elements of a short story goal: the short story? you will be able to : 1.identify the elements of...

Elements of a Short Story

Goal: The short story?

YOU will be able to: 1.Identify the elements of

the short story2.Establish working

definitions of the elements of a short story

3. Create your own short story

What we will focus on to learn.

•What is a short story?•What are the characteristics or elements of a short story?

•How can we create a short story?

“Duffy’s Jacket”

As you listen or read “Duffy’s Jacket, write down anything you notice the story having as far as their structure.

Definition of a Short Story

Tells about a single event or experience Fictional (not true)500 to 15,000 words in lengthIt has a beginning, middle, and endCreates an impression on the reader

Elements of a Short Story

PlotThemePoint of viewConflictCharacterizationSettingClimaxResolution

PLOTPlot: A series of events through which the writer reveals what is happening, to whom, and why.

ThemeTheme: The story’s main idea. The “message” the writer intends to communicate by telling the story.

ThemeA central message, concern, or insight

into life expressed through a literary work

Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life

May be stated directly or impliedYou will need to infer what the theme is

from the work’s title, key scenes, characters, symbols, and plot events.

Identifying ThemeConsider the following questions:• What is the problem?• Why does the problem occur?• How does the character confront the problem?• How does it turn out in the end?• Why does it turn out that way?• What is to be learned from the way the character

dealt with the problem and the way it turned out?

Identifying Theme

Consider the topic:

• What seems to be the topic of the message?

• Is there more than one topic?

• If so, how do the topics connect?

• What does the writer seem to be saying about the topic(s)?

Final Word about Theme

• In order to understand and appreciate a writer’s story, it is necessary to understand the message behind the story.

Point of View

Point of view: The position of the narrator of the story and what the writer sees from that vantage point.

POINT OF VIEW

– FIRST PERSON (I made the winning shot.)

– THIRD PERSON (Matt made the winning shot.)

– OMNISCIENT–all knowing so it can reveal inner thoughts, feelings (Matt was nervous as he released the basketball.)

– LIMITED OMNISCIENT

Point of View

1. Character – 1st person• Major• Minor• Observer• Participant• Reliable/unreliable

2. Narrator – third person

• Omniscient• Limited• Objective

Example: “There was a man who had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.”

ConflictConflict: Is a problem in the story that needs to be resolved.

These are Examples of Conflict

These are Examples

Types of Conflicts• External Conflicts

– Person vs. Person– Person vs. Nature– Person vs. Society– Person vs. Supernatural– Person Vs. Technology

• Internal Conflicts– Person vs. Self

CharacterizationCharacterization: Creation of imaginary characters who appear to be real to the reader. The writer gives information about the characters in the story.

Characterization•Telling us directly what the character is like

•Describing how the character looks and dresses

•Presenting the characters words and actions

•Revealing characters private thoughts and feelings

•Showing how other people respond and feel about the character

SettingSetting: Tells the reader where and when the story takes place.

ClimaxClimax: When the action comes to its highest point of conflict.

ResolutionResolution: The story’s action after the climax until the end of the story. The “conclusion” of the story.