This is what I’m using to study English terms!!
Short Story Terms Review
PLOT -- the plan of action in the story. Plot is what happens in a story. Plot can be analyzed according to stages called the Seven Elements of Plot (SPN EX - The plan to take out Chuck)
Motivating Incident - the reason for the action of the story to begin. The motivating incident crates a problem for the protagonist which he or she must solve (SPN EX - Mary’s death)
Conflict -a struggle between opposing forces. This element is the very essence of a short story. In a short story, one of two types of conflict (or both) may be present
EXTERNAL (from the outside) - This is physical conflict: person against person, beast, nature, environment, or the supernatural (SPN EX - any of the episodes with fights between monsters and the boys)
INTERNAL (from the inside) - this is the mental conflict: person against self - a struggle with the character’s conscience or soul (SPN EX - Deans hatred for himself, sam’s fight with hallucinations)
Complications - are situations or events that prevent the protagonist from solving his/her problem (SPN EX - The colt going missing)
Suspense - a feeling of uncertainty experienced by the reader about the outcome of the plot or about the protagonist's future. (SPN EX - Deans doubt that sam will be able to complete the trials)
Climax - the last point in the story where we question the outcome. Once this point is reached, the story usually ends quickly (falling action). The climax is often the moment of highest suspense. (SPN EX - CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SONNN)
Outcome - The ending of the action, the solving of the protagonist’s problems. (SPN EX - SAMS SWAN DIVE)
Denouement - The ending taken a step further or explained. (Not all stories have a denouement.) (SPN EX - Chuck singing Fare Thee Well)
EXAMPLES TO REMEMBER(My Cat Can’t Swallow COD) (My Company Can Ship C.O.D)
MY IDEA (Monkeys Can't Catch Snakes, Cougars, Or Deer) (Miracle, Cas, Charlie, Sam, Crowley, Omen, Dean)
CHARACTERS -- The fictional persons (or maybe creatures) who carry out the action of the story. When you discuss character(s) in a short story, it is useful to know these terms:
Protagonist - the main character in the action of the story (SPN EX- Dean, Sam, Cas)
Antagonist - the forces against the main character in the story (SPN EX- Roman, Azazel, Chuck)
Flat character - usually a minor character who has only one apparent quality (SPN EX- any of the victims family)
Round character - a realistic character having many sides to his/her character (SPN EX- Bobby)
Static character - A character who does not change in the course of the story (SPN EX- Rufus, Roman)
Dynamic (developing) character - a character who undergoes permanent change in the story (SPN EX- Crowley)
Stock or stereotype character - a familiar character type, such as the monster or the clown or the country boy or the absent-minded professor (SPN EX- the bad monsters)
SETTING -- the time and place of a story. The time of a story involves when the story takes place -- it can be the time of day, month, or tear, the season of the year, the time in history, etc. The place of a story involves where the story takes place -- it can be inside or outside, in a city, or a town or in the county, etc. (SPN EX-, November 2, 1983 in Mary and John Winchesters house)
THEME -- the meaning or purpose of a story Theme involves the values that we see in the story, the central idea (behind the characters, setting and plot) that the writer wants us to understand. The theme usually gives us an insight into life. (SPN EX- Saving people, Hunting things, the family business)
