elements of a short story
TRANSCRIPT
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.