Plot Twists (& Turns)
The part of a story where background information is given.
exposition
When a character struggles with their own thoughts or decisions.
internal conflict
A long, organized trip to hunt or observe animals.
safari
The character who works at a grocery/supermarket in in Checkouts.
the bag boy
The feeling or attitude of an author's writing, like romantic, humorous, or serious.
tone
The most intense or exciting point of a story.
climax
The type of conflict between Rainsford and Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game"
person vs. person
Very ancient, belonging to the earliest times
primeval
The professional hunter invited to Zaroff’s island.
Rainsford
A change in one small action that leads to massive consequences
butterfly theory
When a story hints about something that will happen later.
foreshadowing
The spilled jar in “Checkouts” creates this feeling for the boy.
embarrassment / internal conflict
To lose strength or hesitate just before the end
falter
The man who explains the strict hunting rules in A Sound of Thunder
Travis
A key lesson of The Gift of the Magi: true value is found not in money but in this
love / sacrifice
The opposite of suspense, when everything is settled at the end of a story
resolution
A storm at sea or wild jungle chase are examples of this type of conflict.
person vs nature
A statement that seems contradictory but might be true.
paradox
This characters buy and sacrifice gifts for each other
Della and Jim
General Zaroff describes his human hunt as a kind of “game” and wishes Rainsford “good rest” before the chase. What kind of irony is this?
verbal irony
In “A Sound of Thunder,” this small event leads to a huge change in the future.
stepping off the path / the butterfly effect
Writers build suspense by delaying key information, showing emotion, or using this technique.
foreshadowing
To destroy something completely.
Annihilate
Zaroff’s assistant in The Most Dangerous Game
Ivan
In The Gift of the Magi, the ending is an example of this specific type of irony, because the result is the opposite of what readers expected.
situational irony