Short Story Terms ACTION- What is done by, or what happens to, the characters. AMBIGUITY- When the author makes something in the story unclear or confusing on purpose to let the reader infer its meaning. ATMOSPHERE- The mood of the story. CHARACTER- One of the made-up people in a story. Characters can be ‘central’ or ‘minor’, ‘round’ or ‘flat’. CLIMAX- The highest point of the plot. It is the moment when it becomes clear how the story will end. CONFLICT- The struggle between opposing characters, ideas, values or ways of life.

• DENOUEMENT- The point at which the conflict is solved and the outcome unfolds. • DIALOGUE- What the characters say to each

other • EXPOSITION- The part of the story where the

characters are introduced, before the action begins. Usually this occurs at the beginning of the story. • FLASHBACK- When the story goes back in time to

give the reader a glimpse of what happened before the story began. • FORESHADOWING – Hints at events that could

occur in the future.

• IMAGERY- figures of speech, such as similes or metaphors. Language in the story that creates vivid pictures in your mind.

• IRONY- the relationship between what is expected and what actually happens. Often, in short stories this is usually the relationship between what the character believes to be true and what actually is true.

• OMNISCIENCE- A style of story telling where the narrator knows the inner thoughts of all the characters in a story.

• POINT OF VIEW- The position from which the narrator explains the story. It could be first-person, using ‘I’ and only the teller of the story’s perspective is told. Or it could be from a third-person point of view, using ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’ and the perspectives of one or more characters can be told. • PLOT- all the things that happen in the story. • SETTING- where the story happens in time or space.

• STYLE- The writer’s way or habits of expressing herself or himself. This can involve paragraph structure, the way sentences are written, words that are chosen, etc. • SYMBOL- a person, thing or act that stands for

something else in a way that makes it important to the whole story • THEME- The main idea of the story- what is the

underlying message that the writer is trying to send.

Literary Devices• Alliteration – Repetition of sounds in a series of words or

phrases.• Simile – Comparison of two or more things using like or as.• Metaphor – Comparison of two or more things not using like

or as.• Onomatopoeia – Sounds• Personification – Giving human qualities to something that is

not human.

Short Story Terms _________________- What is done by, or what happens to, the ___________________. ___________________- When the author makes something in the story unclear or _______________ on purpose to let the reader infer its meaning. ATMOSPHERE- The ____________ of the __________. _______________________- One of the made-up people in a story. Characters can be ‘____________’ or ‘minor’, ‘_____________’ or ‘____________’. _____________________- The highest point of the plot. It is the moment when it becomes clear how the _____________will end. ________________________- The ______________ between opposing characters, ideas, values or ways of life.

• DENOUEMENT- The ______________ at which the conflict is solved and the __________________ unfolds.

• _____________________- What the characters say to each other • _____________________- The part of the story where the

_______________are introduced, before the action begins. Usually this occurs at the ______________________ of the story.

• ____________________- When the story goes back in time to give the reader a glimpse of what happened before the story

____________________. • FORESHADOWING – _____________ at events that could occur in

the _______________.

• _____________________- figures of speech, such as similes or metaphors.____________________in the story that creates _______________ pictures in your ____________.

• ___________- the relationship between what is expected and what actually happens. Often, in short stories this is usually the relationship between what the ______________ believes to be ____________ and what actually is true.

• OMNISCIENCE- A style of ___________________where the narrator knows the _______________ thoughts of all the _________________________ in a story.

• POINT OF VIEW- The _______________ from which the ___________________explains the story. It could_______ first-person, using ‘I’ and ___________ the teller of the story’s perspective is told. Or it could be from a _______________________ point of view, using ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’ and the perspectives of ________ or more characters can be ________. • ____________- all the things that happen in the story. • _____________________- ___________ the story

happens in ___________ or space.

• ______________- The writer’s way or habits of expressing herself or himself. This can involve paragraph ______________, the way _______________ are written, words that are chosen, etc.

• ________________- a person, thing or act that stands for something else in a way that makes it ___________________ to the whole story

• _____________- The _________ idea of the story- what is the_________________message that the writer is trying to send.

Literary Devices• __________________ – Repetition of ________________ in a

series of words or __________________.• Simile –_______________of two or more things using

____________ or _____________.• __________________ – Comparison of two or more things

________________ using ____________ or _____________.• Onomatopoeia – ______________• ___________________________ – Giving

________________qualities to __________________ that is not human.