Short story concepts

Question 1

Exposition

Answer 1

The beginning of a story where the scene is set and characters are introduced, especially the protagonist.

Question 2

Conflict

Answer 2

The protagonist faces some type of conflict, challenge, problem or complication. Without this, there is no story.

Question 3

Rising Actions

Answer 3

The events that lead up to the climax. Tension starts to build through these events.

Question 4

Climax

Answer 4

The most ‘x’ part of the story, where tension, suspense or action is at its highest. This is also known as the turning point.

Question 5

Falling Action

Answer 5

This occurs immediately after the climax; tension starts to release.

Question 6

Resolution

Answer 6

The story starts to wrap up, the reader might even get a sense of closure. Some short stories don’t have a resolution.

Question 7

Protagonist

Answer 7

The main character in a story.

Question 8

Antagonist

Answer 8

The character/s working against the protagonist and causing the conflict. Sometimes the antagonist might not be a character but could be something abstract such as a tsunami.

Question 9

Characterisation

Answer 9

The process used by an author to develop a character’s traits.

Question 10

Character traits

Answer 10

The characteristics and qualities of a character.

Question 11

Character’s words, actions and thoughts

Answer 11

What a character says (words), thinks (thoughts) and does (actions) will reveal their traits - their qualities and characteristics.

Question 12

Other character’s words, actions and thoughts about a character

Answer 12

What another character says about (words), thinks about (thoughts), or does (actions) to another character will build the reader’s understanding of that character.

Question 13

Context - WHO

Answer 13

The social and historical background of a text. If we don’t understand the context, it is difficult to make meaning of (fully understand) a text.

WHO are the characters in the story? How do you know this?

Question 14

Context - WHAT

Answer 14

The social and historical background of a text. If we don’t understand the context, it is difficult to make meaning of (fully understand) a text.

WHAT is the story about? How do you know this?

Question 15

Context - WHERE

Answer 15

The social and historical background of a text. If we don’t understand the context, it is difficult to make meaning of (fully understand) a text.

WHERE is the story set? How do you know this?

Question 16

Context - WHEN

Answer 16

The social and historical background of a text.

If we don’t understand the context, it is difficult to make meaning of (fully understand) a text.

WHEN is the story set? How do you know this?

Question 17

Context - WHY

Answer 17

The social and historical background of a text. If we don’t understand the context, it is difficult to make meaning of (fully understand) a text.

WHY did the author write story? How do you know this?

Question 18

Context - HOW

Answer 18

The social and historical background of a text. If we don’t understand the context, it is difficult to make meaning of (fully understand) a text.

HOW does information about the context help you to make meaning (understand) the text?

Question 19

Characterisation - WORDS

Answer 19

What a character SAYS.

E.g. Jan sat down across the table from the girls and SAID, “Hello, I really like your necklace. My name’s Jan, what’s yours?”

This shows the reader that Jan is friendly and caring.

Question 20

Characterisation - ACTIONS

Answer 20

What a character DOES.

E.g. Jan’s SMILE made the new girl feel comfortable. Jan reached over and SHOOK HER HAND.

This shows the reader that Jan is friendly and caring.

Question 21

Characterisation - THOUGHTS (Part 1)

Answer 21

What a character THINKS.

E.g. Jan noticed the new girl across the room sitting by herself. Jan KNEW how lonely the girl must be and decided right then to be her friend.

This shows the reader that Jan is friendly and caring.

Question 22

Characterisation - THOUGHTS (Part 2)

Verbs that show a character’s thoughts:

Answer 22

Think
Know
Understand
Realize
Believe
Want
Remember
Imagine
Desire

Question 23

Characterisation - NARRATOR’S DESCRIPTION

Answer 23

How the narrator describes a character.

E.g. Ever since Jan was in first grade, she always WANTED TO HELP OTHERS.

This shows the reader that Jan is friendly and caring.

Question 24

Characterisation - OTHER CHARACTER’S thoughts, words and actions

Answer 24

How other characters react to a character through their thoughts, words and actions.

E.g. Later that night, MARY TOLD HER FAMILY about Jan’s warm welcome to Meredith Junior High School.

Question 25

Narrative perspective

Answer 25

The perspective from which a story is told - 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person.

Question 26

1st person narrative perspective

Answer 26

“I walked into the pharmacy and immediately I noticed something strange happening in the corner”

Question 27

2nd person narrative perspective

Answer 27

“You walked into the pharmacy and immediately you notice something strange happening in the corner”

Question 28

3rd person narrative perspective

Answer 28

“Jan walked into the pharmacy and immediately she noticed something strange happening in the corner”

Question 29

Memoir

Answer 29

A historical account or biography written from personal knowledge.