Elements of a Short StoryElements of a Short Story

The Perkiomen SchoolThe Perkiomen School

ESL Advanced LiteratureESL Advanced Literature

Elements of a Short Story of a Short StoryElements of a Short Story of a Short Story

A short story is a work of A short story is a work of fiction that can be read in one fiction that can be read in one

sitting.sitting.

PlotPlot

The chain of related events that The chain of related events that take place in a story.take place in a story.– What is the plot of “Blonde?”What is the plot of “Blonde?”

Built around conflict, which is a Built around conflict, which is a struggle between opposing forces.struggle between opposing forces.– Who are the opposing forces in Who are the opposing forces in

“Blonde?” What are they struggling “Blonde?” What are they struggling over?over?

Plot at a Glance

climax

falling action

rising action

exposition resolution

Exposition-

gives the background of the story

Rising Action-

introduces conflict; builds suspense

Climax-

the turning point of the story

suspense reaches its peak

Falling Action and Resolution

resolves the conflict

usually ties up loose ends

What are the chain of events which mark the different points during the plot of “Blonde?”

exposition-

the description of the idea of a blond, the father’s stories, and the girl saying she would give it all to be blond

What are the chain of events which mark the different points during the plot of “Blonde?”

rising action –

The building of the story as the narrator describes practicing to be blond, and then tells the story about her false mother to the girl on the bus.

What are the chain of events which mark the different points during the plot of “Blonde?”

climax –

being given and putting on the wig, parent’s reaction

falling action –

n/a

What are the chain of events which mark the different points during the plot of “Blonde?”

resolution –

author feels like she has taken something that does not belong to her (…usurper’s uneasy crown)

The plot of a short story centers around conflict. Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces.

Types of Conflict•External

-Man v Man

-Man v Nature

-Man v Obstacle or Society

•Internal

-Man v Himself

Examples of the Types of Conflict•External

-Man vs. Man

Harry Potter and his friends vs. Voldemort and the Death Eaters

-Man vs. Nature

Often seen in mythology of many peoples; when characters battle with illness; when characters battle bad weather

Examples of the Types of Conflict•External

-Man v Obstacle or Society

In introduction, the author’s conflict with people in publishing industry over what an Asian writer should write

Examples of the Types of Conflict•Internal

-Man v Himself

In the introduction to “American Eyes” the author’s decision to drop out of high school

Narrator’s conflict with her self-image in “Blonde”

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Creating Believable CharactersCreating Believable Characters

IndirectIndirect– physical appearancephysical appearance

– speech, thoughts, speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions feelings, or actions of the characterof the character

– speech, thoughts, speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions feelings, or actions of other charactersof other characters

DirectDirect

– the narrator’s the narrator’s direct comments direct comments about a characterabout a character

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Creating Believable CharactersCreating Believable Characters

Ed Johnson scratched his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. The old mechanic hated modern electronics, preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of manuals and a good set of tools.

“That Ed Johnson,” said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. “He hasn’t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he’d be happy as a hungry frog in a fly-field.”

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Creating Believable CharactersCreating Believable Characters

Julie owned a multitude of outfits and accessories, and it always took her forever to decide which combination might impress Trent. As usual, she called her sister several times for advice. After doing so, Julie decided to give the navy blue skirt with the white sweater a try.

Julie held up six different outfits in front of the mirror and pondered which would go best with her navy blue shoes, pastel eye shadow and the diamond earrings she’d already procured from her overflowing vanity. After ninety minutes of mixing and matching, and cell-phoning her sister three times for advice, Julie finally made up her mind. She’d give the navy blue skirt and white sweater a try, hoping Trent would love it.

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Creating Believable CharactersCreating Believable Characters

Indirect Characterization from the story Indirect Characterization from the story “Blonde”“Blonde”– speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the

charactercharacter ““I would have given it all to look like Lisa…”I would have given it all to look like Lisa…”

– speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characterscharacters

““My mom says you’re making up stories [the girl from My mom says you’re making up stories [the girl from the bus said]”the bus said]”

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Creating Believable CharactersCreating Believable Characters

Direct Characterization from Direct Characterization from Excerpt from BoneExcerpt from Bone

- - He looked good: tanned and muscled and proud to He looked good: tanned and muscled and proud to have money for Mah. P. 103have money for Mah. P. 103

Indirect Characterization from Indirect Characterization from Excerpt from Excerpt from BoneBone

- [When he] went up to Leon and said, “Wey, Leon - [When he] went up to Leon and said, “Wey, Leon you’re wearing the green hat.”you’re wearing the green hat.”

Methods of Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Creating Believable CharactersCreating Believable Characters

Characterization in the story Characterization in the story “Housepainting”“Housepainting”– Direct or Indirect, why? Direct or Indirect, why?

Types of Characters

•Main or minor

•Narrator / Doris Filcher

•Protagonist or antagonist

• Harry Potter and Voldemort

Types of Characters

•Round vs. Flat

•Static vs. Dynamic

• Narrator of Blond

• Voldemort

Types of Characters

•*Stereotypes=stock characters*

• Evil wizard, mad scientist, beautiful princess

Setting= time and place

-puts the reader in the story by giving the reader the feeling of

being in the situation.

-creates atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the

place.

Point of View or . . .

(Who’s telling this story anyway?)-the vantage point from which the story is told.

-determines how much we, the readers, know about the characters.

1st Person• Narrator is a character in the story.

•Narrator uses first-person pronouns, I, me, my, we, us, our to refer to himself or herself.

•Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character and speaks directly to reader.

•Both the introduction and “Blonde” are written in first person

Example of 1Example of 1stst Person Person

I went slowly up the stairs and waited for the inevitable. We had I went slowly up the stairs and waited for the inevitable. We had practiced exorcism with the priest, but we were unsure if this practiced exorcism with the priest, but we were unsure if this unclean spirit had a hold on our house that we were unable to break.unclean spirit had a hold on our house that we were unable to break.

I said, “be gone you evil dog!”I said, “be gone you evil dog!”

The demon replied to me, “but I haven’t gotten what I came for!!”The demon replied to me, “but I haven’t gotten what I came for!!”

I pulled out my holy water, said another prayer, and the hand of God I pulled out my holy water, said another prayer, and the hand of God came down and drove the demon back to Hell and its master Lucifer.came down and drove the demon back to Hell and its master Lucifer.

3rd Person Limited•Narrator does not participate in action of story.

•Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.

•Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but readers are able to maintain some emotional distance from the character.

Example of 3Example of 3rdrd Person Person LimitedLimited

Walter came quickly to class but he was late. Mr. Walter came quickly to class but he was late. Mr. Smith scolded him and bid him to sit down. Smith scolded him and bid him to sit down. Throughout his first two years at PERK Walter had Throughout his first two years at PERK Walter had trouble getting to class on time. He was a young man trouble getting to class on time. He was a young man with a lot on his mind and he tended to let it wander.with a lot on his mind and he tended to let it wander.

Aaron was quiet. Kevin seemed boisterous Aaron was quiet. Kevin seemed boisterous sometimes. Both of them didn’t get into trouble. Mr. sometimes. Both of them didn’t get into trouble. Mr. Smith knew them but was unsure of their Smith knew them but was unsure of their motivations.motivations.

Walter was an open book. He talked so much and so Walter was an open book. He talked so much and so often that everyone knew he was just young and often that everyone knew he was just young and immature.immature.

3rd Person Omniscient•Narrator does not participate in action of story.

•Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.

•Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters; readers get insight into several characters.

•The Harry Potter books are 3rd P Omniscient

Example of 3Example of 3rdrd Person Person OmniscientOmniscient

Tom was the young man with the red corvette who Tom was the young man with the red corvette who lived on the corner of Maple street. He dated Jane. His lived on the corner of Maple street. He dated Jane. His parents were divorced and he had far too much time parents were divorced and he had far too much time on his hands for a young man of seventeen. Having on his hands for a young man of seventeen. Having lived with his father for nearly ten years he had the lived with his father for nearly ten years he had the run of the house and his father’s credit card. He got run of the house and his father’s credit card. He got anything he wanted. Jane was simply another anything he wanted. Jane was simply another material item to his existence.material item to his existence.

Jane saw Tom as an opportunity to advance her social Jane saw Tom as an opportunity to advance her social standing. She was attractive, had an average amount standing. She was attractive, had an average amount of friends, and was a second-tier cheerleader. Her of friends, and was a second-tier cheerleader. Her parents were overly protective and this caused her parents were overly protective and this caused her problems maintaining the “cool” friends at school.problems maintaining the “cool” friends at school.

Eloiuse was the most popular girl at school. She had Eloiuse was the most popular girl at school. She had platinum blonde hair, shiny red fingernails and platinum blonde hair, shiny red fingernails and designer clothes. She knew all the right people and designer clothes. She knew all the right people and went to all the right parties. She was captain of the went to all the right parties. She was captain of the cheerleading squad and was goicheerleading squad and was going out with the ng out with the captain of the football team.captain of the football team.

What is a symbol?

SymbolSymbol

Symbol (n) – a person, a place, an Symbol (n) – a person, a place, an activity, or a thing that represents activity, or a thing that represents or stands for something else, or stands for something else, especially a material object especially a material object representing something strange or representing something strange or abstract: abstract: the fancy car was the fancy car was another symbol of the gangster’s another symbol of the gangster’s wealth and authoritywealth and authority. .

Excerpt from Bone: Excerpt from Bone: Wey, Leon you’re wearing a green hat. P. Wey, Leon you’re wearing a green hat. P. 103103

Blonde: dark yellow, gaudy as margarine; deep like a buttercup held to the chin; soft, the silky-headed down of the chicks; the color of cold, precious metals like the shining luster of gold or platinum, silver-foiled and heavy; garish like an albino rock star’s hair, not white out of age, but obliterating, like the sun that no one can look into because it is too hot. P. 1

Summer of my Korean Soldier: “Where are we going?” I surprised myself by speaking in Korean.Jun Ho only smiles and gave my hand a squeeze. “Home,” he said. P. 45

MetaphorMetaphor Metaphor – (n) a figure of speech in which a Metaphor – (n) a figure of speech in which a

word or phrase is applied to an object or word or phrase is applied to an object or action in an unusual and unlikely way; a action in an unusual and unlikely way; a comparison or analogy stated in such a way comparison or analogy stated in such a way as to imply that one object is another one, as to imply that one object is another one, figuratively speaking: figuratively speaking:

I had fallen through a trapdoor of I had fallen through a trapdoor of depressiondepression

The sky is the trapdoor of Heaven.The sky is the trapdoor of Heaven. Blonde hair is America.Blonde hair is America.

MetaphorMetaphor

““Blonde” by Katherine Min pg3 Blonde” by Katherine Min pg3 paragraph2 “No one really believed paragraph2 “No one really believed me … Her dry mouth opened, dull me … Her dry mouth opened, dull eyes widening to half dollars.” eyes widening to half dollars.”

MetaphorMetaphor““My whole Korean life lay among those spidery My whole Korean life lay among those spidery interlocking symbols. P. 44interlocking symbols. P. 44

Even though they lived only three blocks away, Rosa’s Even though they lived only three blocks away, Rosa’s husband, Luciano, always picked her up in his big black husband, Luciano, always picked her up in his big black Monte Carlo, a ship on narrow Salmon Alley. Monte Carlo, a ship on narrow Salmon Alley. P. 113P. 113

““Housepainting” pg12 paragraph3, “Whenever I read Housepainting” pg12 paragraph3, “Whenever I read about Asian gardeners, I thought my dad must have about Asian gardeners, I thought my dad must have come over on another boat.”come over on another boat.”

SimileSimile

A A similesimile is a literary device that is a literary device that directly compares two different things, directly compares two different things, using the words "like", "as", or "than". using the words "like", "as", or "than". Even though both similes and Even though both similes and metaphors are forms of comparison, are forms of comparison, similes indirectly compare the two ideas similes indirectly compare the two ideas and allow them to remain distinct in and allow them to remain distinct in spite of their similarities, whereas spite of their similarities, whereas metaphors compare two things directlymetaphors compare two things directly

SimileSimile

Liu Xiang is a record-setting runner Liu Xiang is a record-setting runner as fast as a speeding bullet.as fast as a speeding bullet. BlondeBlonde pg.3 pg.3Blonde…[is]…garish like an albino Blonde…[is]…garish like an albino rock star’s hair…rock star’s hair…

ThemeIn literature, theme is a perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to share with the reader through characters and plot in a literary work. It can be a single theme about the entire work of literature or it can be a single idea among others in a literary work.

ThemeThemes can be revealed by

- a story’s title

- key movements of the plot

- the evolution of characters and the lessons they learn about life

-other literary devices

The End