Short Story Test Vocabulary

Front 1

round character

Back 1

complex and many sided

requires an essay for full analysis

Front 2

flat character

Back 2

has only one or two traits

can be summed up in one or two sentences

Front 3

dynamic character

Back 3

character undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of their character, personality or outlook

Front 4

static character

Back 4

character is the same sort of person at the end of the story as they are at the beginning

Front 5

stock character

Back 5

the stereotyped figure who has occurred so often in fiction that their character is immediately known

Front 6

first person point of view

Back 6

protagonist tells own story

refers to themselves as "I"

knows only own thoughts and feelings

Front 7

characterization

Back 7

identifying the character traits (personality) of a character

Front 8

dilemma

Back 8

a character must make a difficult choice between two undesirable alternatives

Front 9

literal language

Back 9

what you see is what you get

Front 10

figurative language

Back 10

what you say has greater meaning than what lies on the surface

symbol, simile, metaphor, hyperbole and personification are commonly used figures of speech

Front 11

metaphor

Back 11

a direct comparison of two normally uncompared things

one thing is said to be the other

a subtle comparison is used to concisely create a vivid image

Front 12

extended metaphor

Back 12

a metaphor that extends over two or more lines

Front 13

imagery

Back 13

descriptive images that are primarily visual but can appeal to other senses as well: touch,taste smell and hearing

can be literal or use other figurative devices to help create the image

to create an exceptionally vivid pictures in the reader's mind

Front 14

3rd Person Limited Omniscient

Back 14

narrator is "outside" the story

refers to all characters as "he" or "she"

only knows thoughts and feelings of main character being followed

Front 15

atmosphere (mood)

Back 15

the prevailing feeling that is created in a story

set up reader's expectations about ending or outcome of plot

Front 16

theme

Back 16

central idea of the story

implied rather than stated

all of the story elements interact to create and reinforce the theme

Front 17

dramatic irony

Back 17

the author shares with the reader information not known by a character

the reader becomes aware that a character's actions may be inappropriate for the actual circumstances, that what is to come is the reverse of what the character expects

Front 18

surprise ending

Back 18

a sudden twist in the direction of a story

produces a conclusion which surprises the reader and often the story's characters

Front 19

science fiction

Back 19

speculates about the effect of technology, science and the future on human beings

can be escapist or interpretive fiction

Front 20

contrast

Back 20

mixing of situations, characters, settings, moods or points of view in order to clarify meaning, purpose or character or to heighten certain moods

Front 21

tone

Back 21

an author's feeling or opinion about a subject

identified through writing devices and word choice used

one piece may display multiple attitudes

Front 22

symbol

Back 22

a word that stands for something else

to suggest or evoke meanings rather than state them directly

Front 23

allusion

Back 23

reference to someone, something or someplace famous

adds to the depth of meaning of a story since it reminds the reader of an entire story in a minimum amount of words

Front 24

situational irony

Back 24

a set of circumstances turns out differently from what is expected

Front 25

indeterminate ending

Back 25

a story with no clear outcome

Front 26

exposition

Back 26

background information provided by the author to further the plot, conflict, setting and characterization

Front 27

foreshadowing

Back 27

gives a hint of what is to happen later in the story

prepares reader for climax and resolution

Front 28

dialogue

Back 28

conversation between two or more characters in a story

indent and start a new line every time you switch speakers

Front 29

climax

Back 29

major crisis in the story

usually a turning point for the protagonist

Front 30

falling action/conclusion

Back 30

the part of the story following the climax and lasting until the end of the story

Front 31

antihero

Back 31

a protagonist that has none of the qualities normally expected of a hero

often a humorous take-off of the traditional hero

the reader often feels superior to such characters

Front 32

satire

Back 32

the use of irony to ridicule an idea, person or things often to provoke change

usually mocks human vices or foibles

Front 33

hyperbole

Back 33

exaggeration or claim not to be taken seriously

Front 34

simile

Back 34

a comparison made between two normally uncompared things

Front 35

introduction

Back 35

setting (time/place)

characters

mood

Front 36

inciting incident

Back 36

the conflict is revealed (one specific moment/scene)

Front 37

rising action

Back 37

majority of the story

action/emotions/mood intensifies

Front 38

climax

Back 38

most exciting moment of story

moment of highest emotional intensity

turning point for the protagonist

Front 39

conclusion

Back 39

tying up loose ends in the story (extremely short in short stories)