Short Story - Terms to Know

THE SHORT STORY - TERMS TO KNOW

  • Definition of a Short Story:
    • A piece of prose fiction that can be read in a single sitting.
    • It presents an artistic and unified impression of life through the use of:
    • Plot
    • Characters
    • Setting
  • Key Components:
    • Focuses on one important person (the protagonist)
    • Involves one important struggle (conflict)
    • Aims to gain one important result (climax)
    • Develops a single incident (event/circumstance)
    • Takes place in one locale (place/setting)
    • Engages a small group of characters
    • Occurs over a short period of time
  • Purpose of the Short Story:
    • Illuminates life by showcasing how a character, faced with a problem, is forced to make a decision that leads to action, ultimately achieving success or happiness.
    • All elements contribute to developing the Theme: the main idea or message of the story.

SHORT STORY TERMS

I. Plot Elements

  • Definition: The plot comprises a sequence of incidents or events that form the narrative.
  • Main Plot Elements:
    1. Introduction:
    • Arouses interest; introduces main characters, setting, atmosphere, and outlines the main conflict.
    1. Antecedent Action:
    • Events that have occurred before the story begins.
    1. Complicating Incident:
    • Initial complication that develops the main conflict.
    1. Rising Action:
    • Series of events showing the development of incidents, crises, and characters leading to the climax.
    1. Climax:
    • The turning point for the main character in the story's conflict; the peak of emotional intensity.
    1. Denouement/Falling Action:
    • Unravels or clarifies details that were hidden or unimportant; occurs after the climax.
    1. Conclusion/Resolution:
    • The story's ending, which may be happy, sad, unclear, or surprising.

II. Plot Devices

  • Definition: Tools used to enhance and complicate the plot.
  • Main Plot Devices:
    1. Suspense:
    • Withholding important information to create anticipation for what will happen next.
    1. Dilemma:
    • A situation in which characters must choose between two unfavorable alternatives.
    1. Foreshadowing:
    • Hints or warnings about significant events that will occur.
    1. Flashback:
    • A sudden switch from present to past to illustrate an important point about characters.
    1. Crisis:
    • A moment of intense conflict; the major crisis in the story corresponds to the climax.

III. Character

  • Definition: Refers to the fictional individuals in a story and their moral behaviors.
  • Character Development: Revealed through:
    • Dialogue: Conversations between characters.
    • Action: What characters do or don’t do.
    • Description: Author's commentary on characters.
  • Character Classifications:
    • Major Characters:
    1. Protagonist: Central character facing the main conflict.
    2. Antagonist: Principal character or force opposing the protagonist.
    3. Character Foil: A character whose behavior contrasts with another, enhancing understanding of the characters' traits.
    • Types of Characters:
    1. Flat Character: Limited character with one distinct quality.
    2. Round Character: Complex character with multiple dimensions.
    3. Dynamic Character: A character that undergoes significant change.
    4. Static Character: A character that remains unchanged.
    5. Stock/Stereotype: A predictable character seen frequently, e.g., a wicked stepmother.

IV. Characterization

  • Definition: The process of revealing a character's qualities through their actions, thoughts, and dialogue.
  • Three Principles of Characterization:
    1. Motivation: Characters must have logical reasons for their actions.
    2. Consistency: Behaviors must be stable throughout the narrative.
    3. Plausibility: Characters should be realistic and believable.

V. Conflict

  • Definition: The struggle between opposing forces involving the protagonist.
  • Types of Conflicts:
    • A. Internal Conflict:
    • Occurs within a character's mind, grappling with emotional or moral dilemmas.
    • Example:
      1. Man vs. Self: Internal struggles involving emotions or thought processes.
    • B. External Conflicts:
    • Struggles between a character and outside forces.
    • Types include:
      1. Man vs. Man: Conflict between two characters.
      2. Man vs. Environment: Struggles against nature or societal conditions.
      • Sub-types:
        • Man vs. Nature: e.g. struggling against a storm.
        • Man vs. Society: e.g. challenging societal norms.
        • Man vs. Time
        • Man vs. Unknown
        • Man vs. Machines
  • Importance of Conflict: Understanding the conflict is crucial for grasping the story's climax, where the resolution occurs, often culminating in a moment that defines the protagonist's fate.

VI. Setting

  • Definition: The time, place, and mood (atmosphere) of the story.
  • Impact of Setting:
    • Influences the plot, characters, and theme.
    • May hold symbolic significance, particularly in conflicts such as Man vs. Environment.
  • Atmosphere/Mood:
    • Prevailing feeling evoked by the story, affected by descriptive language and imagery, setting reader expectations for outcomes.

VII. Point of View

  • Definition: The narrator's position and attitude toward characters and conflicts in the story.
  • Types of Point of View:
    1. First Person:
    • Narrated by a character using "I," "We," or "Us."
    1. Third Person, Omniscient:
    • All-knowing narrator who can access the thoughts of all characters.
    1. Third Person, Limited Omniscient:
    • Narrates from the perspective of one character, presenting their thoughts and feelings.
    1. Objective:
    • Narrator reports events without insight into characters' internal states, presenting the story in a straightforward manner.

VIII. Tone

  • Definition: The author's attitude toward the subject and audience, reflecting their mood or moral view.
  • Difference from Mood:
    • Tone indicates how the author feels about characters; mood reflects how the reader feels.
  • Examples of Tone:
    • Ironical, serious, playful, sad, happy, formal, informal, and many others.

IX. Literary Devices and Figurative Language

  • Purpose: Used by authors to add complexity and variety, enhancing the reader’s experience with vivid imagery.
  • Common Literary Devices:
    1. Simile:
    • A comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "as mean as a snake").
    1. Metaphor:
    • A direct comparison without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "He is a snake.").
    1. Symbolism:
    • A symbol representing something more significant, often loaded with emotional meaning (e.g., a rose symbolizes love).
    1. Irony:
    • Contrast between intended meaning and reality; forms include:
      • Verbal Irony: Statement different from intended meaning (e.g., sarcasm).
      • Dramatic Irony: Readers know more than characters.
      • Situational Irony: Outcomes contrary to what is expected.

X. Theme

  • Definition: The central idea of the story, usually implied rather than explicitly stated.
  • Purpose of Theme:
    • Reflects the author's insights about human nature or society.
  • Distinction from Moral:
    • The theme should not be confused with a moral; the moral is a direct lesson derived from the story (e.g., in "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" the moral is about trust and deceit).