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short story elements
elements of a short story
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| characterization and direct characterization | the method a writer uses to communicate information about characters to readers. when the author tells the reader directly about a character it's called DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION. |
| characterization continued | when the author shows the character in action and lets readers draw their own conclusions it's called INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION |
| climax | the moment when action comes to it's highest point of dramatic conflict. most often climax occurs before the actual end of the story |
| complication | any obstacle that increases the tension of the story. |
| conflict | the central source of tension and drama in the story. conflict is sometimes referred to as the story problem |
| description | verbal representation of characters, scene, or action used to make the story more vivid for the reader |
| dialogue | the actual words that characters speak. authors use dialogue skillfully in short story to portray character and dramatize conflict |
| diction | the author's choice of words the vocabulary level of the story |
| dramatic irony | a technique that increases suspense by letting readers know more about the dramatic situation than the characters know |
| exposition | background materials about characters,setting, and dramatic situation with which the author introduces essentials of the story to the reader |
| falling action | the part of the story following the climax leading to the resolution in which there is a sharp decline in dramatic tension |
| foreshadowing | a writing technique that gives readers clues about events that will happen later in the story |
| hyperbole | an exaggerated statement used to make strong effect. |
| imagery | the use of selected details to describe one thing in terms of another. this helps suggest additional meanings and feelings |
| irony | a particular tone created when the speaker intends a meaning that is opposite to the words he or she says. |
| mood | the overall feeling- light and happy or dark and brooding for example- created by an authors choice of words. |
| narrator | the speaker who tells the story. if the narrator is also a character who participates in the story, it is important not to confuse the narrator with the author who may in fact hold a very different attitude towards the story. |
| point of view | the perspective from which a story is told. Point of view is said to be OMNISCIENT if the author is outside the story and presents the thoughts of all of the characters involved. |
| point of view continued | Point of view is called LIMITED when the story is told from the view point of one character who can only see one part of the story. |
| protagonist | the central character of the story |
| resolution | the conclusion of the story. the resolution includes the story's action after the climax. |
| rising action | the part of the story, including exposition, in which the tension rises. rising action builds to it's highest point of tension at the story's climax. |
| setting | the environment in which the story takes place. |
| structure | the framework that determines how a story's put together.- it's "skeleton". the structure of many stories include 4 basic parts: exposition, complication and resolution. |
| style | the characteristic ways that an individual author uses language- including word choice, length, and complexity of sentences, patterns of sound and use of imaginary symbols |
| suspense | techniques used by the author to keep readers interested in the story and wondering what will happen next |
| symbol | an image, object, character, or action that stands for an idea(s) beyond it's literal meaning. |
| theme | the story's main idea-the "message" that the author intends to communicate theme by telling the story. themes are often universal truths that are suggested by specifics of the story |
| tone | the clues in a story that suggest the writer's (or narrator's) own attitude toward elements of his or her story |
| understatement | a figure of speech in which the speaker says less than what he or she actually feels. |
| verbal irony | the use of figure of speech such as hyperbole and understatement to create an ironic effect. |
Created by:
ryanschieber
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