1. Literary Terms
Short Stories

2. Plot
A series of related events that take the reader from a problem to a solution
Includes exposition, narrative hooks, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

3. Exposition Presents characters, situation, and conflict.
Gives important information, such as setting and details to give context to the story.

4. Narrative Hook
The part of the story that draws on our interest and makes us want to read more

5. Rising Action Includes all of the events leading up to the climax.
Creates tension and demonstrates mounting conflict.

6. Climax The highest point of interest in the story.
Marks the turning point of the events; reader is able to predict how story might end.
Signifies a change of action in the story.

7. Falling Action
Includes all of the actions or events that are a direct result of the climax
Begins pointing to the resolution; sets up the ending of the conflict.

8. Resolution Contains events to show that conflicts have been resolved
Provides closure for the story

9. Setting The time and place of a story
It can reveal important background as well

10. Protagonist
The main character facing or battling a conflict

11. Antagonist The source of the conflict
The antagonist may not always be human (animal, person, weather, situation, etc)

12. Conflict The main source of tension in a story
External Conflict: when the conflict occurs outside the character
Internal Conflict: When the tension or conflict is within a character (mental or emotional)

13. Dialogue
Conversation between characters or within a character’s head.

14. Theme
The central message or point that the author tries to make in the story.
Essentially, it is what the author hopes the reader will learn
Do not confuse this with a topic--a topic is a “subject”--a theme gives it deeper meaning

15. Symbol
People, places, or things that stand for themselves and something else.

16. Point of View The perspective from which a story is told.
First Person: narrator is included in action; I, me, my, we, us, our
Third Person: Narrator is an observer; he, she, his, her, it, its, they, their
Third Person Omniscient: An all-knowing, god-like narrator
Third Person Limited: Narrator only knows thoughts and feelings of one character