Class Notes

The Elements of Short Stories

SettingSetting

PlaceTimeWeather conditionsSocial conditions Mood or atmosphere

Setting in “Changes”

ConflictDefinition: Struggle

between two forces in a story.

Kinds of Conflict

Human vs. Nature

Human vs. Society

Human vs. SelfInternal Conflict

Human vs. HumanExternal Conflict

Plot Components

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Characters

– Protagonist - The central character of the story

– Antagonist - The opposing force in the story

“Changes”

– African-Americans

Definition

–Police officers

Characters and Characterization

• Characterization – information the author gives the reader about

the characters. – The author may reveal a character in several

ways: a)  his/her physical appearance b)  what s/he says, thinks, feels and

dreams c)  what s/he does or does not do d)  what others say about him/her and

how others react to him/her

Characterization in “Changes”

• Write down examples of chracterization in “Changes”

Plot Components1. Exposition: the start

of the story

2. Rising Action: the series of conflicts.

3. Climax: the most intense moment

4. Falling Action: action after the climax

5. Resolution: the conclusion

What is the exposition in “Changes”

What is the rising action in “Changes”

What is the climax in “Changes”

What is the falling action in “Changes”

What is the resolution in “Changes”

Point of View

• The perspective from which a story is told.

• Points of view include: – First person – Stream of consciousness– Omniscient

Point of View First Person

– Story is told  by the protagonist or one of the characters who interacts closely with the protagonist or other characters (using pronouns I, me, we, etc). 

– Reader sees the story through this person's eyes as s/he experiences it

Point of ViewOmniscient

–Storyteller/author knows all the facts about the character(s)

Point of View Stream of Consciousness

• The reader feels as if they are inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions.

Theme

• The controlling idea, central insight, or message of the story.

• Focus of the story.• Explains what happens and why it

happens. • Theme is often inferred based on

characters and situations in a story. • To find the theme of a story consider:

– The purpose of the story– What view of life does it supports, or what

insight into life it reveals.