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English 12 > Short Story Terms > Flashcards

Short Story Terms Flashcards

(88 cards)

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0
Q

Plot

A

The events and actions that make up a story

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1
Q

Short story

A

A fictional tale that is short enough to be read in a single sitting

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2
Q

Introduction

A
  • The reader meets the characters and discovers the setting

- reader’s interest is aroused

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3
Q

Rising Action

A

Builds up the story, giving us more information about conflict and characters

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4
Q

Climax

A

Reader finds out how the conflict might be resolved

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5
Q

Falling Action

A

The brief section of the story where the plot begins to wrap up

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6
Q

Denouement/conclusion/resolution

A

Provides last pieces of info for the reader/wraps up the plot

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7
Q

Expository Happy

A

All loose ends are tied up and explained & the ending is resolved in favour of protagonist

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8
Q

Expository Sad

A

All loose ends are tied up and the ending is resolved in favour of the antagonist

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9
Q

Surprise or Twist

A

Something happens that the reader doesn’t expect at all

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10
Q

Unresolved/indeterminate/cliffhanger

A

The reader is left with questions and has to supply the ending himself. Some loose ends are left - conflict is not resolved

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11
Q

Anti-Climax

A

A dull or disappointing ending to something after increasing excitement (it’s anti-climactic)

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12
Q

Plot Diagram

A

Aka: Freytag’s pyramid, a visual representation of the 5 plot parts. Modern stories may or may not fit in with the pyramid

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13
Q

Characterization

A

The collection of characters in a story

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14
Q

Protagonist

A

The main character (usually the good guy, but not always)

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15
Q

Antagonist

A

The force against the protagonist (not always another character)

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16
Q

Flat

A

A character with minimal sides to their personality. May not seem realistic because so little is known about them.

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17
Q

Round

A

Believable, complex characters with several sides to their personality. Behave like real people would.

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18
Q

Dynamic

A

Aka: kinetic character, changes in an important way due to plot events

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19
Q

Static

A

Don’t change through the course of the story

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20
Q

Stereotypical

A

Easily recognized as “types”

- ex. The smart Asian

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21
Q

Cliche

A

An over-used expression

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22
Q

Character foil

A

When two characters balance each other in some way or help emphasize one another’s characteristics

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23
Q

Caricature

A

A character with very exaggerated characteristics for comic effect

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24
Hero
A main character with only admirable traits
25
Anti-hero
A main character having none of the traits of a traditional hero; easy to dislike
26
Character analysis
Author reveals character through... - physical appearance - what the character says - what the character does (actions) - what the character thinks - what other characters say about that character - author information
27
Character sketch
- A description of a character's moral and personality qualities - written in paragraph form - uses specific examples from the story
28
Setting
- Can be stated clearly or inferred through textual clues | - 2 parts: emotional setting & physical setting
29
Emotional setting
- the mood/atmosphere | - words evoke feeling/emotion
30
Physical setting
Time, place, and season: physical details
31
Theme
Message of the story; what can be learned; insight into life
32
Conflict
Drives plot forward, discovered during initiating incident
33
Internal conflict
Struggle within a character | - man vs self
34
External conflict
Conflict is outside the character - man vs man - man vs environment - man vs supernatural/machine
35
Point of view
Author picks POV that best suits their intentions for the story
36
1st person POV
- "I" | - character tells own story
37
2nd person POV
- "you"
38
3rd person omniscient
- "he/she" | - reader knows all characters thoughts
39
3rd person limited omniscient
- "he/she" | - reader can see into the mind of some characters, others are objective
40
3rd person objective
- "he/she" | - reader can't get into the heads of any character
41
Deus ex Machina
Improbable plot event that allows for an easy resolution of conflict
42
In medias res
Beginning in the middle of the action
43
Flashback
When the character thinks back to an event that happened before the story began
44
Foreshadowing
Hinting at events to come
45
Suspense
- Anxiety/apprehension resulting from an uncertain situation - Created by: - mystery/unknown - dilemma - setting/atmosphere - dangerous situations/crisis - suspense & surprise endings - coincidence
46
Dilemma
When a character must make a decision between two choices that aren't ideal
47
Style
Techniques used by writers to attract readers attention and accomplish literary purposes
48
Antithesis
- use of contrast for effect | - ex. "Give me liberty or give me death"
49
Chronological order
Events are told one after another in the order they occurred
50
Dialect
The style of speaking used by a particular character, influenced by where they're from
51
Diction
The arrangement of words in a literary work
52
Direct presentation
When writers provide information about their characters directly to the reader
53
Epiphany
When a character makes a sudden realization about something critical
54
Indirect presentation
Information about characters is shown, not told, to the readers, who must then infer it
55
Types of Irony
- verbal irony - situational irony - dramatic irony
56
Verbal irony
The opposite of what is said is meant (ex sarcasm)
57
Situational irony
When an event occurs that is the opposite of what one might expect
58
Dramatic irony
When the readers know more about other characters/events than the character does
59
Narration
- noun: something that is narrated...a story | - verb: to tell the story
60
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement that, upon further examination, reveals a truth
61
Satire
- Writing that mocks/scorns a person or society - angry/bitter: Juvenalian satire - gentle mockery: Horatian satire
62
Sarcasm
When a character uses verbal irony to express bitterness/anger
63
Stream-of-consciousness
When a characters thoughts are presented in random form, without logical sequence or conventional word order, to mimic the way people really think
64
Symbol
Something with a literal and figurative meaning - represents something beyond itself
65
Symbolism
The collection of symbols in a story
66
Universal symbol
Recognized by many people | Ex. Lightbulb represents an idea
67
Personal symbol
Recognized by an individual, family, or friends
68
Cultural symbol
Recognized by a particular culture | Ex. Black symbolizes death in Western society
69
Allegory
A story with a deeper meaning in addition to its surface meaning Ex. Lord of the Flies
70
Legend
A story of a hero, with a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material Ex. King Arthur
71
Myth
A tale of unknown origins that explains a natural phenomenon
72
Fable
A brief narrative that illustrates a moral truth | Ex. Tortoise & the hate
73
Proverb
A short popular saying offering a piece of advice
74
Folk tale
A traditional story handed down in either oral or written form Ex. Fairy takes
75
Graphic text
Combination of a novel and a comic book
76
Crisis
Turning point in action where character must make a decision that will determine an outcome
77
Plot manipulation
When a writer gives a story an unjustified turn
78
Coincidence
Chance occurrence of two events that have a peculiar correspondence/relationship
79
Chance
Occurrence of an event which has no apparent cause in preceding events
80
Artistic unity
Everything in the story is relevant, contributes to meaning, and advances intention of the story
81
Dramatis personae
All characters in a story (human or non-human)
82
Archetype
Original model from which copies are made and used over and over Ex. Epic hero
83
Stock character
- immediately recognized & predictable - often used as character foils Ex. Damsel in distress, evil scientist
84
Parody
A work that imitates the style of another work for comedic effect/ridicule
85
Tone
The manner, atmosphere, or attitude that conveys a feeling
86
Mood
The feeling conveyed by the tone of a piece
87
Motif
Recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that help develop the major themes of a story

English 12 (2 decks)

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