Literary Terms for Short Stories/Novels PDF

Literary Terms for Short Stories or Novels PLOT The plot is the sequence of events in the story. 5 PARTS OF A PLOT There are five parts to a plot. 1. EXPOSITION: During this part of a story the author introduces the characters and setting and begins to tell the plot. 2. RISING ACTION:...

Literary Terms for Short Stories or Novels PLOT The plot is the sequence of events in the story. 5 PARTS OF A PLOT There are five parts to a plot. 1. EXPOSITION: During this part of a story the author introduces the characters and setting and begins to tell the plot. 2. RISING ACTION: The author continues to develop the characters and tells the events leading to the climax. Your interest in the story and characters is building or RISING. 3. CLIMAX: This is the part of the story that creates the most intense interest. The author tells you ‘what happened’. Many times, if someone tells you this part of a story or a movie, the story or movie is ruined because you then already know what happened. 4. FALLING ACTION: The author begins to end the story by telling the reader how the characters were affected or changed. 5. RESOLUTION: This is the last part of the story or the ending. This can be referred to as the final outcome. CONFLICT This is the problem to be resolved in the story. If it is a struggle between the main character and himself/herself, it is INTERNAL CONFLICT. If the problem to be resolved is between the main character and other characters or nature, it is EXTERNAL CONFLICT. Note: Most stories will have elements of both internal and external conflict. PROTAGONIST: The story centers around a main character or sometimes several main characters. These characters are the heroes or the “good guys.” ANTAGONIST: This is the character or characters that threaten or try to hurt the PROTAGONISTS. There are four techniques or methods authors use to develop stories. 1. FORESHADOWING: When an author gives hints or clues as to what might happen in a story. 2. FLASHBACK: When an author interrupts a story to tell about an incident that happened earlier (before the story started). 3. SUSPENSE: When an author creates a tension or nervousness about what is to come in a story. 4. SURPRISE ENDING: When an author writes an unexpected ending. POINT OF VIEW The author will choose a narrator. If the narrator is a character from the story, it is called First Person Narration (frequently you will see the pronouns I, me, or my/mine). If the narrator is someone from outside the story, it is called Third Person Narration. Pronouns such as he, she, they, and them appear frequently in third person narration and it is clear that the “voice” is not a character from the story. CHARACTERIZATION These are the methods the author uses to acquaint the reader with the characters in the story. This is done in a variety of ways. 1. Description of physical traits 2. Description of personality 3. Use of character’s speech 4. Description of character’s behavior 5. Opinions and reactions of other characters toward this individual 6. Revealing the character’s thoughts and feelings SETTING Every story has a setting, the place and time of the action. Literary Devices (used in all types of literature) Connotation: The emotional, imaginative, or cultural meanings associated with a word. Example: Cool, meaning hip, awesome or fun. Denotation: The strict dictionary meaning of a word. Example: Cool, meaning mildly cold. Hyperbole: An exaggerated statement used especially to make a point. Example: I have told you a thousand times. Imagery: The concrete details that appeal to the senses. Ex.: juicy, cool, delicious, red apple Inference: A reasonable and intelligent conclusion drawn from hints or other information provided by an author. Verbal Irony: When what is said is the opposite of what is meant (also known as sarcasm). Example: After having a miserable day, the protagonist says, “What a great day this is.” Irony of Situation: When what happens is the opposite of what you expect. Example: The police chief was arrested for stealing. Stereotype: A fixed generalized idea about a character or situation. Example: All boys like sports. Polo is too dangerous for women. Symbol: A person, place, event, or object that has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. Examples: American flag, wedding ring, school emblem. Theme: The central idea or insight into life that is revealed through the events of the story. It is what you can learn about your life based on reading the story. It can be referred to as the moral. Tone: This is the author’s attitude toward a subject. This is reflected in the author’s approach in writing about the subject. Some words used to describe the tone of a story are serious, matter- of-fact, comical, respectful, etc. Mood: This is the total feeling created in a literary work. Mood is not the author’s attitude as much as the overall feeling created by the piece. Simile: A figure of speech that uses like or as to make a direct comparison between unlike things. Example: He is as sly as a fox. Metaphor: This is a direct comparison of two unlike things, not using like or as. The comparison is implied. Example: He is a rock that I lean on in times of trouble. Personification: This is a type of figurative language in which a non-human subject is given human-like characteristics. Example: The leaves danced in the breeze.