Literary Elements

Short Story Terms

Plot

Series of events that make up a story.

The Plot TriangleA tool to organize a story.

The Plot Triangle

#1#2

#4 #

5

#3

#1 Exposition: The Intro

Background information that is shared at the beginning of the story.

#2 Rising Action: The ProblemEvents that occur leading up to the highest point of tension in the story.

#3 Climax: The Turning Point The highest point of tension in the story.

#4 Falling Action: Solving!The conflict is in process of being solved or dealt with; the events leading to the ending.

#5 Resolution: THE ENDThe conclusion; the part of the story when everything is wrapped up.

The Plot Triangle

Expositio

n

RisingAction

ClimaxFallingAction Re

solu

tio

n

Protagonist: The Main GuyThe person the story revolves around.

Protagonist

Antagonist: The OpponentThe one in conflict with the protagonist.

Antagonist

Point of View

The point from which the writer is telling the story.

1st Person POV

One character is telling the story from their point of view; using “I” and “me”; we get to know the character’s thoughts and feelings well.

3rd Person Limited POV

The narrator, who plays no part in the story, but zooms in on the thoughts and feelings of just one character in the story.

Omniscient Narrator The “all-knowing” narrator; the person telling the story knows everything there is to know about the characters and their problems.

Irony

Contrast between expectation and what actually happens.

Dramatic Irony

When the reader knows something important that the character does not.

Situational Irony

Contrast between what we expect to happen and what really happens.

Verbal Irony

When you say one thing, but mean another; sarcasm.

I love waking up early on Monday mornings. #stuffno1says

Symbol

Person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and for something beyond itself as well.

Symbols

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces.

Internal Conflict

A struggle that occurs within the character. This often has to do with morals.

External ConflictA struggle that occurs between the character and some outside source. This source may be another character, nature, or some element of society, such as political views.

Inference

A conclusion using prior knowledge and personal connections.

Characterization

Details used to describe the character’s personality and appearance.

Figurative LanguageExpressions that emphasize

imaginative language.METAPHOR

SIMILEPERSONIFICATION

MetaphorComparison between two

unlike things.Example:

sea of griefgreen with envy

SimileComparison between two

unlike things using like or as.Example:

hungry as a horsebright like a flashlight

Personification

Giving human qualities to something that is not

human.

Example

ImageryUsing language that

appeals to the senses.VISUAL

AURAL

OLFACTORY

TACTILE

GUSTATORY

Tone

Speaker’s attitude!

Mood

Emotional effect that the text creates for the

audience.

Suspensea state or feeling of excited

or anxious uncertainty about what may happen

OnomatopoeiaWord that imitates sound.

BUZZ…

.

BOOM!