Adv English I Short Story Terms

Antagonist-

a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist, in some way.

Character Foil-

a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character, with the objective to highlight the traits of the other character.

Climax-

the highest point of tension in a storyline, often depicted by a confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist. A climax resolves the main conflict of the story and is the moment the main character reaches—or fails to reach—their goal.

Conflict-

the problem or issue in the story.

Direct Characterization-

The author explicitly states a character's traits, personality, or appearance through direct narration.

Dialogue-

conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie. “What about that man over there?” he whispered, pointing in a old gentleman's direction. “Doesn't he look odd too?” “What's the big deal, anyway?” she huffed.

Indirect Characterization-

a storytelling method where an author shows a character's personality through their actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and effect on others, rather than stating traits outright

Mood:

The feeling that a text is intended to produce in the audience.

Narrator-

the person who is telling the story. The story is told through their point of view.

Person versus Nature:

is when the protagonist, either alone or together with the other characters, is in direct opposition to the forces of nature.

Person versus Person:

the main character's goal is obstructed by another character or multiple characters.

Person versus Society:

when a protagonist has a strong belief against the majority of the community or surroundings and decides to act on it.

Plot-

the main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence.

Point-of-View:

first person: first person point of view uses the pronouns “I,” “me,” “we,” and “us,” in order to tell a story from the narrator's perspective. The storyteller in a first-person narrative is either the protagonist relaying their experiences or a peripheral character telling the protagonist's story.

Point-of-View:

third person limited: In third-person narration, the narrator exists outside the events of the story, and relates the actions of only one character by referring to their names or by the third-person pronouns he, she, or they.

Point-of-View:

third person omniscient: the story's narrator has complete awareness, understanding, and insight into the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of some or all of the characters in the story.

Protagonist:

the character who drives the action--the character whose fate matters most. In other words, they are involved in —and often central to—the plot or conflict of the story, but are also usually the emotional heart of the narrative.

Resolution-

the final part of a story's plot where the central conflict is solved, loose ends are tied up, and the narrative comes to a close.

Setting

includes the physical environment, the period, and the social environment of the characters.

Theme:

The theme of a literary work is its underlying central message.

Tone:

refers to the author’s attitude toward a certain topic.