Transcript Short Story and Literary Terms

Short Story and
Literary Terms
Grade 8
Parts of a Plot

Plot – the sequence of events, or action, in a
story.
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1. Exposition – this is where the reader learns the
background information necessary to
understand the story (introduces setting, main
characters, and what is going on.)
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2. Rising Action – part of the story between the
exposition and the climax. This is where most of
the events in the story happen, where the
conflicts occur and build up the story.
 3.
Climax – the turning point or highest
point of action in a story. At the climax
the main character realizes what has to
be done to fix the major conflict.
 4.
Falling Action – the part of the story
after the climax and before the resolution.
Here is where loose ends are tied up and
we learn the extra information.
 5.
Resolution – the final outcome or
ending to the story.
Freytag’s Triangle
Climax
Rising Action
Exposition
Falling Action
Resolution
Flashback
 Interrupts
the sequence of events to
include information about an event that
happened in the past.
Conflict: a struggle between two
opposing forces
4
types of conflict
1.
2.
3.
4.
Person vs. self (internal)
Person vs. person (external)
Person vs. nature (external)
Person vs. society (external)
Can a story exist without a conflict?
NO!
Characters

Major – the most important characters in a story.
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Minor – interact with the main characters in the
story, but the plot does not revolve around them
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Protagonist – main character – considered to be
the hero of the story
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Antagonist – the character who frustrates,
deceives, or works against the main character
Character types

Round – a character with many qualities and traits.
They seem like real people.
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Flat – a character with only a couple characteristics
or traits.

Dynamic – A character who experiences a change
throughout the story, normally as a result of a conflict.

Static – a character who does not change
throughout the story.
Narrator
 Character
audience
 He
who tells the story to the
or she can be a character in the story,
or an outsider looking in.
Unreliable Narrator

A narrator who is difficult to trust or believe

Usually a narrator who lies, is delusional, or
mentally ill.

He/she gives the reader inaccurate or
incomplete information

“Tell-Tale Heart”
Point of View

Point of view – who is telling the story?

1st Person – the narrator is a character in the story and
tells it from his/her point of view. Uses “I” or “me” when
telling the story.

3rd Person – the unbiased narrator tells the story as an
observer and uses “he,” “she,” and “they” to tell the
story

3rd Person Omniscient – the narrator can see the
thoughts and feelings of multiple characters and shares
them with the reader – still uses “he,” “she,” and “they.”
Foreshadowing

The use of hints or clues to indicate events and
situations that will occur later in the plot
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Spooky music

Thunder and lightning

A new suspicious character introduced where their
purpose is unknown
“Do not step off the path!”
Theme

A message or observation about life that a
writer is trying to get across to the reader.

A theme is a complete sentence and must apply
to the story as well as to life in general

A good way to find the theme is to ask yourself
“What does the main character learn?”
Examples:
 Sometimes we must sacrifice something valuable
to save someone we love.
 Money does not guarantee happiness.
 Love is the worthiest of pursuits.

Mood
 The
emotions that you feel when you are
reading – may make you feel sad, joyful, or
angry. (normally a story has ONE mood)
 Created
 Types
by the author’s words and images
of mood: scary, romantic, violent,
hopeful, mysterious, joyful…
Describe the MOOD
Describe the MOOD
Describe the MOOD
Describe the MOOD
Describe
the MOOD
Tone
 The
speaker’s and o/r narrator’s attitude
toward the subject.
 The
way that written words might be said.
Examples – sarcastic, hateful, witty, angry
 Tone
 The
can change a lot throughout a story
author’s attitude about the subjects
and characters he or she is writing about.
Words that describe tone
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Amused
Humorous
Pessimistic
Angry
Informal
Playful
Cheerful
Ironic
Witty
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Horrifying
Light
Sad
Serious
Formal
Suspicious
Gloomy
Optimistic
Examples of Tone
 Sincere,
insulting, or sarcastic?

She gave me one look and said with a short
laugh, “Yeah, right! Nice Outfit!”

She looked at me and exclaimed with a
smile, “Wow! Nice outfit!”
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She looked at me incredulously and said,
“Eww! Nice outfit!”
Irony

Three types
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Situational irony - when there is a contrast
between what a reader or character expects to
happen and what actually happens.
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Verbal irony – saying one thing, but meaning
something else (knowingly exaggerating or
sarcasm)

Dramatic irony – where the audience or reader
knows something another character does not
Situational Irony
Situational Irony
Situational Irony
Situational Irony
 When
John Hinckley attempted to
assassinate President Ronald Reagan, all
of his shots initially missed the President;
however a bullet ricocheted off the
bullet-proof windows of the Presidential
limousine and struck Reagan in the chest.
Thus, the windows made to protect the
President from gunfire were partially
responsible for his being shot.
Verbal Irony
 “It
looks like you put a lot of thought into
your outfit. Thanks for dressing up.”
Verbal Irony

“Thanks so much!” said the man to the driver
of the car.
Verbal Irony
 Teacher
– “I can see by the F on this
assignment that you put a lot of effort into
this assignment.”
 “Isn’t
it so nice and warm in here?” asked
the teacher, pointing to the broken
heater.
Dramatic Irony
STEVE
BOB
 Although
we the audience know Bob is in danger of
being shot by Steve, poor Bob does not Steve is
around the corner.
Dramatic Irony
Nobody can tell that Clark Kent and Superman
are the same person. The cape and lack of
glasses change his identity.
Dramatic Irony
 In
Titanic, we know that the ocean liner is
going to hit an iceberg and sink, but the
passengers and the crew cannot know
this.
Symbol
A
person, place, thing, or event that
stands for itself and for something beyond
itself as well
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Examples:
The American flag symbolizes freedom,
liberty, and love for America.
A wedding ring symbolizes ______________.
A white flag symbolizes _______________.
Symbols in Literature
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Dove = peace
Eagle = freedom,
liberty and strength
Spring = youth,
rebirth, birth, life
Autumn = middle
age, maturity
Winter = death,
dying, old age
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Water = birth,
renewal, purification
Rose = love, beauty
Sunrise = new start,
beginning
Full moon = danger,
bizarre behavior
Sleep = death
Skull = death
Symbols in Literature
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Forrest = challenge,
testing
Light = good, hope,
freedom
Darkness = evil,
magic, fear,
unknown
Red = anger, passion
Blue = happiness,
sadness, peaceful
Green = jealousy,
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wealth, money
Black = death, evil,
sin
White = purity,
innocence
Brown = earth, the
outdoors
Orange = energy,
warmth
Purple =royalty,
wisdom