Short Stories - Literary Terms and Devices

a form of logical inference, comparing one familiar item to one that is unfamiliar to explain

a series of connected events that build in tension

the the narrator give instructions to the reader (using "you")

The sky cried benevolent tears to end the melancholy drought.

Is this imagery?  The minuscule blue ball bounce silently down the dimly lit hallway.

When a child is picking up something too heavy and you say, "Careful there, Hercules!"

spoken words

the location, time, and social context of a story

the point in the story at which the main character is no longer struggling against the conflict

when the speaker does not mean literally what they say (you must figure out the meaning)

a comparison between two things that would not normally be compared (not using like or as)

the meaning or message the reader is intended to understand once a work is completed

placement of two words with opposite meanings together to form a new word with a new meaning

descriptive language that appeals to the senses

use of similar or identical language structures, events, or ideas in different parts of a text

I was drowning in a sea of tears.

the reader of a work of literature

giving human characteristics to an object or idea

the feeling at a particular point within the story

when a speaker says less than they actually mean (often to be ironic or humorous)

My love is a red rose.

a well-developed character that the reader knows a lot about

when the narrator does not know everything about everyone in the story

comparison between two things that would not normally be compared, using like or as

This occurs when the outcome is the total opposite of what you would have expected.

Is this foreshadowing?  "Remember, you should never talk to strangers, Little Red Riding Hood!"

Is this a symbol?  Do not go gentle into that GOOD NIGHT.

the point of view in which the narrator give his/her opinions or emotions (judges characters)

describing characters by determining their personality, history, appearance, values, etc.

the beginning situation in the story, including mood, characters, setting, and situation

If a fireman's house burned down or a policeman's house was robbed, this would be an example of

buzz, hiss, creak

used for emphasis in writing

the point of view in which the narrator simply reports, rather then judging (giving opinions)

saying a specific word or phrase multiple times in close proximity

to make a reference to something familiar from the past, often a work of literature

Is this a simile?  My brother is like my best friend.

the way a person speaks based on where he/she lives or a group he/she is a part of

satisfied, ironic, melancholy, nostalgic, and solemn are all examples of this

Is this personification?  The puppy peacefully slept in the chair.

Is this imagery?     The blue ball bounced.

a series of connect events that comprise all of the action in the story

a word that sounds like the sound it is describing

a character that does not change in his/her beliefs through the course of the story

the final situation in the story, including a future prediction for the main character

When I was a child, we were abundantly poor.

who or what the main character struggles against in the story

a character that we know very little about

the reason for the action in a story, expressed as protagonist v antagonist 

when the narrator is NOT a character in the story

a story's main character

a character placed in the story to be the exact opposite of the main character

the resulting actions from the climax

what is happening in the world that affects all the characters in the story (bigger picture)

the speaker in a story

an extreme exaggeration

the feeling a reader is meant to have once a reading is completed

a character that changes his/her beliefs or understanding of the world by the end of the story

a character at the beginning has a characteristic that is repeated later by another character

to indicate or hint at future events without actually stating them

Is this foreshadowing?  Julie will regret her decision later.

point of view in which the narrator is all-knowing

an object or idea that stands for something greater than just itself

I have to have an operation. It isn’t very serious. I just crushed every bone in my hand.

the perspective from which a story is told

I've asked you to clean your room a million times!

Little Johnny is busy as a bee today!

when the narrator is a character in the story