Short Story and Literary Terms Vocabulary Foldable
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Internal Conflict
This word describes the main
character (USUALLY the “good
guy”).
This word describes the characters
or forces that work against the
main character.
This word describes the time and
place of the story
I’m a good person
I’m against you!
+
This word describes things that
happen within the character
man vs himself
Did I do the right thing?
External Conflict
man vs man
This word describes the conflict
between man and man.
External Conflict
man vs nature
This term describes the conflict
between man and nature.
External Conflict
man vs society
This term describes the
conflict between man and
society.
External Conflict
man vs technology
This term describes the
conflict between man and
technology.
External Conflict
man vs supernatural
Suspense
Foreshadowing
The conflict is between man
and supernatural beings or
experiences.
This is a feeling of tense
excitement about how the will end.
This word describes hints or clues
about what will happen later in the
story.
Flashback
This term describe a person
remembering past events.
Static
Character
This term describes a character
who is stuck and stays the
same throughout the story.
Dynamic Character
Flat Character
This term describes a character
who grows, changes, or
matures over the course of the
story.
This term describes a character
not fully developed and shows
one character trait.
Character remains stuck not
able to change
Round Character
This term describes a character
who is fully developed and
shows many traits. (Usually a
main character)
Friendly
Helpful
Kind
Gentle
Caring
Usually
fails
Peter was an adventurous person
who decided to drive his motorcycle
across the country.
Direct
Characterization
Indirect
Characterization
This term describes the way an
Author TELLS you about the
character
This term describes the way an
author indirectly SHOWS you
about the character through:
“I’m adventurous! I’m driving my
motorcycle across the country?”
 What the character
o SAYS or
o DOES
or
 WHAT OTHERS SAY about the
character
Imagery
Verbal
Irony
Situational
Irony
This word describes how a
writer paints a picture with
words appealing to all the
senses.
This type of irony happens
when…
a character says one thing and
means another.
This type of irony happens when
…
there is a difference between what
the reader or character expects…
and what actually happens….
I’m going to love you forever…
(NOT really)
I expect this
will happen…
I didn’t think
this would
happen!
Dramatic
Irony
This type of irony happens when …
the reader or viewer knows something
the character does not know.
He does NOT know he is about to get
fired!
Symbolism
This word is used to describe
when something that represents
or stands for something else
This word describes the
Theme
1st Person
Point of view
3rd person Limited
Point of view
3rd Person
Omniscient
Point of View
Speaker
universal statement about
life in a literary work.
This term describes the “I” point
of view told by a character in the
story.
This term describes a story that told
in a narrative voice outside the
action and is told using “he” “she”
“they.”
This term describes a story where
the reader and the author “KNOW
ALL” about the about the
characters.
In POETRY, this term describes
the “VOICE that talks to the
reader”
It is NOT the poet
Narrator
In a story, this term describes
character or voice from whose
point of view events are told.
We KNOW ALL…
Dialect
Figurative
Language
Literal
Language
This term describes a form of
language that is spoken in a
particular area or by a certain
group of people.
This term describes language that
uses simile, metaphor, hyperbole,
etc.
This term describes words that are
meant to be EXACT.
These words do not have
“deeper meaning.”
Exact words
Yes, Stop, Go, No, Fly, Drive
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse
Hyperbole
This term describes a figure of
speech in which the truth is
exaggerated.
He has ants in his pants.
Cliché
Cool!
I’m all thumbs.
This term describes an overused
expression or idea.
Anyhoo!
Oldie but a goodie!
Rhetorical
Question
Analogy
Stereotype
This term describes a question to
which no answer is expected (or to
which only one answer may be
made)
This term describes a point by
point comparison between two
things that are alike in some way.
This term describes a
 generalized belief about a group of
people or
 stock characters who conform to a
fixed pattern with a single trait.
Do fish get thirsty?
Do pilots take crash-courses?
Can you cry under water?
Analogies

kittens and cats

puppies and dogs

seeds and plants
All teenagers are rebels.
Plot
Exposition
Narrative hook
or
Initiating Action
This term describes the
sequence of events in a story.
This term describes the part of
the story that explains the
setting and introduces the
characters.
This term describes the part of
the story where the central
conflict is introduced.
HOOKS the reader
Rising Action
Climax
This term describes the parts of
the story that include all of the
events from the narrative hook
to the climax.
This term describes the
TURNING POINT --- or the most
exciting part of the story.
Falling Action
This term describes all of the
events from the climax to the
resolution.
Resolution
or
Denouement
This term describes how the
story concludes ( the conflict is
resolved)
Hook people into the story