Literary Terms
the moment of greatest tension in a story, often occurring right before a character makes a critical and/or lifechanging choice
What is climax?
When it rains, it pours.
It's a cliche'
An insect-like creature uses its humans as egg incubators
"Bloodchild"
Went to School of Mines
George Saunders
Future New York when advertising is compulsory
"My Flamboyant Grandson"
the part of the plot diagram where the character faces a series of conflicts that builds the tension in the story
What is rising action?
A descent into madness.
A man and his wife are devoured by lions dreamed up in their children’s nursery
"The Veldt"
Considered the first Black female science fiction writer
Octavia Butler
New York City on a sunny stroll along Fifth Avenue
A character changes over the course of the story.
What is a dynamic character?
Myop lost her childhood on the day she found the remains of a man who was lynched.
Not general (too specific to apply to other stories).
A girl betrays her childhood best friend after her friend gets cancer
"Zolaria"
Had a theory of “Gyres” and the cyclical nature of time.
William Butler Yeats
Present-day India during a family’s vacation there.
"Interpreter of Maladies"
A type of criticism focused on the reader’s reaction to the text.
Honoring those who have served.
Incomplete sentence.
A man struggles for wealth and status by buying human lawn ornaments
"The Semplica-Girl Diaries"
Our Executive Dean wrote a poem about his ex-wife, Maryann.
Who is Raymond Carver?
A man receives word that his wife's former employer is coming for dinner.
"Cathedral"
The critic who suggested that we ask of each story: "Where have I seen this before?"
Foster
Commitment
Doesn't say what the story says about commitment.
A couple reveals secrets to each other over the course of several nights without power
"A Temporary Matter"
Got beaten by a monkey with a stick at the end of the story
Bobby
A man brings his grandson to New York to see a show.
"My Flamboyant Grandson"