Short Story Literary Terms

Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story.

A complex character who undergoes development, usually to the surprise of the reader.

Set in the past, sometimes borrowing true characteristics of the time period.

Actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended.

Highlight and explanation about the details of a character in a story.

The conflict is centralized around the _________.

Something invented by the imagination or feigned.

Substantial difference between readers' awareness of a character and reality of the situation.

The time and place of a story.

Narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

What is the essential or main problem?

A two-dimensional character; uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work.

A conversation between two or more characters.

An interruption of the chronological sequence of an event of earlier occurrence.

A category of literary composition.

Any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work.

When the resolution of the final plot is revealed.

When the conflict begins to resolve.

Language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or any other group of people.

Perspective showing us the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation.

Psychological struggle within the inner self.

A person who tells a story.

The story is narrated by one character at a time.

A character or a group of characters which stand in opposition to the main character.

An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience.

Struggle caused by an outside force.

Intended goal of the author.

An object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning.

Language and description that appeals to our five senses.

Intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events.

Conveyed message or lesson learned.

Uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.

The events that make up a story or the main part of a story.

When a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.

The most intense point in the development of the plot.

A character who undergoes little or no change.

When the conflict is resolved.

Introduction of the setting, characters, conflict, and background information.

Feelings or emotions evoked by the atmosphere.

A character who undergoes an important inner change.

A character who serves to highlight one or more attributes of another character.

Portrayal of a difference in the intended meaning and the actual meaning of the words.

When is the suspense evoked?

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of significance.

Few characters aim at unity of effect, often concentrating on mood rather than plot.

Central topic of a story.

A plot twist occurring near or at the conclusion of a story.