SHORT STORY NOTE-TAKING GRID
1. genre: a category of literature
example: short story; science fiction; biography; etc.
2. definition of a short story:
A short story is a fictional, _prose_, _narrative_
of _12,000_ words or less.
3. plot: sequence of events (action) in a narrative
4. plot line model:
- reconstructed past: The reader’s inference about what has taken place before the story begins.
example: In the Lion King movie, you infer that Mufasa has had a falling out with Scar.
b. exposition: Background information provided by the author.
example: Mufasa tells Simba not to go near the elephant graveyard.
c. complication: a difficulty or problem faced by a character.
example: Scar kills Mufasa
d. turning point: PSYCHOLOGICAL decision after which the story moves to
its inevitable conclusion
example: Simba sees Mufasa in the heavens and decides to return to take his rightful place.
e. climax: Moment of greatest emotional intensity and/or action.
example: The fight with Scar.
f. resolution: “denouement” – how the story ends; the conclusion.
example: Simba becomes the King, and he and Nala start their own family.
g. projected future: The reader’s inference about what will happen after the
story’s conclusion.
example:Simba’s son will grow up and be king.
h. rising action: All actions BEFORE the climax
i. falling action: Allactions AFTER the climax
5. 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 Simba’s 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.
6. foreshadowing: Clues that hint at actions that are to follow in the story.
example:Horror movies – any time a blonde screams at the beginning, she’ll be
dead before the end of movie.
7. Figures of Speech
simile: A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
example:quiet as a mouse; love is like a roller coaster
metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using like or as.
example:love is a roller coaster; he is a snake
imagery: Language that appeals to the five senses.
example:mouth-watering chocolate; slick and glistening streets
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 6’6’’ guy “shorty.”
example: A guy gives up drinking, then he’s killed when a beer truck hits him.
8. Point of View:
first person: “I” – The narrator is a character in the story. S/he is a participant in the action and an observer of the action.
innocent eye: Story told through the eyes of a child.
example:The Wonder Years; A Christmas Story
third person: The narrator is outside the story.
- omniscient: (like God) the author is “all-knowing” – can see all of the action and can reveal the thoughts of all characters.
example: The beginning of Beauty and the Beast starts with a hand opening a book and stating “Once upon a time…”
9. Types of Conflict
internal: Conflict is within the character.
- character vs. self:
example:Simba’s inner struggle to get over his guilt and decide whether to face his past or not by returning to the pride.
external: Conflict arises from the outside.
1. character vs. character:
example:Simba verses Scar
2. character vs. nature:
example:Survivor; The Amazing Race;
3. character vs. society:
example:In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast’s struggle to fit into society despite his looks.
4. character vs. supernatural:
example:Aliens; Terminator;
10. Character Types
- static: Character remains the same throughout the literary work
example:Throughout the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo remains courageous and adventureous.
- dynamic: Character undergoes change in attitude or personality
example:In Finding Nemo, Marlin (Nemo’s dad) changes as he learns to not let fear control his life.
- stereotype: One recognizable character trait
example:The show/movie Clueless has the “ditzy blonde” stereotype.
11. Characterization
- direct: the writer explicitly tells about the character
example:Sanger Rainsford is a hunter.
- indirect: The writer allows the reader to draw inferences about the characters (figure them out for themselves)
example:General Zaroff is a sociopath.
12. protagonist: Central character in a work of literature (not necessarily a hero
or “good guy”)
example:Simba
13. antagonist: Character who opposes the protagonist
example:Scar
14. Aspects of Every Character:
- physical: appearance of character
example:Belle from Beauty and the Beast has brown hair, thin, dainty-like
- psychological: personality
example:Smart, kind, compassionate, open-minded.
- sociological: society (how the character fits in/doesn’t fit in with their society)
example:Beast from Beauty and the Beast is ostracized/shunned by society because of his looks.
15. mood: ______
______
example:______
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