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Elements of a Short Story

Basic Definition

Dictionary.com defines the term “short story” as “a prose narrative of length shorter than a novel, esp. one that concentrates on a single theme.”

Elements of Short Stories

Short stories contain a number of important elements. These elements work together to help create a meaning for the audience (reader). CharactersPlot

Exposition Rising action Climax Falling action Resolution

SettingTheme

Character

Characters are the representations of people/beings in a given work.

Examples: Harry Potter, Clark Kent, Goofy

Although characters can be representations of people, they can also represent other beings. Types of characters:

People Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)

Animals Aslan (Chronicles of Narnia)

Imaginary beings Edward Cullen (Twilight Series)

Plot

The plot of a short story is comprised of “events” that make up the story. We construct a plot diagram to help distinguish the various elements that make up plot. Click on the hyperlinks for an overview of each component.

Exposition

Ris

ing

act

ion

Climax

Falling action

ResolutionGo to

Setting

Exposition

The exposition of a plot is the start of the story. Readers find out information about characters, relationships, and conflicts in this section.

Think of this section as the building blocks for the story. Much of the important information for the story can be located here. Go

Back

Rising Action

The rising action in a short story consists of a series of events that builds up to the moment of greatest intensity.

Think of this as the time spent developing the characters and conflicts.

Go Back

http://finalexamhelp.weebly.com/climax.html

Climax

The highest point in the story is called the climax. This is the point of

greatest intensity and emotion or suspense.

Another perspective: Think of climax as the moment that has you on the edge of your seat.

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Falling Action

The series of events following the highest moment of intensity in the story.

Think of this portion of the story as a leisurely walk down a hill after you ran up the other side.

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Resolution

After the falling action in a story, the reader will come to the resolution.

This component of short stories consists of wrapping the loose ends.

Think of this as closure for the story.

Also known as denouement. Go

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Setting

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica online, setting refers to “the location and time frame in which the action of a narrative takes place.”

Location Time

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world.html, http://thewordthoughtsblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/time.html

Theme

When you read a short story, the central message or idea that you find is called the theme.

In literature, you will find that there are universal themes that exist across time, culture, and location. Ex: In the story about the little boy who cried wolf, the

theme could be that honesty is the best policy.

Works Consulted

"Setting (literary Device)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 05 June 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/536301/setting>.

"Short Story." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 31 May 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Short Story?s=t>.