Short Story Terminology

1. Setting—The time, place, climate and era in which the events in a narrative occur.

2. Characterization—the process by which a writer creates a character.

➢ Direct characterization—when the writer tells us explicitly about the character’s
nature and motivation.
➢ Indirect characterization—when the writer shows a character acting and being
acted upon, so that the reader can infer the character’s nature and motivation.
➢ Dynamic character—a character who undergoes a significant psychological
change over the course of the narrative.
➢ Round character (or realistic character)—a believably human character, one
who is seen to be as complex and consistently real as any person in actual life.
➢ Static character—a character who does not undergo a significant psychological
change over the course of a narrative.
➢ Flat character—a character that is not well-developed (the opposite of a round
character).
➢ Stock character—a stereotypical character, a standard and easily recognized
functionary in the action of a narrative.

3. Symbol—an object, person, situation, action or some other item which has a literal
meaning in the story, but which suggests or represents other meanings as well. It is
usually something concrete standing for something abstract.

4. Point of view
➢ Omniscient—uses the third person. The author is all-knowing; she or he may tell
us what the characters are thinking or feeling, interpret their behaviour, and
comment on the story’s significance.
➢ Limited omniscient—uses the third person, but the story is told from the
viewpoint of only some characters or only one character in the story. The author
may tell us what these particular characters see, hear, think and feel, but does not
do this for all characters.
➢ First person—the author tells the story from the point of view of one person.
Pronouns such as “I,” “me,” “we,” and “us” are used.
➢ Objective—the author records what is seen and heard, but does not comment,
interpret or enter into a character’s mind.

5. Plot—the sequence of events of which a story is composed.

➢ Exposition—establishes a story’s characters and their dispositions, and reveals
the story’s setting and general situation.
➢ Initial incident—the incident in the story that starts the conflict.
➢ Rising action—a series of incidents that raises the level of conflict in a story, thus
increasing tension.
➢ Climax—the point of the story where the conflict reaches its highest point.
➢ Falling action—just after the climax, but before the resolution.
 ➢ Resolution (or dénouement)—the point in the story where the conflict is
resolved.
➢ Conclusion—establishes the general mood and situation at the end of the story.

6. Conflict—a struggle between opposing forces which provides interest and suspense.
➢ Person vs. person—a person is in conflict with another person (or group of
people).
➢ Person vs. self—a person is in conflict with herself or himself (sometimes
referred to as an “internal conflict.”
➢ Person vs. environment—a person is in conflict with nature or an aspect of
society.
➢ Person vs. supernatural—a person is in conflict with a special or unusual power
or force.

7. Mood—the dominant feeling of a work. Mood is often developed through

descriptions of settings.

8. Tone—the implied attitude of the writer or persona toward his subject matter or
audience.

9. Theme—the main message imparted by a text. In other words, what the writer is
trying to express through her or his work.

10. Foreshadowing—the careful inclusion by an author of hints or clues about what is

yet to come in a story.

11. Flashback—the setting of the story suddenly jumps back in time. The story then
usually resumes at its previous point.

12. Protagonist—the character the story follows most closely.

13. Antagonist—the force (often a person) that creates obstacles for the protagonist.