elements of a short story

OBJECTIVES:

Identify the elements of a short story

Define each element of a short story

Use knowledge of short story elements in completing story map/grammar

What is a SHORT STORY?

A fictional work depicting one character’s inner conflict or conflict with others, usually having one thematic focus.

A short story tells only one story and is shorter than a novel.

The time and place in which the story happened.

Several aspects to consider:A.) PLACE – geographical location

Where is the action of the story taking place.

B.) TIME – When is the story taking place?

(historical period, time of day, year etc)C.)WEATHER CONDITIONS – Is it rainy,

sunny, stormy?D.)SOCIAL CONDITIONS – What is the

daily life of the characters?

E.)MOOD or ATMOSPHERE- What feeling is created at the beginning of a story?Is it bright and cheerful? Is it dark and frightening?

Persons, animals or things involved in a short storyCharacteristics of a person

KINDS OF CHARACTERS:

1.MAJOR CHARACTERS – main characters of a storyPROTAGONIST – central character

ANTAGONIST – opposer of the protagonist

- “villain”2. MINOR CHARACTERS – have little roles in the story

Snow White Little Mermaid

Characters can be ….

INDIVIDUAL/ROUND – many sided and complex personalities

DEVELOPING/DYNAMIC – many sided personalities that change for better or for worse by the end of the story

STATIC – have one or more characteristics that never change

-stereotypes-cruel stepmother,supportive

bestfriend

The author may reveal the characteristics of a person in several ways: His /her physical

appearance What he/she says,

thinks, feels and dreams

What he/she does or does not do

What others say about him or her and how others react to him/her

How the author arranges events to develop his basic ideaIt is the sequence of events in a storyA planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle and end.

PLOT

PLOT GRAPH

INTRODUCTION/EXPOSITION – beginning of a story where the characters and the setting are revealed

RISING ACTION – This is where the events become complicated and the conflict is revealed

(events between the introduction and climax)

CLIMAX – highest point of interest and turning point of a story

FALLING ACTION – The events and complications begin to resolve themselves.

The reader knows what happened and if the conflict was resolved or not

RESOLUTION/DENOUEMENT – This is the final outcome or untangling of events

It is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot moveConflicts are not limited to open arguments rather it is any form of opposition to the main character

CONFLICT

TYPES OF CONFLICT

EXTERNAL – A struggle with a force outside one’s self

INTERNAL – A struggle with one’s self

A person must make some decision, overcome pain, control anger, resist an urge

FOUR KINDS OF CONFLICT: MAN VS MAN – The

leading character struggles with his physical strength against men (physical)

MAN VS CIRCUMSTANCES – the leading character struggles against fate or the circumstances of life facing her

MAN VS SOCIETY – the leading character struggles against ideas, practices or customs of other people

(social) MAN VS

HIMSELF/HERSELF – the leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his or her own soul,ideas of right or wrong,physical limitations,choices,etc

Is the story’s controlling idea or its central insightIt is the author’s underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to conveyThe theme may be the author’s thoughts about a topic or view of human nature.

THEME

COMMON THEMES

Believe in yourself.Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Honesty is the best policy.Don’t do unto what others you don’t want to do unto you.

The angle from which a story is told

POINT OF VIEW

TYPES OF POINT OF VIEW

INNOCENT EYE – The story is told through the eyes of a child

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS – the story is told so that the readers feel as if they are inside the head of one character and knows all her thoughts and actions

FIRST PERSON – the story is told by the protagonist or one of the characters who interacts closely with the protagonist- Pronouns I, me,we are used

OMNISCIENT – the writer moves from character to character,event to event having a free access to the thoughts,feelings and motivation of the characters.

Now that you know the elements of a short story,it would be easier for you to complete a story map.

With all the elements in your mind,you can already retell a story in your own words.