Short Story Exam Review
Pick up a Short Story Unit Exam Review on
my desk
Literary Terms
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Plot- : The arrangement and interrelation of events in a
narrative work which engages the reader’s attention while
also providing a framework for the exposition of the
author’s message, theme or other such elements.
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Types of External conflict- man vs. nature,
man vs. man, man vs. machine, man vs. society and man vs.
supernatural.
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Types of Internal conflict- or man vs. self, involves a
character who is fighting something within themselves.
Literary Terms
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Protagonist- The most important or leading character in a
work who is usually identical to the hero/heroine… but
not always. The protagonist has both good and bad
qualities.
Antagonist- The character pitted against the protagonist
of a work. He or she usually has evil or distasteful
qualities, but is not necessarily all bad.
Foreshadowing- is a literary device in which a writer
gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the
story.
Literary Terms
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Suspense- What builds the reader’s attention.
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Setting- time and place that provides general background
for the characters and plot of the story.
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Static- A character who stays the same throughout the
work, from the beginning to the end
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Flat- Characters that are not developed; are easily
recognizable by their lack of complexity; and are usually
created to emphasize a single important trait.
Literary Terms
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Round- Characters that have a level of complexity and
depth we associate with real people and that have been
fully developed by the author
Dynamic- A character who has an epiphany or
experiences a change during the course of the work.
Theme- A statement that the text seems to be making
about the subject of the literary work. This can be moral
or an amoral lesson.
Epiphany- the insight or revelation
gained when one suddenly understands the significance of
something.
Literary Terms
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Motivation- The mixture of situation and personality that
compels a character to behave the way he or she does.
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Dramatic Irony- : the audience knows or understands more than
the actual characters involved
Situational Irony- when one thing is expected to happen but the
opposite occurs
Verbal Irony- the result of a statement saying one thing while
meaning the opposite
Sarcasm: a type of irony in which a person appears to be
praising something but is actually insulting it
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Literary Terms
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First Person Point of View- The character telling the story
speaks as though it had happened to him or her personally. The
narrator uses personal
pronouns such as “I,”
“me,” “my,” etc.
Third Person Limited- The author tells the story as though
he or she can only perceive the thoughts and feelings of one of
the characters.
Plot Diagrams
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Get out your plot diagrams for “The Most Dangerous
Game,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “War,” and “The
Sniper”
Exposition- Setting the scene (characters; setting)
Rising Action- Complications/conflicts
Climax- The character faces the problem and overcomes
it or is overcome by it
Falling Action- Leads to the resolution
Resolution- The ending
“The Most Dangerous Game”
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Protagonist- Rainsford
Antagonist- Zaroff
Setting- Ship-Trap Island
Key Conflicts- Man vs Man; Man vs Nature
Climax- When Zaroff sees Rainsford behind the curtain
Resolution- Zaroff dies and Rainsford wins
Point of View- Third Person Limited
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Thematic Statement-
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“The Cask of Amontillado”
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Protagonist- Fortunato
Antagonist- Montresor
Setting- Italy during Carnival
Key Conflicts- Man vs Man
Climax- When Montresor chains Fortunato
Resolution-Montresor kills Fortunato; No one ever finds
out
Point of View- First Person
Thematic Statement-
“War”
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Protagonist- Scout
Antagonist- Ginger Beard
Setting- During a war on two different hot days
Key Conflicts- Man vs Man; Man vs himself
Climax- The ginger beard man shoots the scout
Resolution- The scout is dead
Point of View- Third Person Limited
Thematic Statement- kill or be killed
“The Sniper”
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Main characters- The Sniper/ The Sniper’s brother
Setting- Dublin, Ireland on a rooftop near O’Connell
Bridge
Key Conflicts- Man vs Man; Man vs Himself
Climax- He kills the enemy
Resolution- He killed his brother
Point of View- Third Person Limited
Thematic Statement-
Homework
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Study for your Short Story Exam!
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Your short answer responses are due tomorrow!