Literary Terms for Short Story Unit

Where and when the story takes place

• setting

• flashback

• suspense

• theme

perception about life or human nature that a writer shares with a reader

• theme

• plot

• symbol

• flashback

attitude a writer takes toward a subject

• tone

• style

• mood

• theme

the way a piece of literature is written; not "what" is said, but "how" it is said

• style

• tone

• mood

• theme

the feeling or atmosphere a writer creates for a reader

• mood

• style

• tone

• plot

person, place, activity or idea that stands for something else

• symbol

• theme

• style

• setting

sequence of events in a story

• plot

• tone

• theme

• flashback

a character that changes as a plot unfolds

• dynamic character

• static character

• changeling

• switching character

a contrast between what is said and what is meant (sort of like sarcasm)

• verbal irony

• tone irony

• situational irony

• style irony

a first person narrator who can't be "trusted" to tell the story accurately

• unreliable narrator

• lying narrator

• immature narrator

• unknowing narrator