Short Story Vocab Terms

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

• allusion

• anecdote

• allegory

• exposition

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

• allusion

• climax

• anecdote

• diction

a brief story about an amusing or strange event

• genre

• foreshadowing

• allusion

• anecdote

a person in a novel, play, or movie.

• flat character

• character

• round character

• dynamic character

characters that are two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work

• flat character

• dynamic character

• static character

• round character

is a significant player who is often the star of the story. This type of character encounters conflict and is changed by it.

• dynamic character

• static character

• round character

• flat character

a type of character who remains largely the same throughout the course of the storyline.

• dynamic character

• flat character

• characterization

• static character

a literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude

• round character

• character

• dynamic character

• indirect characterization

the creation or construction of a fictional character.

• characterization

• indirect characterization

• round character

• direct characterization

when an author states or describes a character

• indirect characterization

• foreshadowing

• characterization

• direct characterization