characteristics of the short story. characteristics it can be read in one sitting it can be read in...
TRANSCRIPT
Characteristics Characteristics of the Short of the Short
StoryStory
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
It can be read in one sittingIt can be read in one sitting It is based on the incident or characterIt is based on the incident or character It has few characteristicsIt has few characteristics It presents a conflict situation from It presents a conflict situation from
which suspense ariseswhich suspense arises The climax evolves from the basic The climax evolves from the basic
conflictconflict It may or may not have a definite It may or may not have a definite
conclusion or outcomeconclusion or outcome
Elements of Plot of Short Elements of Plot of Short StoryStory
Exposition: will act as an introduction to the Exposition: will act as an introduction to the storystory
Time: time of the story (one year, month, day to Time: time of the story (one year, month, day to hour, etc)hour, etc)
Place: the place the story takes place may be Place: the place the story takes place may be very significant or not significant at all. Being very significant or not significant at all. Being with specific and move on to generalwith specific and move on to general
Antecedent action: This part of the exposition is Antecedent action: This part of the exposition is very important. The readers of the short story very important. The readers of the short story should know what happened before the story should know what happened before the story began (if they have a bearing on the story)began (if they have a bearing on the story)
Atmosphere and mood: should be easy to see at Atmosphere and mood: should be easy to see at start of storystart of story
Initial Incident or Initial Incident or ComplicationComplication
Introduces conflict or beings Introduces conflict or beings suspense.suspense.
Begins conflict which is resolved in Begins conflict which is resolved in climaxclimax
Rising ActionRising Action
Events that develop the conflictEvents that develop the conflict Three types of conflictThree types of conflict
Conflict between two characters, or Conflict between two characters, or character vs. charactercharacter vs. character
Conflict between a character and the Conflict between a character and the environment, character vs. environment, character vs. environment/nature/society/aliens/ fateenvironment/nature/society/aliens/ fate
Conflict within a character, or character Conflict within a character, or character vs. self-vs. self-
ClimaxClimax Conflict introduced in the initial incident is solved. Conflict introduced in the initial incident is solved.
There are different ways of solving the conflictThere are different ways of solving the conflict Happy ending: protagonists solves the conflict Happy ending: protagonists solves the conflict
successfullysuccessfully Unhappy ending: the protagonist does not solve the Unhappy ending: the protagonist does not solve the
conflict, and is beaten by the forces arrayed against himconflict, and is beaten by the forces arrayed against him Indeterminate ending: the conflict is not solved, or the Indeterminate ending: the conflict is not solved, or the
protagonists solves the conflict only to be worse off than protagonists solves the conflict only to be worse off than before. There is no clear win or loss for the protagonistbefore. There is no clear win or loss for the protagonist
Surprise ending: there is a sudden twist in the direction Surprise ending: there is a sudden twist in the direction of the storyof the story
Anticlimax: an event brings about an abrupt shift from Anticlimax: an event brings about an abrupt shift from the important to the trivial at the end of the story.the important to the trivial at the end of the story.
Falling ActionFalling Action
Fall out as a result of the ClimaxFall out as a result of the Climax
DenouementDenouement
Wrapping up of the story. Wrapping up of the story. The author may explain the climax The author may explain the climax
or tell what happens to the main or tell what happens to the main characters following the climax.characters following the climax.
Ties up any loose endsTies up any loose ends
Character in the short Character in the short storystory
How a character can be described:How a character can be described: ProtagonistProtagonist: main character in the story. Involved in the : main character in the story. Involved in the
major conflict of the story and also the climax. Desires to major conflict of the story and also the climax. Desires to reach a goalreach a goal
Antagonist:Antagonist: character, group or force that opposes the character, group or force that opposes the protagonistprotagonist
Flat CharacterFlat Character: characteristics can be summed up by one or : characteristics can be summed up by one or two traitstwo traits
Round Character: Round Character: Characteristics are complex and many-Characteristics are complex and many-faceted.faceted.
Stock or Stereotyped CharacterStock or Stereotyped Character: Characteristics are : Characteristics are immediately known because of the common conceptions immediately known because of the common conceptions about certain groups of peopleabout certain groups of people
Realistic Character:Realistic Character: character who is highly believable character who is highly believable because they have the strengths and weakness of an because they have the strengths and weakness of an ordinary personordinary person
How a Character is How a Character is RevealedRevealed
Indirect Characterization:Indirect Characterization: the reader the reader has to infer the informationhas to infer the information From what the character doesFrom what the character does From what the character saysFrom what the character says From what the character thinksFrom what the character thinks
How a Character is How a Character is RevealedRevealed
Direct Characterization: the reader Direct Characterization: the reader can find direct references in the can find direct references in the storystory From what the others say about the From what the others say about the
personperson From what author says about the From what author says about the
personperson
Dimensions of a Dimensions of a CharacterCharacter
Physical Dimension: How a character Physical Dimension: How a character lookslooks
Mental Dimension: How a character Mental Dimension: How a character thinksthinks
Emotional Dimension: How a Emotional Dimension: How a character acts and reacts in a certain character acts and reacts in a certain situationsituation
Spiritual Dimension: What a Spiritual Dimension: What a character valuescharacter values
Judging a characterJudging a character Consistent charactersConsistent characters are characters that act are characters that act
and react in similar ways. There are some and react in similar ways. There are some circumstances that cause the character to circumstances that cause the character to change; however, any change will be in lines change; however, any change will be in lines with the character’s personality and will be with the character’s personality and will be foreshadowed.foreshadowed.
Motivated charactersMotivated characters have a reason for acting have a reason for acting in the way he/she does. If the character in the way he/she does. If the character undergoes change in the story, the reader undergoes change in the story, the reader must understand the reasons for change.must understand the reasons for change.
Plausible characterPlausible character are realistic and life-like. are realistic and life-like. The reader must feel that this person could The reader must feel that this person could exist in the normal course of events.exist in the normal course of events.
Setting in the Short Setting in the Short StoryStory
Where it takes place and the period of time in Where it takes place and the period of time in which it is setwhich it is set
Establishes mood of storyEstablishes mood of story Can add to characterizationCan add to characterization Sometimes it is not important because it could Sometimes it is not important because it could
be set anywherebe set anywhere Sometimes it is basic to events and themeSometimes it is basic to events and theme Plot can be vital information in the setting. If Plot can be vital information in the setting. If
conflict is character vs. environment than it is conflict is character vs. environment than it is vitalvital
Characters can give vital information in the Characters can give vital information in the settingsetting
Point of ViewPoint of View Omniscient: knows the past, present and Omniscient: knows the past, present and
future of all the characters. Written in third future of all the characters. Written in third person pro nouns: he, she, him, her, etcperson pro nouns: he, she, him, her, etc
Limited Omniscient: limits his/her Limited Omniscient: limits his/her knowledge to only one character, knowing knowledge to only one character, knowing everything about this person. Third person everything about this person. Third person pronounspronouns
First person: becomes the character in the First person: becomes the character in the story so that he/she knows the past, the story so that he/she knows the past, the present, but not the future. First person present, but not the future. First person pronounspronouns
ThemeTheme Central truth about life that is revealed in the Central truth about life that is revealed in the
work. work. Some may not have a theme- they could be written Some may not have a theme- they could be written
to entertain, scare or create an atmosphere.to entertain, scare or create an atmosphere. Things to rememberThings to remember
Theme is a generalized statement about life that arises Theme is a generalized statement about life that arises from the storyfrom the story
Always stated as a sentence that develops a truth about Always stated as a sentence that develops a truth about lifelife
Must arise from the story and not from personal Must arise from the story and not from personal experiencesexperiences
Never written as a moralNever written as a moral Not expressed as a clichéNot expressed as a cliché
Short Story Devices and Short Story Devices and TechniquesTechniques
Repetition: the same incident repeats it self. Repetition: the same incident repeats it self. Similar lines are repeated. This is almost Similar lines are repeated. This is almost always important and relates to the theme!always important and relates to the theme!
Irony: the opposite happens as to what is Irony: the opposite happens as to what is expectedexpected Verbal irony: opposite is said as to what is Verbal irony: opposite is said as to what is
intendedintended Dramatic irony: audience or readers know more Dramatic irony: audience or readers know more
than the charactersthan the characters Situational irony: the opposite happens as to Situational irony: the opposite happens as to
what is expectedwhat is expected
Short Story Devices and Short Story Devices and TechniquesTechniques
Foreshadowing:Foreshadowing: consists of details early in the consists of details early in the story that hint as to what is coming later onstory that hint as to what is coming later on
Flashback:Flashback: story begins in one time setting, but story begins in one time setting, but then the author moves back in time to tell the then the author moves back in time to tell the story in an earlier time settingstory in an earlier time setting
Precarious situationPrecarious situation: conflict itself is scary, : conflict itself is scary, and the reader knows something bad will happenand the reader knows something bad will happen
Delaying the event:Delaying the event: when delaying the event, when delaying the event, the writer increases the amount of detail to delay the writer increases the amount of detail to delay the event, and create suspensethe event, and create suspense
Dilemma:Dilemma: protagonist has a choice between two protagonist has a choice between two negative alternativesnegative alternatives
Predicament: Predicament: a problem that is difficult to a problem that is difficult to solve; the positive solution is difficult to obtain.solve; the positive solution is difficult to obtain.
Short Story Devices and Short Story Devices and TechniquesTechniques
Symbol:Symbol: A concrete object that stands for an abstract idea. A concrete object that stands for an abstract idea. Both the object and the idea share common characteristics.Both the object and the idea share common characteristics.
ParallelsParallels: the author puts similar events or character in a : the author puts similar events or character in a story to clarify the meaning or heighten moodstory to clarify the meaning or heighten mood
Imagery:Imagery: appeals to our sense of sight, taste, touch, smell, appeals to our sense of sight, taste, touch, smell, heat and motionheat and motion
Sub-plot:Sub-plot: a secondary story line that develops along with the a secondary story line that develops along with the main story linemain story line
Deus ex machina: Deus ex machina: an artificial solution to a seemingly an artificial solution to a seemingly insolvable problem. Readers often feel cheated by this type of insolvable problem. Readers often feel cheated by this type of endingending
Motif: Motif: aa recurring image or detail in a story recurring image or detail in a story Epiphany:Epiphany: a moment of significant realization and insight a moment of significant realization and insight
experienced by protagonistexperienced by protagonist Verisimilitude:Verisimilitude: makes the story seem very life like. makes the story seem very life like.
Readers can identify with the characters or situation Readers can identify with the characters or situation personallypersonally
Figuring out meaningFiguring out meaning
Titles and NamesTitles and Names Beginnings and endingsBeginnings and endings PlotPlot
Movement from beginning to end of Movement from beginning to end of storystory
Situation of major characters at Situation of major characters at beginning and endbeginning and end
What makes no sense and seems to What makes no sense and seems to have no purpose- is it a hint?have no purpose- is it a hint?
Figuring out meaningFiguring out meaning
CharactersCharacters What do you know about themWhat do you know about them Are they individuals or typesAre they individuals or types What changes occur with themWhat changes occur with them
Figuring out meaningFiguring out meaning
Form/styleForm/style What is the tone? How is it established?What is the tone? How is it established? Symbolism: what is emphasized and/or Symbolism: what is emphasized and/or
repeatedrepeated Look for reoccurring patterns/ motifs/ Look for reoccurring patterns/ motifs/
elementselements
Theme: what do these all add up to?Theme: what do these all add up to?