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Short Story Terms
Reviews Literary Terms from our short stories unit
Term | Definition |
---|---|
imagery | description that creates mental pictures in the reader's mind. |
setting | where and when the story takes place |
plot | all of the events that happen in the story |
external conflict | conflict with someone or something outside of one's self |
internal conflict | conflict with oneself |
theme | the message or lesson we learn from the story |
protagonist | main character |
antagonist | the opponent |
narrator | tells the story |
first person point of view | narrator uses "I" to tell the story. |
third person limited point of view | The narrator uses “he”, “she”, “they” to tell the story from the perspective of one or two main characters. |
third person omniscient | The narrator uses “he”, “she”, “they” to tell the story Narrator knows all, sees all, and tells all |
static character | A character who remains the same throughout the story. |
dynamic character | A character who undergoes a significant, lasting change, usually in his/her outlook on life. |
foreshadowing | Intentional hints about what will happen next in the story. |
flashback | The writer includes an event or scene that took place earlier in the story. |
theme | The central idea, moral or message of the story. |
symbol | An object, place, or character that has special meaning beyond what it literally is. Ex) heart = love |
simile | A comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”. |
metaphor | A comparison stated in such a way as to imply that one object is another one. You do NOT use like or as. |
personification | Giving human characteristics to non-human objects |
situational irony | Type of irony: There is a difference between what is expected in a scene and what actually happens. |
dramatic irony | Type of irony: A character is unaware of important information that the audience already knows |
verbal irony | A character states something but means another (like sarcasm) |
hyperbole | extreme exaggeration for dramatic effect |
onomatopoeia | A word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. |