Short Story Elements Vocabulary

Front

What is the term for the time and place of the story's action?

Back

Setting

Front

Provide an example of a setting.

Back

A small village in England in the winter of 1765.

Front

What is the term for the series of events in a story?

Back

Plot

Front

What type of theme is expressed directly by the author?

Back

Stated theme

Front

What is an external conflict?

Back

An external conflict is one in which a character struggles with an outside source.

Front

What is the term for the main character in a story?

Back

Protagonist

Front

What is the term for a character that opposes the main character?

Back

Antagonist

Front

What is the term for the underlying message or main idea of a story?

Back

Theme

Front

What is a character's motivation?

Back

A character's motivation is the reason behind their actions and decisions.

Front

What is the term for the events that lead to the climax of a story?

Back

Rising action