tells the audience directly what the personality of the character is. Directly stated.

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things, not using "like" or "as"

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things, using "like" or "as"

Internal conflict

when a character is caught between competing decisions or values; a moral dilemma

Imagery

the literary term used for language and description that appeals to our five senses. When a writer attempts to describe something so that it appeals to our sense of smell, sight, taste, touch, or hearing; he/she has used ______.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Motif

In a literary piece, a motif is a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that develops or explains a theme, while a theme is a central idea or message

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

dramatic irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

Foil

A character who contrasts and parallels the main character in a play or story.

Farce

A light dramatic work in which highly improbable plot situations, exaggerated characters, and often slapstick elements are used for humorous effect.

Archetype

an emotion, character type, or event that is notably recurrent across the human experience

Pun

Use of phrasing or words that could have a double meaning, and the second meaning is usually understood

Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

Satire

A literary work that ridicules its subject through the use of techniques such as exaggeration, reversal, incongruity, and/or parody in order to make a comment or criticism about it.

Incongruity

To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.