SHORT STORY NOTE-TAKING GRID



SHORT STORY NOTE-TAKING GRID

1. genre: a category of literature

example: short story; science fiction; biography; etc.

2. definition of a short story:

A short story is a fictional, _prose_, _narrative_

of _12,000_ words or less.

3. plot: sequence of events (action) in a narrative

4. plot line model:

a. reconstructed past: The reader’s inference about what has taken place before the story begins.

example: In the Lion King movie, you infer that Mufasa has had a falling out with Scar.

b. exposition: Background information provided by the author.

example: Mufasa tells Simba not to go near the elephant graveyard.

c. complication: a difficulty or problem faced by a character.

example: Scar kills Mufasa

d. turning point: PSYCHOLOGICAL decision after which the story moves to

its inevitable conclusion

example: Simba sees Mufasa in the heavens and decides to return to take his rightful place.

e. climax: Moment of greatest emotional intensity and/or action.

example: The fight with Scar.

f. resolution: “denouement” – how the story ends; the conclusion.

example: Simba becomes the King, and he and Nala start their own family.

g. projected future: The reader’s inference about what will happen after the

story’s conclusion.

example: Simba’s son will grow up and be king.

h. rising action: All actions BEFORE the climax

i. falling action: All actions AFTER the climax

5. flashback: A scene that interrupts the action of a story to tell about events that happened at an earlier time.

example: In the Lion King, during Simba’s fight with Scar, Simba is hanging over the edge of the cliff and the movie uses a flashback to revert to the scene where Mufasa was hanging in a similar way.

6. foreshadowing: Clues that hint at actions that are to follow in the story.

example: Horror movies – any time a blonde screams at the beginning, she’ll be

dead before the end of movie.

7. Figures of Speech

simile: A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

example: quiet as a mouse; love is like a roller coaster

metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using like or as.

example: love is a roller coaster; he is a snake

imagery: Language that appeals to the five senses.

example: mouth-watering chocolate; slick and glistening streets

irony: A contrast between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens

example: Calling a 6’6’’ guy “shorty.”

example: A guy gives up drinking, then he’s killed when a beer truck hits him.

8. Point of View:

first person: “I” – The narrator is a character in the story. S/he is a participant in the action and an observer of the action.

innocent eye: Story told through the eyes of a child.

example: The Wonder Years; A Christmas Story

third person: The narrator is outside the story.

a. omniscient: (like God) the author is “all-knowing” – can see all of the action and can reveal the thoughts of all characters.

example: The beginning of Beauty and the Beast starts with a hand opening a book and stating “Once upon a time…”

9. Types of Conflict

internal: Conflict is within the character.

1. character vs. self:

example: Simba’s inner struggle to get over his guilt and decide whether to face his past or not by returning to the pride.

external: Conflict arises from the outside.

1. character vs. character:

example: Simba verses Scar

2. character vs. nature:

example:Survivor; The Amazing Race;

3. character vs. society:

example: In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast’s struggle to fit into society despite his looks.

4. character vs. supernatural:

example: Aliens; Terminator;

10. Character Types

a. static: Character remains the same throughout the literary work

example: Throughout the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo remains courageous and adventureous.

b. dynamic: Character undergoes change in attitude or personality

example: In Finding Nemo, Marlin (Nemo’s dad) changes as he learns to not let fear control his life.

c. stereotype: One recognizable character trait

example: The show/movie Clueless has the “ditzy blonde” stereotype.

11. Characterization

a. direct: the writer explicitly tells about the character

example: Sanger Rainsford is a hunter.

b. indirect: The writer allows the reader to draw inferences about the characters (figure them out for themselves)

example: General Zaroff is a sociopath.

12. protagonist: Central character in a work of literature (not necessarily a hero

or “good guy”)

example: Simba

13. antagonist: Character who opposes the protagonist

example: Scar

14. Aspects of Every Character:

a. physical: appearance of character

example: Belle from Beauty and the Beast has brown hair, thin, dainty-like

b. psychological: personality

example: Smart, kind, compassionate, open-minded.

c. sociological: society (how the character fits in/doesn’t fit in with their society)

example: Beast from Beauty and the Beast is ostracized/shunned by society because of his looks.

15. mood: ___________________________________________________

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example: ______________________________________

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