Name:_________________
Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense
Short Story Unit Outline
The objective of this unit is to thoroughly understand the elements of fiction – terminology you
should know and use when discussing fiction from here on out. However, keep in mind that you
cannot write about a short story on the AP Exam in May. We use the short story to cover the
elements of literature quickly; you are expected to know how to then apply the elements to a
longer work of fiction: the novel. The summative exam will ask you to use short stories to write
about these elements in paragraph form.
Please define the following terms or address the prompt.
Chapter 1: Reading the Story
1. Commercial Fiction:
2. Literary Fiction:
3. List 5 qualities of literary merit:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Chapter 2: Plot and Structure:
4. Plot:
5. List the standard (most often used) components of plot:
6. Structure
7. Conflict:
8. Protagonist
9. Antagonist
10. Suspense
11. Mystery
12. Dilemma
13. Surprise
14. Surprise Ending:
15. Happy Ending
16. Unhappy Ending
17. Indeterminate Ending
18. Artistic Unity
19. Plot Manipulation
20. Deus ex machine
21. Chance
22. Coincidence
Chapter 3: Characterization:
23. Characterization:
24. Direct presentation
25. Indirect presentation
26. Dramatized
27. Flat Characters
28. Round Characters
29. Stock Characters
30. Static Characters
31. Dynamic (Developing ) Character
32. Epiphany
Chapter 4 Theme:
33. Theme
34. List the six principals of theme:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Chapter 5 Point of View
35. Point of View
36. List and Define Four Basic Points of View:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Chapter 6: Symbol, Allegory, and Fantasy
37. Symbol
38. 4 Cautions when observing symbolic meaning:
a.
b.
c.
d.
39. Allegory
40. Fantasy
Chapter 7: Humor and Irony
41. Irony
42. 3 types of irony
a.
b.
c.
43. Sentimentatlity
44. Editorialize
45. Poeticize
Chapter 8 – Evaluation Fiction
46. Two basic principles to evaluate fiction:
a.
b.