Knowledge Organiser English Short Stories and Structure Exposition The introduction where Narrative Shapes basic elements such as Key concepts Positive Trend Negative Trend setting , protagonists and Narrative voice The perspective or narrator in a text (“Comedy”) (“Tragedy”) mood are established. Chronology The arrangements of events in the order of Inciting A complication/conflict their occurrence Undirectional incident that triggers action in the story. This is often the ‘hook’ Non-linear a narrative that jumps between time in a Rags-to-Riches Riches-to-Rags that captures the reader’s non-chronological order interest. Shift of focus Consciously changing the reader’s Rising As a result of the inciting attention to a different detail, character, setting, or event Bi-directional action incident, actions are taken Foreshadowing An indication of future events against the complication or conflict, often resulting in ris- Man in a hole Icarus Cohesive ties Details that links different perspectives ing tension, excitement and together for cohesion (unification) further complications. Repetition The reoccurrence of details relating to Climax The turning point of character, setting or events. Tri-directional the narrative, where it Symbolism Using images, sounds or words to represent may seem impossible to an idea or quality. overcome the conflict. Often the most dramatic Cinderella Oedipus Juxtaposition Deliberately placing items of contrast point of a text. together for effect Falling Includes events that help to Key Vocabulary Portal Authorial intent The purpose behind the writing action form some resolution to the Tone The mood of a section of the text Catharsis Anxious turning point or climax—the Dystopian Abruptness protagonist will either lose or Many short (and long) stories take this shape. Gustave Freytag win against the antagonist Utopian Insignia noticed this arc reappearing again and again and spotted depending on the story. a pattern. Some stories adapt this by leaving the ending Denouement Conflicts are resolved unresolved, or on a cliffhanger, or perhaps by introducing a (successfully or tragically), plot twist or cyclical link and events return back to back to the beginning. ‘normal’, however there Freytag’s pyramid is may be a long lasting based on Aristotle change or shift in mood/ (an Ancient Greek outlook. philosopher) and his theories on the Recap section structure of tragedy. Cyclical structure Perspective Look up the word catharsis and work out First/third person Literary movement where in the arc this Explicit/implicit Allegory may typically appear. Theme Juxtaposition .