English 11-Short Story Terms

Front 1

Allegory

Back 1

A story in which the plot/characters have symbolic meaning to a parallel, often real/story/event.

Ex/ Animal farm- a novel with parallel events to Russian history

Front 2

Allusion

Back 2

Refernce to a historical/mythical/biblical/important person or event.
Ex/ his backyard was like Eden.

Front 3

antagonist

Back 3

Character/ force apposing protagonist

Front 4

anti-climax

Back 4

a 'false-ending' in which a slow build to a climax occurs, only to be defused by something less serious or comical (a 'letdown')

Front 5

antithesis

Back 5

a contrast or opposite.

Front 6

catastrophe

Back 6

tragic conclusion of a story, play.
Ex/ ending of 'Romeo and Juliet'

Front 7

character

Back 7

a person (usually) presented in a story through dialogue, thoughts and actions.
-Focus on
1.traits
2.inner hidden traits.
3.change

Front 8

character facade

Back 8

a 'false front' put on by a character to hide his/her inner true self.

Front 9

characterization

Back 9

method used by author to present/describe characters, including descriptions, dialogue, and actions.

Front 10

character foil

Back 10

a character placed beside protagonist to show contrast (differences)
Ex/ In that 70's show, Eric (protag.) and Donna (foil)

Front 11

climax

Back 11

high point of emotion/intensity/action in a story

Front 12

conflict

Back 12

struggle between opposing forces.
1.character vs character.
2. character with inner conflict.
3. character vs environment/ situation.

Front 13

denouement

Back 13

final 'scene' where conflict unravels/ is resolved AKA 'resolution'

Front 14

dialogue

Back 14

conversation between two characters

Front 15

dilemma

Back 15

a difficult conclusion between two undesirable options

Front 16

direct presentation

Back 16

author describes characters appearance/ traits directly through descriptive details.

Front 17

dramatic irony

Back 17

when the reader/audience knows something the character doesn't
ex/ (horror movie irony)

Front 18

dynamic character

Back 18

a character who changes in outlook/ opinion in a story due to realization/ epiphany

Front 19

epiphany

Back 19

a moment of realization ('light bulb moment') regarding something significant.

Front 20

external conflict

Back 20

struggle between a character and an outside force or character.

Front 21

fable

Back 21

a story involving (usually) animals with human qualities (thought, speech) that illustrates a moral or lesson.
ex/ fox and crow

Front 22

falling action

Back 22

even occurring after climax

Front 23

first person point-of-view

Back 23

narrator is a character *in* the story (usually protagonist) (I, ME, MY, etc.)

Front 24

flashback

Back 24

when setting/ action reverts to an earlier time, often to give background info to character, plot, etc.

Front 25

flat character

Back 25

a character with only one apparent quality/ often a minor character
ex/ neighbour, cashier, etc.

Front 26

foreshadowing

Back 26

an early hint in a story of a future event.

Front 27

genre

Back 27

type/ category of story (fantasy, science fiction, romance.)

Front 28

hero

Back 28

in classical literature: a character of great strength/ courage... risks life for others.
modern: an ordinary, flawed person in a difficult situation who manages to prevail.

Front 29

intermediate ending

Back 29

an ending that is unresolved/ reader is unsure of outcome.

Front 30

indirect presentation

Back 30

author reveals character by actions and dialogue, not direct description,

Front 31

internal conflict

Back 31

conflict within a character (dilemma, etc)

Front 32

irony

Back 32

a difference between appearance and reality (things many not be as they appear)

Front 33

legend

Back 33

classical literature: a story passed down through time.
the story may have originated in a true event, but it may have been embellished/ changed overtime.

Front 34

limited omniscient point-of-view

Back 34

outside narrator revealing only one characters thoughts/feelings (usually protagonist)
(same term for third person point-of-view)

Front 35

mood

Back 35

emotional atmosphere story
ex/ somber, tense, honest.

Front 36

myth

Back 36

a story developed by a culture to 'explain the unexplainable'
ex/ origins of humankind, the universe, etc.

Front 37

narrator

Back 37

a person either inside or outside the story telling the story's events

Front 38

objective point-of-view

Back 38

outside narrator
detached, unemotional, reports facts only.

Front 39

omniscient point-of-view

Back 39

an "all-knowing" narrator revealing many or all characters thoughts/ feelings.

Front 40

parody

Back 40

also called 'spoof' this style pokes fun, *not* to ridicule/ critisize, but for entertainment/ praise.
ex/ Family Guy's parody of starwars.

Front 41

plot

Back 41

organizations of events/ incidents of a story.

Front 42

point-of-view

Back 42

perspective from which story is told

Front 43

prologue

Back 43

in classical literature and plays: a section before story/ play to introduce the section OR "set the scene"

Front 44

protagonist

Back 44

main character

Front 45

resolution

Back 45

final 'scene' where conflict unravels/ is resolved
AKA (denouement)

Front 46

rising action

Back 46

events/ build up before climax

Front 47

round character

Back 47

has many traits/ qualities, is very complex

Front 48

setting

Back 48

time, place, era or story

Front 49

situation irony

Back 49

a twist at the end, when a story turns out differently than expected.

Front 50

sarcasm

Back 50

a *tone of voice* used when using verbal irony (saying one thing, meaning another)
ex/ yeah, I *really* want to go to the dentist

Front 51

satire

Back 51

type of humour poking fun at an aspect of or group in society
ex/ politicians: to criticize/suggest change.

Front 52

static character

Back 52

one who does not change in outlook/ beliefs by end of story.

Front 53

stereotype character

Back 53

predictable behaviours- they fit a 'type'
ex/ corrupt politician, bumbling police officer, damsel in distress.

Front 54

surprise ending

Back 54

unexpected outcome

Front 55

suspense

Back 55

a feeling of tension in a reader, who is unaware what will happen next

Front 56

symbol

Back 56

An object, place or idea that represents a more abstract concept.
-author uses symbols in stories to add deeper meaning and as a link.
ex/ a setting sun in a story can symbolize death, the end of something, and sense of fatality.

Front 57

theme

Back 57

-central message/ point-of-view
-often '*universal*' applying to all cultures, etc.

Front 58

third person point-of-view

Back 58

outside narrator revealing only one characters thoughts/ feelings (usually protagonist)
(same as limited omniscient point-of-view)

Front 59

understatement

Back 59

when a matter is made to seem less important/ significant than it actually is.
ex/ Madonna has made a few bucks.

Front 60

verbal irony

Back 60

difference between what is said and what is mean.
true meaning is only solubly implied.