Elements of a Short StoryMrs. Smith – English 9A

What is a short story? Fiction Shorter than a novella and a novel Usually have…

a single setting, only a few main characters, a single plot, and attempt to resolve one conflict.

What is Setting?

Setting: time and place of the story

WhereWhere??

When?When?

What is a Character?

Character: A person, or any thing presented as a person, in a

literary work (animal, object, spirit, etc.).

Types of Characters: Protagonist:Protagonist:

The main character The “hero” of the work

Antagonist:Antagonist: A character (or force) that

works against the protagonist of a story

Types of Characters:

Round:Round: A major, fully-developed

character who changes and learns things as the story develops.

Flat:Flat: A minor character that does not

undergo major change or growth throughout the story.

Types of Characterization Characterization:Characterization:

the method the writer uses to reveal the character to the reader.

Direct Characterization:Direct Characterization: This is when the author tells the reader what the

character is like. Indirect Characterization:Indirect Characterization:

This is when the author shows words, thoughts, and actions of the character and lets the reader determine what the character is like.

What is Plot? The series of events that make up a story. Two main forms of organization:

Chronological: in order by time

Flashback: when the action shifts between past and present

Exposition

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Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

The Parts of Plot

Conflict

Exposition

The Parts of Plot Exposition: the beginning of the story that

introduces the setting, characters, and basic situation.

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The Parts of Plot Rising Action: begins with the main conflict and

helps build suspense up to the climax

Climax

The Parts of Plot Climax: the point of greatest tension in the story. The “ah, ha”

moment when we find out how the problem will be solved.

Falling Action

The Parts of Plot Falling Action: all of the events after the climax;

wraps up the loose ends of the story.

Resolution

The Parts of Plot Resolution: how the story ends.

The Parts of Plot

Conflict

Conflict: the problem that the characters face in the story. Begins with an inciting incident.

Types of Conflict? Internal Conflict:

Takes place within a character man vs. self

External Conflict: man vs. man man vs. nature man vs. society

Point of View 1st Person Point-of-View

The narrator is a character in the story Uses the words I, me, we, us, my…

Point of View 3rd Person Limited

Told from a narrator outside of the story that is limited to one character’s view of the events.

3rd Person Omniscient a narrator outside the story who is “all-knowing”

A few last things… Foreshadowing:

When the author provides hints about later events in the story

Theme: A central message about life that the story is

presenting Described in general terms, not in relation to

specific events or characters in the story