Elements of a Short Story

Elements of a Short StoryElements of a Short Story

A short story is a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting.

• Tells about a single event or experience

• Fictional (not true)• 500 to 15,000 words

in length• It has a beginning,

middle, and end• Creates an

impression on the reader

Additional Short Story Facts

5 Basic Elements of a Short Story

• Plot

• Characters

• Theme

• Setting

• Conflict

Plot

• The chain of related events that take place in a story.

• Built around conflict, which is a struggle between opposing forces.

5 Elements of Plot

At a Glance

climax

falling action

rising action

resolution

exposition

•Exposition- gives the background of the story

•Rising Action- introduces complications; builds suspense

•Climax- the turning point of the story; suspense reaches its peak

•Falling Action- the action in the story after the climax is revealed.

•Resolution- part of the plot that reveals the final outcome.

What do the 5 Elements of Plot mean?

The plot of a short story centers around conflict. Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces.

Complications build the reader’s excitement.

Types of Conflict•External

-Man v Man

-Man v Nature

-Man v Obstacle or Society

•Internal

-Man v Himself

Methods of CharacterizationCreating Believable Characters

• Indirect– physical appearance

– speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character

– speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characters

• Direct

– the narrator’s direct comments about a character

Types of Characters

•Main or Minor

•Protagonist or Antagonist

•Round or Flat

•Dynamic or Static

•*Stereotypes=Stock Characters*

Types of Characters

• Protagonist--Major character at the center of the story. • Antagonist--A character or force that opposes the

protagonist. • Minor character--0ften provides support and illuminates

the protagonist. • Static character--A character who remains the same. • Dynamic character--A character who changes in some

important way. • Characterization--The means by which writers reveal

character.

Setting= time and place

-puts the reader in the story by giving the reader the feeling of

being in the situation.

-creates atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the

place.

Point of View or . . .

(Who’s telling this story anyway?)-the vantage point from which the story is told.

-determines how much we, the readers, know about the characters.

1st Person• Narrator is a character in the story.

•Narrator uses first-person pronouns, I, me, my, we, us, our to refer to himself or herself.

•Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character and speaks directly to reader.

3rd Person Limited•Narrator does not participate in action of story.

•Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.

•Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but readers are able to maintain some emotional distance from the character.

3rd Person Omniscient•Narrator does not participate in action of story.

•Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.

•Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters; readers get insight into several characters.

What is a symbol?

A symbol is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself.

ThemeIn literature, theme is a perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to share with the reader.

In most cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred.

Themes can be revealed by

- a story’s title

- key phrases and statements about big ideas

- the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life.

The End