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Lit Comp 138
Short Story Terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Fable | A short story that usually is about animals and is intended to teach a lesson |
Fairytale | A type of short story that has magic and good vs. evil characters |
Tall Tale | An exaggerated, unreliable story told for entertainment |
Trickster Tale | A tale that includes a trickster – a clever animal or person who plays tricks on other characters |
Legend | A traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but can’t be proven |
Myths | A made up story that explains the existence of a natural phenomenon |
Wisdom Literature | Literature that teaches how to live properly |
Moral | A message or lesson to be learned from a story or play |
Motif | A recurring image, idea, or symbol |
Archetype | A universally known or understood character, situation, or theme |
Villain | An evil character in the story |
Hero | A character admired for good acts |
Setting | The time and place in which a story takes place |
Plot | The series of events that make up a story |
Characters | A person in a novel, story, play, or movie |
Indirect Characterization | When the narrator shows the reader something about the character through the character’s actions, things the character says, or things other characters say |
Direct Characterization | When the author specifically reveals traits about the character in a direct, straightforward manner. |
Flat Character | A character whose personality can be described as having one or two personality traits and who does not have a lot of importance or depth |
Round Character | A complex character with many personality traits and who does have many characteristics, high importance, and much depth |
Static Character | A character who does not undergo any type of inner change (personality/attitude) throughout the text |
Dynamic Character | A character who does undergo a type of inner change (personality/attitude) throughout the text |
Foil Characters | A character who creates a contrast to a different character in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character (good appears more “good” when evil is present) |
Point of View | The perspective from which a story is told |
Theme | The main idea of a piece of writing or work of literature that an author is trying to express to the reader about life or human nature |
Internal Conflict | The psychological or mental struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character |
External Conflict | The struggle between a literary or dramatic character and an outside force such as nature or another character |
Protagonist | The main character of a literary work |
Antagonist | A character or force against which another character struggles |
Mood | The attitude the reader has from a text or work of literature |
Tone | The attitude the writer gives off toward a subject |
Symbolism | The use of one object or idea to represent another object or idea |