Short Story Cheat Sheet!

Plot

ework of the story). It is usually made up of a series of key incidents or events. They make up the action of the story which moves toward a climax.

Introduction

A part of the story that that gives the background necessary for understanding the events that will occur. Introduces the characters and helps you to better understand them.

Climax

The middle of the story. It has the greatest moment of excitment or suspense. It is usually the turning point of the story.

Falling Action

Comes after the Climax, it shows the reader how the conflict is resolved.

Resolution

The problem of the story is fixed (the resolution of the conflict.)

conflict

The disagrement of two forces.

Protagonist

Ther hero or central character (main character.)

Antagonist

The main oppnent of the protagonist; another person, society, forces of nature, or the protagonist's inner sturggle.

Foreshadowing

A hint that prepares the reader for what is about to happen or later in the story.

Style

Style is the writting style the author uses in the story.

Diction

The author's choice of words. Like a dictionary.

Tone

The authro's attitude toward his or her own material.

Figurative

Language that uses literary devieces to achieve special effects.

Simile

A comparison made between to different phrases or wordsusing the words like or as.

Metaphor

A figure of speach in which two unlike things are compared, but like or as are not used.

Personification

Something nonhuman is given human qualities.

Irony

A way of writting that depends on the argument between the apperent and the real.

Symbolism

A person,place, event, or object that represents something eles.

Dialogue

Conversation between two or more characters.

Imagery

The use of vivid, realalistive deatails. Almost like painting a picture in your mind.

Point of View

Point of view is a method of narration. It shows the relation between the narrator and the characters and events of the story.

First Persons

A character within the story who is the narrator and relates the evetns as if she or he were the protagonist or an minor character. Speaks in the first person: I, me, my, ours, us, we.

Second Person

The author tellls the story, but so do you. The author wrote how it ended and began, but in between you pick how the stouy goes. Like a choose your own adventure books.

Third Person Omniscient

The author acts as the narrator and tells the reader what everyone in the story is feeling and thinking. But the author still tells what is going on in the story. Omniscient means all knowing. Speaks in thrid person: He, she, they, his, theirs.

Third Person Limited

The author tell the storyin third person but tell it from the viewpoint of one character in the story. The narrator only knows the view point of one character. Speaks in third person: He, she, they , his , theirs.

Theme

The theme is the message of the story that can be true for more than just the characters in the story. THe theme is written in one sentence. THe authors universal message to all readers.

Conflict

conflict is the struggle between a character and an opposing force. Conflict is in the story to advance the plot, reveal character and teach the moral of the story.

Person vs Self

The character has a problem that only she or he can solve necasue the dilemma is witin herself or hiself.

Person vs Person

The character has conflict with one or more other characters.

Person vs Nature

The character struggles with some element of nature.

Person vs Society

The character opposes a larger group of people or society at large.

Person vs Supernatural

The character has a conflict with a supernatrbeing or experirience.

Characters

Characters are people in the story

Flat

A chracter who can be described in one sentence and has only one or two traits.

Round

A fully developed character; one who has many traits and also has flaws and strenghts.

Static

a character who does not change throughout the story and learns nothing.

Dynamic

a character who does change throughout the story and learns a lesson, changes thinking.

Time

Year, month, season, time of day, decade, political/cultural time.

Place

country, city/town, indoors/outdoors, building, home.

Mood

parts of a sort story that show the emotional feelings of the story (weath, music, description of places.)