Short Story Unit Literary Terms Ms. Mo LC I OCSA

IRONY the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. 1.VERBAL 2.SITUATIONAL 3.DRAMATIC

VERBAL IRONY 1.VERBAL: the use of vocabulary to describe something in a way that is other than it seems. Often, but not always, verbal irony is used with a sarcastic tone or nature. Verbal irony is often a comment that conveys a different meaning than what it may seem to be. As pleasant as surgery Saying “Oh, fantastic!” when the situation is actually very poor As calm as a dog in heat One got in a car accident and said “Lucky me!” Students exclaim, “More! We want more homework!!” Ms. Mo and articipants, in a boot camp class, are asked to reply, “Thank you, sir! May we have another?” after completing each set of sit-ups, push-ups, and other delightful body sculpting drills.

SITUATIONAL IRONY 2.SITUATIONAL: the outcome of a situation is opposite of what one expects – What is ironic about this scene below? – What is ironic in situation about “The Story of An Hour”?

IRONY 3. DRAMATIC: when the reader/audience is aware of something that the characters are not. – Think of your typical scary movie…can you think of additional examples? – How is the resolution an example of dramatic irony and NOT verbal irony?

TONE The author’s attitude towards a subject given their word choice. Pay attention to the connotation of the words.

TONE 1.informal 2.light, humorous, comic 3.personal, subjective 4.casual, offhanded 5.impassioned "loose,“ 6.Rambunctious, zany 7.Experimental 8.plainspoken, simple 1.formal 2.serious, grave 3.Objective 4.reasoned, reasonable 5.impersonal 6.Controlled 7.Reserved 8.ornate, elaborate

MOOD Mood is what the reader feels while reading a scene or story. It’s not the reader’s emotions, but the atmosphere (the vibe) of a scene or story. It’s what the reader reads or feels or notices. Not all readers would necessarily report the same mood from a scene, although the writer does hope to achieve a particular feel common to every reader. Mood can be expressed in terms such as dark, light, rushed, suspenseful, heavy, lighthearted, chaotic, and laid-back.

MOOD Mood is what the reader feels while reading a scene or story. It’s not the reader’s emotions, but the atmosphere (the vibe) of a scene or story. It’s what the reader reads or feels or notices. Not all readers would necessarily report the same mood from a scene, although the writer does hope to achieve a particular feel common to every reader. Mood can be expressed in terms such as dark, light, rushed, suspenseful, heavy, lighthearted, chaotic, and laid-back.

How do I discern the MOOD? Pay attention to the words describing the setting, the location, the atmosphere. – “It was a dark and rainy night..” – Snoopy’s famous hook

How do I discern the MOOD? The mood of each scene can differ from that of the scene before, yet, as the story approaches the climax, the intensity levels should change. Readers should feel that story events are coming to a head. While there should be several points in a story at which the mood darkens or grows more menacing or more comical, readers should feel a bigger change as the story heads to its conclusion. (This feel of events rushing toward a conclusion can also be directed by pace, by a reduced emphasis on general setting details, by to-the-point dialogue, and several other factors. Mood is just one element that pulls the reader toward the story’s end.)

Tone vs. Mood? One good way to see mood (and, to a degree, tone) in action is through genre-crossing movie trailers. In film editing classes throughout the States, a common assignment is to take an existing film (say, a comedy) and create a film preview that presents the film as a different genre (for example, a horror film). This is accomplished through editing and splicing scenes, adding new, anxiety-producing music and sound effects, and adding a new voice-over introduction. Dumb and Dumber was turned into a horror film, Lurk and Lurker: Dumb and Dumber (Horror)Dumb and Dumber (Horror) The Shining was transformed from horror film into a feel- good romantic comedy: The Shining (Feel-Good/Romantic Comedy)The Shining (Feel-Good/Romantic Comedy)