Short Story Unit

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Short Story Unit
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Genre

• A category of literature
• Example short story, poetry, or drama

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Short Story Definition

• a fictional, prose, narrative of 12,000 words or
  less
• Fictional not true
• Prose written in sentences and paragraphs
• Narrative tells a story

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Plot

• The sequence of events (action) in a narrative
• Plotline Model

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Flashbacks and Foreshadowing

• Flashback A scene that interrupts the action of
  a story to tell about events that happened at an
  earlier time
• Example In the Lion King, during Simbas fight
  with Scar, Simba is hanging over the edge of the
  cliff and the movie uses a flashback to revert
  to the scene where Mufasa was hanging in a
  similar way.

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Flashbacks and Foreshadowing

• Foreshadowing- Clues that hint at actions that
  are to follow in the story
• Example Horror movies any time a blonde
  screams at the beginning, shell be dead before
  the end of movie

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Figures of Speech

• literary devices used by an author
• simile- A comparison between two unlike things
  using like or as.
• Example You eat like a pig.
• metaphor- A comparison between two unlike things
  without using like or as.
• Example Youre such a pig.

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Figures of Speech

• imagery- language that appeals to the five
  senses-taste, touch, sight, smell, hearing
• Example mouth-watering chocolate slick and
  glistening streets

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Figures of Speech

• irony- A contrast between what is stated and what
  is really meant, or between what is expected to
  happen and what actually happens
• Example Calling a 66 guy shorty /
• A guy gives up drinking, then hes killed when a
  beer truck hits him.

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Theme

• the message or messages the author is trying to
  show the reader

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Point of View

• the position from which the story is told to the
  reader
• First person- the narrator is a character in the
  story
• Innocent eye- 1st person- when the narrator is a
  child in the story
• Example The Wonder Years A Christmas Story
  Malcolm in the Middle

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Point of View

• Third person- the narrator is outside the story
• Omniscient- all knowing the narrator is outside
  the story and tells the reader everything
• Example The beginning of Beauty and the Beast
  starts with a hand opening a book and stating,
  Once upon a time
• Limited Omniscient- narrator tells most of the
  story

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Types of Conflict

• Internal- a person is in conflict within himself
  (character vs. self)
• Example Simbas inner struggle to get over his
  guilt and decide whether or not to face his past
  by returning to the pride.

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Types of Conflict

• External- conflict arises from the outside
• character vs. character- conflict between two
  characters
• Example Simba versus Scar
• character vs. nature- conflict between character
  and nature
• Example Survivor The Amazing Race

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Types of Conflict

• character vs. society- conflict between
  character and society
• Example In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast
  struggles to fit into society despite his looks.
• character vs. supernatural- conflict between
  ghosts, etc
• Example Aliens Terminator

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Character Types

• static- Characters personality does not change
  throughout the story
• Example Throughout the movie, Finding Nemo,
  Nemo remains courageous and adventurous.

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Character Types

• dynamic- Character undergoes a change in attitude
  or personality
• Example In Finding Nemo, Marlin (Nemos dad)
  changes as he learns to not let fear control his
  life.

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Character Types

• stereotype- the character represents an entire
  group of people
• Example The show/movie Clueless has the ditzy
  blonde stereotype.

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Characterization

• the way the author presents the character to the
  reader
• direct-the author states in the text what the
  character is like
• Example Henry is not intelligent.

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Characterization

• indirect- the character states what he or she is
  feeling
• Example Boy, Henry youre not too smart.
• inferred- the reader has to arrive at the
  conclusion by interpreting the characters
  actions
• Example Henry forgot to do his homework every
  day.

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Aspects of A Character

• physical- characteristics such as height, weight,
  hair, and eye color
• Example Belle from Beauty and the Beast has
  brown hair, thin, dainty-like
• psychological-what is going on in the characters
  mind and how he thinks, acts, and behaves
• Example Belle is smart, kind, compassionate,
  open-minded

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Aspects of A Character

• sociological- where a character actually fits
  into society
• Example Beast from Beauty and the Beast is
  ostracized/shunned by society because of his
  looks

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Aspects of A Character

• PROTAGONIST- Central character in a work of
  literature (not necessarily a hero or good guy)
  
• Example Simba
• ANTAGONIST- Character who opposes the protagonist
  
• Example Scar

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Levels of Understanding

• literal level- what the story is about- the plot
  line/surface level
• interpretative level- the authors
• message(s) and understanding
• applied level- how do those messages apply to
  your own personal life and to our society

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Tone and Atmosphere

• Tone- the authors attitude toward his subject
• Atmosphere- mood
• Example scary, happy, sad, etc.

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World Views

• How the author feels toward life and existence
• Romantic- positive good, capable of change,
  happy endings, etc (Disney)

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World Views

• Realistic- no emotions, facts only, no good or
  bad (Newspaper)
• Naturalistic- negative, people are not good man
  is trapped in a mechanized society and cant help
  himself

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Epiphany

• a sudden understanding of something you didnt
  understand before (AHA! Moment)