Elements of a Short Elements of a Short StoryStory

OrOr

What makes a short What makes a short story?story?

All short stories contain:All short stories contain:

CharactersCharacters ThemeTheme Point of ViewPoint of View SettingSetting PlotPlot

CharactersCharacters are the story’s are the story’s actors.actors.

The setting may also be a The setting may also be a character.character.

Characters are classified Characters are classified as:as:

Protagonist or Protagonist or AntagonistAntagonist

Dynamic or Dynamic or StaticStatic

Flat or RoundFlat or Round

ProtagonistProtagonist The protagonist is The protagonist is

usually the first usually the first character introduced character introduced in the story.in the story.

He wants something He wants something and sets out to get it.and sets out to get it.

Neither all good or all Neither all good or all bad.bad.

AntagonistAntagonist

The character or The character or force that comes force that comes into conflict with into conflict with the protagonist.the protagonist.

Rarely all bad.Rarely all bad.

Do Characters Grow?Do Characters Grow?

DynamicDynamic Usually the Usually the

protagonistprotagonist Makes a change Makes a change

or discovery about or discovery about himselfhimself

Not the same Not the same person at the end person at the end of the storyof the story

Must be a Must be a believable changebelievable change

StaticStatic Character that Character that

essentially essentially remains the same remains the same from the from the beginning to the beginning to the endend

Adds stabilityAdds stability

Characters and their Characters and their PersonalityPersonality

Flat CharacterFlat Character Only has one or Only has one or

two personality two personality traitstraits

Is easily Is easily describeddescribed

EX: Stock EX: Stock Characters—A Characters—A character that fits character that fits a our a our expectationsexpectations

Round CharacterRound Character Many sides to his Many sides to his

personalitypersonality Many times is Many times is

the protagonist the protagonist as we see a as we see a change in the change in the character from character from the start to the the start to the end.end.

Methods to Develop Methods to Develop CharactersCharacters

Direct Direct CharacterizationCharacterization Author tells us Author tells us

what the what the character is likecharacter is like TimidTimid OutgoingOutgoing

Indirect Indirect CharacterizationCharacterization The readers use clues The readers use clues

to determine the to determine the characters personalitycharacters personality

AppearanceAppearance DialectDialect Sentence StructureSentence Structure Private ThoughtsPrivate Thoughts MotivesMotives Effects on othersEffects on others ActionsActions

ThemeTheme

Definition: An idea or insight about Definition: An idea or insight about human life and human nature that human life and human nature that gives gives meaningmeaning to the story to the story

Theme is not the plot or the subjectTheme is not the plot or the subject—it is the idea.—it is the idea.

It lets us, as the reader, see how It lets us, as the reader, see how others view life.others view life.

Ways to determine a Ways to determine a story’s story’s THEMETHEME

1.1. Ask “What does this story reveal?” Ask “What does this story reveal?” Remember, the theme is not the same as Remember, the theme is not the same as a moral.a moral.

2.2. Ask “How has the protagonist changed?” Ask “How has the protagonist changed?” This generally shows what the author This generally shows what the author wishes to reveal about life.wishes to reveal about life.

3. 3. Consider the title of the story. It may Consider the title of the story. It may contain hints to the theme.contain hints to the theme.

4.4. A theme must be expressed as a A theme must be expressed as a generalization about life or human nature.generalization about life or human nature.

5.5. A theme makes a statement A theme makes a statement about the subject of the story. about the subject of the story. It must be written in at least It must be written in at least one complete sentence.one complete sentence.

6.6. However, be careful to avoid However, be careful to avoid making a universal statement making a universal statement (all, every, some, many, or (all, every, some, many, or no.)no.)

7.7. The theme must pertain to The theme must pertain to the entire story.the entire story.

8.8. Each reader may come up Each reader may come up with a completely different with a completely different theme.theme.

Point of ViewPoint of View

The vantage point The vantage point from which the from which the story is told.story is told. OmniscientOmniscient First-PersonFirst-Person Limited Third Limited Third

PersonPerson

OmniscientOmniscient

““All knowing”All knowing” Knows everything that is happening in the Knows everything that is happening in the

storystory Knows how every character thinks and feelsKnows how every character thinks and feels Storyteller is outside the story, but may Storyteller is outside the story, but may

comment on the meaning of the story or comment on the meaning of the story or make asides about the characters or eventsmake asides about the characters or events

First-PersonFirst-Person

““I”I” The character participates in the storyThe character participates in the story Draws the reader into the actionDraws the reader into the action The reader only sees what the character The reader only sees what the character

(narrator) wants to see(narrator) wants to see Remember though the narrator might Remember though the narrator might

not be objectivenot be objective Most effective way to engage the readerMost effective way to engage the reader

Limited Third PersonLimited Third Person

Outside observer tell the storyOutside observer tell the story Tells the story from the vantage Tells the story from the vantage

point of one characterpoint of one character Never used the pronoun “I”Never used the pronoun “I” Pay attention to how much detail is Pay attention to how much detail is

revealed about each character to revealed about each character to determine omniscient or third determine omniscient or third personperson

SettingSetting

When and where When and where the story takes the story takes placeplace

Creates Creates atmosphereatmosphere—feeling associated —feeling associated with a time and with a time and placeplace

VerisimilitudeVerisimilitude—a —a feeling of feeling of believabilitybelievability

Purpose of a SettingPurpose of a Setting

A background for actionA background for action As the antagonist (Man v. Nature)As the antagonist (Man v. Nature) Creates appropriate atmosphereCreates appropriate atmosphere Reveals character identities Reveals character identities

(indirect)(indirect) Reinforces themesReinforces themes

PlotPlot

The framework of a storyThe framework of a story The arrangement of related events The arrangement of related events

that makes the story “stick” that makes the story “stick” togethertogether

Plot Map

1

2

3

4

5

1. Exposition 4. Falling Action

2. Rising Action 5. Resolution

3. Climax (Denouement)

ExpositionExposition

Presents the characters and the Presents the characters and the settingsetting

The setting may be used as a The setting may be used as a charactercharacter

Sets the tone for the storySets the tone for the story Tone is the attitude the author takes Tone is the attitude the author takes

toward a subject or charactertoward a subject or character

Rising ActionRising Action

The complication is introduced hereThe complication is introduced here Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict

Internal (Man v. Himself)Internal (Man v. Himself) ExternalExternal

– Man V. PersonMan V. Person– Man v. NatureMan v. Nature– Man v. MachineMan v. Machine– Man v. SocietyMan v. Society– Man v. SupernaturalMan v. Supernatural

ClimaxClimax

The most tense or exciting part of The most tense or exciting part of the storythe story

When something happens that When something happens that decides the outcome of the story—decides the outcome of the story—the conflict is addressedthe conflict is addressed

Falling ActionFalling Action

Events, that are the result of the Events, that are the result of the climax, are put into playclimax, are put into play

Characters deal with the Characters deal with the consequences of the climaxconsequences of the climax

Resolution (Denouement)Resolution (Denouement)

The problem (conflict) in the story The problem (conflict) in the story are resolvedare resolved

The story is closed…or is it?The story is closed…or is it?