Short Story Terms

genre-a form or category of literature, such as epic, tragedy, comedy and satire.

fable-a short, unadorned prose fiction that teaches a moral lesson. Often animals are characters.

parable-a short narrative that illustrates a moral, philosophical or spiritual lesson. A parable may be allegorical. E.g.: the parable of the prodigal son

tale-a short narrative, usually lacking in detail, with unrealistic and sometimes fantastic characters and events. 

realism-refers to fiction and drama of the late nineteenth century that concentrated on ordinary middle-class existence and its daily concerns like money, society, and marriage.

story of initiation-a short story depicting a decisive incident that initiates a character into a higher state of awareness, whether for better or for worse. 

conflict-the central problem or issue to be resolved in a plot, involving the main character struggling against another character(s) or obstacle

flat character-a one-dimensional character who has only a few, easily defined traits. Most minor characters are flat. Not to be confused with a static character.

round character-a multi-faceted character, especially one who is capable of choosing right or wrong. 

dynamic character-a character who changes, especially one who comes to a major realization. 

static character-a character who undergoes no such change.

stock character-a character type used repeatedly, often a stereotype like the mad scientist of horror stories or the blonde airhead of teen movies. 

third-person or non-participant narrator-narrator who is not a character.

objective-narrative that only describes and does not enter characters' thoughts.

limited or selective omniscience-narrative that sees into one (major or minor) character.

omniscience-narrative that sees into different characters. 

first-person or participant narrator-a narrator who is a (major or minor) character in the story.

ironic point of view-a first-person narrator who does not understand the implications of the story.

unreliable narrator-a narrator who misinterprets the story due to prejudice, madness, etc.

naïve narrator-a narrator who is too innocent to understand the story fully.

local color or regionalism-refers to fiction or poetry that focuses on specific features - including characters, dialects, customs, history, and topography - of a particular region.

allegory-a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. 

allusion-a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature.

irony-a literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem. Many times it is the exact opposite of what it appears to be.

Dramatic irony-when the reader is aware of something that is going to occur in a story that a character is unaware of.

Verbal irony-when the writer says one thing but means something entirely different

motif-a recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature.