Short Story Terminology

LITERARY DEVICES

  • Frame Story: Leads readers from a first story into another, smaller one (or several ones) within it. 

  • Theme: The central or universal idea of a piece of fiction; it is a perception about life and the human condition.

  • Symbols: Characters, settings, images, or other motifs that represent bigger ideas. Authors often use symbols (or symbolism) to give their work more meaning and to make a story be about more than the events it describes.

  • Motif: A recurring symbol that has significance within a story.

  • Setting: The time and place in which it occurs. Elements of setting may include the physical, psychological, cultural, or historical background against which the story takes place.

  • Tone: The author’s attitude toward the subject. 

  • Mood: How we are made to feel as readers, or the emotion evoked by the author. 

  • Flashback: A literary device by which a work presents material that occurred prior to the opening scene.

  • Foreshadowing: The presentation of material in a work in such a way that later events are prepared for. The purpose of foreshadowing is to prepare the reader or viewer for action to come.

  • Verbal Irony: The words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning (sarcasm)‏.

  • Situational Irony: Events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and audience think should happen isn't what eventually happens.

  • Dramatic Irony: The audience perceives something that a character in the story does not know.

  • Satire: A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, mockery, or wit. Used to attack or expose folly (foolish behavior), vice (immoral behavior), or stupidity. 

  • Allusion: A reference within a literary work to another work of literature, art, or real event. The reference is often brief and implied.

NARRATION & POINT OF VIEW

  • Narrator: The teller of a story

    • Reliable narrator: The reader accepts the statements of fact and judgment without serious question

    • Unreliable narrator: The reader questions or seeks to qualify the statements of fact and judgment.

  • Point of View: Refers to who is telling or narrating a story (the story is not always told from the POV of the author). A story can be told from the first person, second person or third person point of view.

    • First person: The main character is telling the story ("I," "me" or "we") 

    • Second person: Narrator is speaking to the reader ("you," "your," and "yours")

    • Third person: External narrator telling the story ("he," "she," "it," or "they")



CHARACTERS

  • Characterization: The description of . . .

  1. A character’s physical traits (how a character looks) 3. A character’s thoughts

  2. A character’s personality 4. A character’s actions

  • Two types of characterization:

  1. Indirect Characterization: Describes a character through their thoughts, actions, speech, and dialogue.

  2. Direct Characterization: Describes the character through their physical description, line of work, or passions and pursuits.

  • Dynamic Character: A character which changes during the course of a story or novel

  • Static Character: A character who remains primarily the same during the course of a story or novel

  • Round Character: A well developed character who demonstrates varied, sometimes contradictory traits

  • Flat Character: A two-dimensional and relatively uncomplicated character who does not change throughout a story or novel

  • Stock Character: A special kind of flat character who is instantly recognizable (stereotypical)

  • Protagonist: The story’s main character

  • Antagonist: A character in opposition of the protagonist

  • Secondary Characters: Sidekick/loyal friend, one who furthers the plot, the wise counsel

  • Character Foil: A secondary character who contrasts with the protagonist in order to highlight aspects of the main character’s personality


CONFLICT

  • Conflict: The opposition of persons or forces that brings about action central to the plot of a story

    • Character versus Character: A conflict between one character and another

    • Character versus Nature: A conflict between a character and a force of nature

    • Character versus Society: A conflict between a character and the values, beliefs, and/or customs of a larger group

    • Character versus Self: An internal psychological conflict within a character


PLOT ELEMENTS

  1. Exposition: Background information about 

the protagonist in normal life.

  1. Inciting Incident (Conflict): Something happens 

that creates a problem for the protagonist.

  1. Rising Action: The sequence of events that 

happen as a result of the conflict. These usually 

get more intense over time.

  1. Climax: The most exciting part of the story; 

the turning point.

  1. Falling Action: The events that happen after 

the climax.

  1. Denouement (Resolution): Loose ends tied up 

and/or a peek at how things have changed.