English Short Story Study Guide PDF

English Short Story Test Guide Plot o Introduction ▪ Introduces the characters and some of their major details ▪ Setting is also introduced (where & when) ▪ Introduces situation ▪ What is the story about? What is it...

English Short Story Test Guide Plot o Introduction ▪ Introduces the characters and some of their major details ▪ Setting is also introduced (where & when) ▪ Introduces situation ▪ What is the story about? What is its major problem/conflict? o Conflict ▪ Created by conflict of opposing forces ▪ Event that sets the main character or character on the journey that will occupy them throughout the narrative ▪ Where central conflict begins o Rising Action ▪ Suspense builds and conflict progresses Becomes more complicated ▪ Often multiple steps/parts ▪ Contains events that build to be complex ▪ Contains obstacles; a series of increasingly suspenseful complications and events Protagonist attempts to overcome these vicissitudes.  o Climax ▪ Turning point ▪ Becomes apparent whether or not the protagonist will overcome their obstacles ▪ Highest point of interest o Falling Action ▪ Everything that happens as a result of the climax ▪ Wrapping up of plot points ▪ Loose threads are tied up (most of the time) ▪ Some character development ▪ Aftermath of conflict/outcome of events o Resolution ▪ Final outcome ▪ How story ends ▪ May not be happy ▪ Will leave an impact on the reader, could be questions, frustration, satisfaction, or so on Setting o When/where the story takes place o Cultural, social, and physical environment o Can be neat, realistic, or imagined o Creates atmosphere/mood Characters o Direct Characterization ▪ Occurs when author tells reader directly what a character looks and acts like ▪ Eg. Zahra loves reading.  o Indirect Characterization ▪ Author does not tell reader directly about character’s personality and appearance ▪ Audience have to deduce for themselves via; Speech Thoughts/feelings Effects on others Actions Looks ▪ Eg. Zahra is always reading. Conflict o When 2 forces are in opposition o Drives plot, develops characters, and creates themes o Central conflict is usually triggered during the inciting incident and resolved during climax o Types of Conflict: ▪ Character VS. Self ▪ Character VS. Character ▪ Character VS. Nature ▪ Character VS. Supernatural ▪ Character VS. Technology ▪ Character VS. Society Theme Statement o Clear and complete message conveying the theme o Eg. No matter how powerful we are, we need others, & this puts them in a position of power over us.  Narrative point of Views o A narrator is the person who tells the story o NOT THE AUTHOR, even though the author obviously wrote it -> instead a voice created by his/her imagination who is the narrator o First-person Narration ▪ This is when a character who is in the story is telling the story ▪ Clues: “I” is used and the narrator can only tell the reader what he/she is thinking and/or feeling o Second-person Narration ▪ This is when the protagonist or other major characters are referred to using second person pronouns ▪ Not common ▪ Clues: “You” is used o Third-person Narration ▪ This is when the narrator is not a character in the story and cannot tell the readers what other characters are thinking and feeling Symbolism o Using an object/word to represent an abstract idea o Can also be used to hint at certain moods or emotions o Types of Symbolism; ▪ Objects – abstract ideas or concepts ▪ Animals – human traits/represent ideas ▪ Colours – emotions/convey themes ▪ Characters – larger themes or archetypes ▪ Setting – theme/mood ▪ Actions – deeper meanings ▪ Weather – characters' emotions or plot development ▪ Numbers – represent abstract numbers or ideas