To Whom It May Concern,



ENG 2DI        The Short Story:  Elements of Fiction

Learning Goal:  I know the elements of a short story!

Use the Internet to find the definitions of the following literary terms.  You could complete them electronically (on this page), or write them out (for your notebooks/binders).

1.  Plot

i)  Exposition: the introduction of the short story, when characters and setting are introduced (Ms. McPherson).

ii)  Conflict:  struggle between opposing forces….person vs. person ,  person vs. nature,  person vs. technology,   person vs self

iii)  Rising Action: a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest.  Tension builds through conflict.

iv)  Foreshadowing: The presentation of details, characters, or incidents in a narrative in such a way that later events are prepared for (hints of what is to come)

v)   Climax: the highest or most (intense point) in the development or resolution of something; culmination .  Conflict is at a peak.

vi) Falling Action/Resolution: the events after the climax when conflicts are resolved

2.  Characterization

i)  Protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work.

ii)  Antagonist: A person that opposes or contends against another.

iii) Motivations:  the things that compel a character to do things (love, anger, etc.)

iv)  Epiphany: sudden realization of how things work; deeper meaning of life

3.  Setting:  where and when where the story takes place

4.  Point of View

i)  First person narration: WHEN A STORY IS BEING TOLD BY THE PERSON..OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT and uses the personal pronoun I

ii)  Third person narration: the story is told from an outsider, someone not involved in the story

5.  Theme:   main idea or message about life that the story wants to convey; lesson eg. The Chrysalids taught us that we should accept people’s differences.   Also, the title refers to “chrysalis” (the stage larvae pass through before becoming butterflies); therefore, an important theme is that we must ACCEPT CHANGE...that change is necessary to grow as humans.  If we resist it, we will become obsolete.

6.  Style:

i)  Tone: the feeling or emotion evoked in a story   

ii)  Irony: Words that mean the opposite of what you really think Ex) Alanis Morissette’s Song

iii)  Simile: a comparison using like or as  eg.  Nicole’s hair is as black as a raven’s wing.   Ryan is as smart as Einstein.

                            

iv)  Imagery: the use of vivid/figurative language ;   descriptive words  that appeal to any of the 5 senses

v)  Metaphor: A figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action in a way that is not literal ; a comparison without using like or as.   Karlee is the sun.   Shelana is the moon.  

vi)  Personification: the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form;  Translation:  something inanimate that has human characteristics.  For example, the wind howled.  

viii) Paradox a statement that apparently contradicts itself but yet might be true.  For example, “War is Peace”.

7.  Symbolism: when something concrete represents an abstract idea; for example, the fly (for fishing) symbolized relationship between Casey and her father (Offerings); butterfly symbolizes love between sisters, boomerang symbolizes returning to each other.

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