Short Story Unit Test Review - ENG2D

Literary Terms

Foreshadowing – Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Symbol – An object, person, or event that represents a deeper meaning.

Irony (3 types)

Verbal irony – When someone says the opposite of what they mean.

Situational irony – When the outcome is the opposite of what is expected.

Dramatic irony – When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Suspense – A feeling of excitement or tension that keeps the reader interested.

Metaphor – A direct comparison between two unrelated things (e.g., "Time is a thief").

Simile – A comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Brave as a lion").

Imagery – Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

Personification – Giving human traits to non-human things.

Pathetic Fallacy – When nature reflects human emotions (e.g., stormy weather during a sad scene).

Hyperbole – An extreme exaggeration (e.g., "I’ve told you a million times!").

Short Story Elements

Character Types:

Static – Stays the same.

Dynamic – Changes throughout the story.

Round – Fully developed, complex personality.

Flat – One-dimensional, with limited traits.

Point of View:

First-person – "I" perspective, from a character's viewpoint.

Third-person limited – Focuses on one character's thoughts.

Third-person omniscient – Knows thoughts and feelings of all characters.

Unreliable Narrator – A narrator whose credibility is questionable (e.g., mentally unstable, biased).

Setting – The time and place of the story.

Theme – The central message or lesson of the story.

Plot (Parts of Plot Diagram):

Exposition – Introduction of setting, characters, and background.

Rising Action – Events leading to the climax.

Climax – The turning point.

Falling Action – Events after the climax.

Resolution – Conclusion of the story.

Conflict:

External Conflict – Struggles between a character and an outside force (e.g., man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society).

Internal Conflict – Struggles within a character (e.g., man vs. self).

Background Information on Authors

Hernando Téllez – Colombian journalist and writer, known for "Just Lather, That’s All," which explores themes of morality and duty.

Edgar Allan Poe – American writer known for dark, gothic tales and psychological horror (e.g., "The Cask of Amontillado").

Shirley Jackson – American writer famous for "The Lottery," which critiques societal traditions.

Short Stories

Just Lather, That’s All – A barber debates whether to kill a captain during a shave. Themes: morality, duty, internal conflict.

The Cask of Amontillado – Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato by trapping him in a catacomb. Themes: revenge, irony, deception.

The Lady, or the Tiger? – A man must choose between two doors: one hiding a lady, the other a tiger. Themes: fate, jealousy, uncertainty.

The Lottery – A small town participates in a deadly ritual. Themes: blind tradition, societal violence, mob mentality.