Short Story Literary Devices

Plot is defined as...

• the time (including historical context) and place/location of a story.

• the chief opponent of the main character.

• the series of events in a story (first, then, next, last).

• the struggle between opposing forces.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

Verbal irony is defined as...

• when something is said, but the opposite is meant; sarcasm is one example.

• when the reader knows something crucial that the characters do not; leads to a surprising twist.

• the main character in the story -- the "good guy".

• hints or clues about future events in a story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.5

1st person point of view (POV) is...

• when the reader knows something crucial that the characters do not; often leads to a surprising twist.

• when the actual (plot) outcome is the opposite of the expected outcome.

• when the narrator is not involved in the story; tells the story from outside of the story.

• when the narrator is involved in the story and uses pronouns such as "I" and "me" and "we" and "my."

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

3rd person point of view (POV) is...

• when the narrator is not part of the story.

• when the narrator is part of the story.

• the series of events in the story.

• hints or clues about future events in a story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

Setting is defined as...

• the chief opponent of the main character.

• the struggle between opposing forces.

• an object that represents a broader, hard-to-define idea.

• the time (including historical context) and place in which a story takes place.

Characterization is defined as...

• the description of the character's traits including speech, thoughts, actions, effect on others, and looks.

• the main idea or message of a story; it is a true message regardless of time.

• hints or clues about future events in a story.

• the chief opponent of the main character.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The protagonist of a story is...

• the author's use of descriptive language to activate a reader's five senses.

• the series of events in a story.

• when an object represents a broad, hard-to-define idea.

• the main character in the story -- the "good guy."

The antagonist of a story is...

• the chief opponent of the main character -- the "bad guy."

• when the actual (plot) outcome is the opposite of what was expected to happen.

• the main character in a story -- the "good guy."

• the time and place in which a story takes place.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Conflict is defined as...

• when the reader knows something crucial that the characters do not know, often leading to a shocking outcome.

• the time and place in which a story takes place.

• the struggle between opposing forces.

• when the narrator is not part of the story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The author's use of descriptive language to activate the reader's five senses is the definition for...

• situational irony.

• imagery.

• verbal irony.

• theme.

Tags

CCSS.W.9-10.3D