Elements of a short story

Question 1

Plot 1

Answer 1

The arrangement (sequence) of events in a story that develop the author’s ideas

Question 2

Plot 2

Answer 2

Planned logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and end

Question 3

Introduction/Exposition

Answer 3

The beginning of the story where the characters and SETTING are introduced

Question 4

Rising action

Answer 4

• Events in the story become complicated
• Conflict in the story is revealed
• The events that occur between the introduction and climax

Question 5

Climax

Answer 5

• Highest point of interest
• The turning point
• The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?

Question 6

CLIMAX 2

Answer 6

Consider the climax as three parts:
- The main character receives new information
- The character accepts this information – realizes this information, but does not necessarily agree with it.
- The character acts on this information - makes a choice that will determine whether or not they gain their objective

Question 7

Falling action

Answer 7

• The events and complications begin to resolve themselves
• Events between the climax and resolution

Question 8

Resolution

Answer 8

• Also known as the denouement
• The final outcome
• Untangling of events in the story

Question 9

The time and location in which a story takes place

Answer 9

Setting

Question 10

Round character

Answer 10

many sided, and complex personalities. They are not stereotypical and often surprise with unexpected behaviour and values.

Question 11

Dynamic character

Answer 11

a character that undergoes a change over the courses of the story. The conflict and plot of the story affects a dynamic character and causes a change within him or her.

Question 12

Flat

Answer 12

stereotypical character. Usually one dimensional, static and shallow.

Question 13

Static

Answer 13

character that does not change throughout the story. This character is the same at the end of the story as they were in the beginning.

Question 14

The technique the author uses to express him/herself and convey ideas and central purpose.

Answer 14

Style

Question 15

In order to determine an author’s style, one must consider the following:

Answer 15

Diction
Sentence Structure
Point of view
Irony
Symbolism
Imagery

Question 16

usually found in academic text, academic papers, and formal discourse

Answer 16

FORMAL

Question 17

relaxed conversation and is found in writing that has a lighter tone and is somewhat humorous

Answer 17

informal

Question 18

everyday usage of a particular group.

Answer 18

Colloquial

Question 19

a newly coined word not accepted for formal usage yet, and is usually not found in the dictionary

Answer 19

Slang

Question 20

Sentance structure

Answer 20

Simple
Compound
Complex
Short
Long

Question 21

The narrator was a participant or observer in the story and is now relaying what he/she actually saw, heard or felt.

Answer 21

First person POV

Question 22

Personal pronouns are used. For example, I, me, we, us, etc. The reader is limited to what the person relaying the story knows.

Answer 22

First person POV

Question 23

a detached narrator tells the story in an objective view

Answer 23

Third person POV

Question 24

No personal pronouns are used

Answer 24

3rd person POV

Question 25

3 different variations of this POV

Answer 25

3rd

Question 26

the narrator has the freedom to move in space and time, but he can only relay action dialogue, forgoing the ability to delve into character’ thoughts and feelings.

Answer 26

3rd person objective

Question 27

A contradiction between what the reader expects and what actually happens in the story.

Answer 27

irony

Question 28

when an author speaker says exactly the opposite of what he/she means

Answer 28

verbal irony

Question 29

when the reality of a situation differs or seems opposite from what is expected

Answer 29

situational irony

Question 30

when the reader or audience knows more about the situation than the actual characters in the work

Answer 30

dramatic irony

Question 31

Generally an object, person, situation, or idea that deepens the meaning of the work by evoking content that is not literally expressed in the work itself

Answer 31

symbol

Question 32

Often an author will use images when they want to convey important ideas

Answer 32

symbol

Question 33

The goal is to make the reader actually see, feel, taste, touch, or smell the subject or idea at work

Answer 33

imagery

Question 34

images that appeal to the five sense: sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell

Answer 34

sensious imagery

Question 35

similes, metaphors, personification, assonance, etc.

Answer 35

figurative imagery

Question 36

Theme 1

Answer 36

Central idea or meaning of a work – the core message

Question 37

Theme 2

Answer 37

Often an idea that the author hopes to expresses or better understand