Short Story Definitions

Question 1

Define a short story

Answer 1

A short story is an anecdote that has a begging, middle and an end and the rudiments of a plot

Question 2

Define imagery

Answer 2

Imagery is the use of descriptive Language to create a picture in the readers mind

Question 3

Define a character

Answer 3

An individual in a story, a person or animal/object given human traits

Question 4

Define a protagonist

Answer 4

The main character in a story, often, but not always the hero type character

Question 5

Define a antagonist

Answer 5

The character who struggles or fights against the main character, sometimes the villain or the second most important character

Question 6

Define a secondary character

Answer 6

Characters who are involved in the story but are not essential or considered the main characters( protagonist and antagonist)

Question 7

Define characterization

Answer 7

The way in which a character is create, the traits that the character possesses as determined by the writer

Question 8

Define interior monologue

Answer 8

Interior monologue is what a character is thinking inside their heads that often the reader is able to know

Question 9

Define internal conflict

Answer 9

Internal conflict is the person versus self conflict that involves a character making some choice or dealing with some struggle within their own mind

Question 10

Define setting

Answer 10

The time and place in which the action of the story takes place

Question 11

Define atmosphere

Answer 11

The prevailing mood or tone of a literacy work, particularly, but not exclusively, when that mood is established by setting or landscape it includes the emotional aura that helps establish the readers expectations and attitude

Question 12

Define mood

Answer 12

Refers to the emotional response intended by the author. Usually mood will refer to the overall impression of the story

Question 13

Give the order of a plot line graph

Answer 13

Opening, rising action, climax, denouement, ending

Question 14

Define opening

Answer 14

The opening is simply the start of a short story and the reader is often given a little bit of information on setting and characters

Question 15

Define rising action

Answer 15

The building of events and complications in a story leading to the climax

Question 16

Define climax

Answer 16

The height of action in the story

Question 17

Define denouement

Answer 17

The falling action in a story that follows the climax in which promblems are solved and resolutions are found

Question 18

Define ending

Answer 18

The conclusion of the story that often includes resolution and closure( not all story’s have an ending, some might just have a denouement)

Question 19

Define narrative point of view

Answer 19

Refers to the approach from which the story’s being told

Question 20

Define narrator

Answer 20

Refers to the person or persons telling the story and they control the perspective of the story

Question 21

Define first person narrative

Answer 21

The use of “I” perspective in a story

Question 22

Define third person narrative

Answer 22

The use of “he” or “she” perspective in a story

Question 23

Define omniscient narrative

Answer 23

The use of “he or “she” perspective when the authors voice knows what is happening across time in a story

Question 24

Define complications

Answer 24

Minor promblems that are presented in a story that don’t change the outcome of events but does provide some challenge in a story

Question 25

What are the 5 types of conflicts

Answer 25

Person vs person
Person vs self
Person vs nature
Person vs unknown 
Person vs technology

Question 26

Define crisis point

Answer 26

This is a spot in the story when the main character must make a choice. The story cannot continue until the character has faced this event that has many possible outcomes

Question 27

What are all the literacy devices

Answer 27

Foreshadowing

Suspense

Flashback

Question 28

Define flashback

Answer 28

When the story sequence is out of order and the story goes back in time like a memory to highlight something significant from the past

Question 29

Define foreshadowing

Answer 29

Foreshadowing is a subtle technique that happens when an author gives a hint to what may happen in a story, this can be sometimes be caught during first read but usually gains importance by the end of a story

Question 30

Define suspense

Answer 30

Suspense is the use of description of plot events to create a feeling of anticipation for future events in a story

Question 31

Define symbolism

Answer 31

Symbolism is when one thing( objects, character, tahgible thing) is used to represent more then itself( an emotion, concept, idea, or a new level of meaning)

Question 32

Define theme

Answer 32

Theme is the main idea or concept presented in the text. This could be the purpose or message or just an overarching idea or concect. Themes can include messages like: life isn’t fair, follow your dreams, violence is not the answer or topics such as racism, bullying and creativity