Short Story Ties to Literary Terms
By: Spenser Brown, John Dickhaus,
Jackson Long
"The Most Dangerous Game"
By:
Richard Connell
Analogy
An analogy Comparison
made between two things that
shows how they are alike in
some way.
An example of an analogy in
"The Most Dangerous Game"
is when Ivan opens the door
of Zaroffs' estate. The author
uses the analogy "in the river
of glaring gold light that
poured out" to describe the
light that shown on Rainsford.
This analogy enhances the
story by giving a visual of
what the scene might look
like.
Internal Conflict
Struggle between
opposing needs or
desires or emotions
within a single person.
In the short story "The Most
Dangerous Game" an
example of internal conflict is
when Rainsford says "who
cares how the jaguar feels?"
(18). Later on in the story
Rainsford starts to realize
how the jaguar feels when
he's being hunted by Zaroff.
Rainsford has a change of
heart and thinks more of the
things he hunts.
Flashback
Scene in a movie,play,
short story, novel, or
narrative poem that
interrupts the present
action.
In the short story "The Most
Dangerous Game" an
example of a flashback is
when General Zaroff says
"Oh, that fellow. Yes, he
was a monster. Hurled me
agaisnt a tree, fractured my
skull" (22). This refers to the
general's past.
Metaphor
Figure of Speech that
makes a comparision
between two unlike
things, in which one thing
becomes another thing
without the use of the
word like, as, or
resembles.
In the short story "The Most
Dangerous Game" an
example of a metaphor is
when General Zaroff says "i
hunt the scum of the earthsailors, lascars, blacks,
chinese, and whites" (26).
Zaroff is comparing the
scum of the earth to these
races.
Plot
A series of related
events that make up a
story or drama. Usually
contains: Introduction,
Rising Action, Climax,
Falling Action, and a
Resolution.
In the short story "The Most
Dangerous Game" an example
of plot is the entire story itself.
The exposition is when they are
on the yacht (17-19), rising
action during his stay with
Zaroff (21-30), the climax is
while Zaroff is hunting
Rainsford (30-34), the falling
action is when Ivan is killed by
Rainsford's trap (34), and the
resolution is when Rainsford
gets into Zaroff's bedroom (34).
Protagonist
The protagonist is the "good guy" in the story. He/she is the
person who is usually the main character. They also block or
get in the way of what the antagonist is trying to
accomplish. In "The Most Dangerous Game", Rainsford is
the protagonist. He is the main character and is trying to stop
the nasty game of General Zaroff.
Simile
A simile is a comparison
using like or as.
In the story "The Most
Dangerous Game", a simile is
used multiple times. This is
one example,"'There was no
breeze. The sea was as flat
as a plate-glass
window."' (18) This is a
simile because he uses as to
compare the sea and a plateglass window.
"Harrison Bergeron"
By:
Kurt Vonnegut
Flat Character
A flat character is a
character who only has one
or two traits that can be
described in a few words a
flat character is not nearly as
developed as a round
character.
A good model for a flat character
is Diana Moon Glampers from
"Harrison Bergeron. She is not
given much description in the
story but the reader knows that
she thinks that she is in charge.
In the story she points a shot gun
at the dancers and tells them
"they had ten seconds to get their
handicaps back on"(105). This
shows that she does not take no
for an answer and the reader can
see she is in charge enhancing
the story by giving the reader
something to be certain of that
wont change.
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
Third person omniscient is when the narrator knows
everything that goes on in the story. In "Harrison
Bergeron" the narrator knows what everyone is thinking and
doing. Knowing that the narrator knows everything means it's
third person omniscient.
"The Cask of Amontillado"
By:
Edgar Allan Poe
Allusion
An allusion is a casual
reference or incidental
refernce to a statement,
person, place, or event.
An example of allusion in
"The Cask of Amontillado" is
when Montresor refers to the
Free Masons. Allusions are
important to have in the story
because they tie it to real life.
Round Character
A round charecter is a
character that has many
differnt characteristics that
sometimes contridict each
other.
An example of a round
character is Montresor from
"The Cask of Amontillado".
He is a well developed
charecter meaning the auther
gives us a good knowledge of
him. One of the main things
the author reavels about him
is that he is set on revenge.
Having Montresor be a round
character enhances the story
because the reader knows a
lot about him so they can
relate to him.
Foreshadowing
The use of clues to hint
at events that will occur
later in a plot.
In the short story "The Cask
of Amontillado" an example
of foreshadowing is when
Montresor (the narrator)
says "The thousand injuries
of Fourtunato I had borne
as best i could; but when he
ventured upon insult, i
vowed revenge" (212).
When he says "i vowed
revenge", you start to think
that this story will be about
revenge.
Hyperbole
Figure of Speech that
uses exaggeration to
express strong emotion
or to create a comic
effect.
In the short story "The Cask
of Amontillado" an example of
a hyperbole is when
Fortunato says "The thousand
injuries of Fourunato" (212),
you don't actually know what
happened to Fortunato.
Imagery
Language that appeals to
the senses.
In the short story "The Cask
of Amontillado" an example
of Imagery is when
fortunato says, it hangs like
moss upon the vaults. You
picture the moss hanging
upon a vault.
Verbal Irony
When someone says one In the short story "The Cask
of Amontillado" an example
thing but means the
of verbal irony is when
opposite.
Montressor says "My friend,
no" (213). Montressor was
talking to Fortunato as if he
was his friend, but really he
plans to kill him.
Dramatic Irony
When the reader know
what will happen to a
character within the
story, but the character
does not.
In the short story "The Cask
of Amontillado" an example
of dramatic irony is when
Montressor chains
Fortunato to the wall, and
Montressor has no idea that
this will happen (216).
First Person Point of View
The first person point of view
is known by the use of I, or
me. In first person the
narrator is the main character
using I or me.
In the "Cask of Amontillado"
Montresor is the narrator and
tells the story in first
person. In the very beginning
of the story he says, "The
thousands injuries of
Fortunato I had borne as best
I could; but when he ventured
upon insult, I vowed
revenge."(212) This quote
shows multiple times of him
saying I,meaning first person.
Tone
The tone is the attitude used
by a writer to a character,
audience, or subject.
An example of tone is in the
"Cask of Amontillado". The
tone is supposed to be
spooky and scary.
Unreliable Narrator
An unreliable narrator is a
narrator who doesn't always
know what's happening.
"The Cask of Amontillado" is
a story with an unreliable
narrator because we don't get
background information and
don't understand what all
things are.
"The Interlopers"
By:
Saki
Dynamic Character
A dynamic character who
changes as a result of the
story's events
In "The Interlopers" Ulrich von
Gradwitz is a good model of a
dynamic character. At the
beginning of the story he
despises Georg Znaeym, but
after they are both trapped
under a tree he decides he
wants to be friends. this is
shown when Ulrich says "If
my men are the first to come,
you shall be the first to be
helped"(192). Dynamic
characters help give the story
a twist to help interest the
reader.
External Conflict
External conflict is where a
character struggles against
an outside force for example
it might be another character
or society in a whole.
In the short story "The
Interlopers" a good example
of external conflict is when
the tree falls on Ulrich and
Georg. The conflict is caused
by nature which is not part of
the protagonist. External
conflict is an element that is
used to make a story more
interesting.
Third Person Limited Point of View
Third person limited point of view is used when the narrator
can see what all characters are doing, but can only see what
one character is thinking. "The Interlopers" is a story that
uses third person limited. That is used in this sentence,
"George Znaeym was silent for so long that Ulrich thought
perhaps he had fainted with the pain of injuries." (192) This
shows third person limited because it states that Ulrich was
thinking which shows we can only see what one of them is
thinking.
"The Sniper"
By:
Liam O'Flaherty
Antagonist
An antagonist is the
character or force that blocks
the protagonist.
An example of an antagonist
in the short story "The Sniper"
is the man that is shooting at
the sniper. He is an
antagonist because he is
opposing the sniper who is
the protagonist. Having
an antagonist makes the story
more intersting and complex
so the reader stays
interested.
Indirect Characterization
Indirect characterization is
when the reader has to use
their own judgment to decide
what a character is like based
on evidence the author
provides.
In the story "The Sniper" the
author shows inderect
characterization of the sniper
when he is shot but remains
calm and just moved spots.
Inderect Characterization
allows readers to picture how
they see the character in their
minds rather then having the
author give them the picture
which helps keep the reader
paying attention and thinking.
Direct Characterization
Direct characterization is
when the reader does not
have to decide on what a
character is like the author
tells us directly.
An example of direct
characterization is in "The Sniper"
when the author describes the
face of the sniper as thin and
ascetic. The author gives us a
description of how he wants us
too see the character. This
enhances the story by letting the
readers see actions of the
character more how the author
wants us to because we know the
type of person the character is
supposed t be.
Situational Irony
Decribes an event that is
suprising and contrary to
what was expected.
In the short story "The
Sniper" an example of
situational irony is right after
he shot his enemy. He runs
down to see his face, only to
find out that he had killed his
brother.
Suspense
Suspense is anxiety the
reader feels about what is
going on to happen
next. This usually comes
around the climax of the
story.
The suspense in "The Sniper"
is when the sniper is going
down to the street to see his
enemy and it's his brother.
"Thank You, M'am"
By:
Langston Hughes
Static Character
A static character is a
character that does not
change much throughout the
durration of the story.
An example of a static
character is Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones.
Throughout the story Mrs.
Jones has a very take charge,
but trusting attitude. This
does not change throughout
the story. A static charecter
gives the reader something to
hold on to that is not going to
change. Mrs. Jones being
static, lets the reader get a
feel of what she is going to do
in the story.
Dialect
The way of speaking
characteristic of a
particular region or group
of people.
In the short story "Thank
You, M'am" an example of
dialect is when Mrs. Luella
Bates Washington Jones
talks from a african
american southern dialect
(110-112).
Stereotype
A stereotype is inferring
based on the majorities
opinion.
In "Thank You M'am", Luella
Bates Washington Jones
uses a stereotype. When
Roger tries to steal her purse,
she thinks he is poor because
most people would think that.
"A Sound of
Thunder"
By:
Ray Bradbury
Climax
The climax is the moment of
great emotional intensity or
suspense in a plot.
In the story "A Sound of
Thunder" the climax is when
Eckels steps off the path. The
story had been building up to
this. He had been warned
time and time again to not
step off the path and then it
finally happens which is the
highest point of excitement.
The climax gives the reader
something to look forward to
and i makes them wonder
what happened in result of
the climax.
Setting
The setting is the time, place, and the environment of the
story. Every story has a setting. In the "Sound of Thunder",
the setting is in 2081, and the day after a presidential
election. During the story the setting changes back to the age
of dinosaurs and in a big open jungle.
Theme
The theme is the central idea
of work or literature. Every
story has a theme.
A theme in "The Sound of
Thunder" is to always follow
directions. This is a theme
because Eckels went off the
trail and that changed the
future and got him killed.