Short Story Elements

What parts make up a story?

Story TermsStory TermsPlot SettingCharactersPoint of ViewTheme

PlotPlot

Plot is what happens and how Plot is what happens and how it happens in a narrative. A it happens in a narrative. A narrative is any work that tells narrative is any work that tells a story, such as a short story, a a story, such as a short story, a novel, a drama, or a narrative novel, a drama, or a narrative poem.poem.

Parts of a PlotParts of a Plot

Exposition – event that gives rise to conflict (opening situation)

Rising Action- events that complicate or intensify the central conflict (rising action)

Climax- highest point of interest or emotional involvement in the story

Falling Action- logical result of ClimaxResolution- Final outcome of the story

ConflictConflict

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forcesConflict is a struggle between opposing forcesEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictEvery plot must contain some kind of conflictStories can have more than one conflictStories can have more than one conflictConflicts can be external or internalConflicts can be external or internal

External conflictExternal conflict- outside force may be person, - outside force may be person, group, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstaclegroup, animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle

Internal conflictInternal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind- takes place in a character’s mind

Diagram of PlotDiagram of Plot

Conflict

Exposition

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Climax (often called the “Turning Point)

Falling Action

Resolution

Special Techniques of Special Techniques of PlotPlot

Suspense- excitement or tensionForeshadowing- hint or clue about what

will happen in storyFlashback- interrupts the normal sequence

of events to tell about something that happened in the past

Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect (use of irony)

SettingSettingSettingSetting

Details that describe:Details that describe:FurnitureFurnitureScenerySceneryCustomsCustomsTransportationTransportationClothingClothingDialectsDialectsWeatherWeatherTime of dayTime of dayTime of yearTime of year

TimeTime and and placeplace are where the action are where the action occursoccurs

Elements of a SettingElements of a Setting

Setting

Place

Atmosphere

Time

History

EraLife

Mood

Weather

Feelings

WordChoice

Location

Physical

Day

Use as activator to activate prior knowledge. Write the web on the board or overhead and students create one at their seats. Then as class share and fill in.

The Functions of a The Functions of a SettingSetting

To create a mood or atmosphere

To show a reader a different way of life

To make action seem more real

To be the source of conflict or struggle

To symbolize an idea

We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.

That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.

Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters

People or animalsMajor charactersMinor charactersRound charactersFlat characters

Elements of CharacterElements of Character

Character

Main

Flat

Minor

Not Fully Developed

FriendsRelativesFully

Developed

Protagonist

AntagonistCo-Main

Enemy

Others

Round

Flat

CharacterizationCharacterization

A writer reveals what a character is like and A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the how the character changes throughout the story.story.

Two primary methods of characterization:Two primary methods of characterization:Direct-Direct- writer tells what the character is like writer tells what the character is likeIndirectIndirect-- writer shows what a character is like writer shows what a character is like

by describing what the character looks like, by by describing what the character looks like, by telling what the character says and does, and by telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say about and do in what other characters say about and do in response to the character.response to the character.

Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization…And I don’t play the dozens or believe

in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.

From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

The old man bowed to all of us in the room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank--he was the janitor.

From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo

CharacterizationCharacterization

A writer reveals what a character is like and A writer reveals what a character is like and how the character changes throughout the how the character changes throughout the story.story.

Two primary types of character:Two primary types of character:Flat-Flat- reveals only one or two traits. reveals only one or two traits.

RoundRound-- reveals varied and sometimes reveals varied and sometimes contradictory traits.contradictory traits.

Factors in Analyzing Factors in Analyzing CharactersCharacters

Physical appearance of characterPersonalityBackground/personal historyMotivationRelationshipsConflictDoes character change?

ThemeThemeA 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 impliedInterpretation uncovers the theme

Example of ThemeExample of Theme

“Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.”

From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book