short story notes (structure, purpose, setting, plot, conflict & characterization)
TRANSCRIPT
SHORT STORIESSTRUCTURE, PURPOSE, SETTING, CONFLICT & CHARACTERIZATION
Nordonia High SchoolEnglish 9 CP
Presented by Mrs. TolinMrs. Smith
PLOT
It is an necessary element for any type of story.
Without a good plot line, you have nothing . . .
The most basic arrangement of events
PLOT IS THE LITERARY ELEMENT THAT DESCRIBES THE STRUCTURE OF THE STORY.
TYPES OF LINEAR PLOTS CHRONOLOGICAL
FLASHBACK
IN MEDIA RES (in the middle)
PLOT STRU
CTURE 5 MAIN PARTS TO THE PLOT STRUCTURE
PLOT STRUCTURE
Exposition:setting, characters & basic plot: the situation before the action starts
Conflict: Main problem of a story. Four main types: man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. nature, man vs. society
Rising Action: All of the events that lead up to the climax, the series of crisis in the story
Climax: the highest point of interest, the most intense moment; the character makes a decision that cannot be reversed
Falling Action: All of the action which follows the climax
Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads
THE PURPOSE OF THE SHORT STORY
Demonstrate a universal truth
Emphasize a character trait
Accentuate a mood or feeling
Recreate a scene
Teach a moral lesson Entertain Challenge the reader’s
intellect Answers the question
“what’s the point of stories that aren’t even true?”
The Setting of a Short StoryThe Environment in which a story takes place
Includes both TIME & PLACE
HOW SETTING FUNCTIONS IN A STORY
PROVIDES A BACKDROP FOR THE ACTION IN A STORY
ESTABLISHES ATMOSPHERE (SETS THE MOOD)
SHAPES CHARACTER & ACTION
REFLECTS CHARACTER PSYCHOLOGY
HO
W AU
THO
RS CREATE SETTIN
G
Example: using real cities or street names; describing a place as realistically as possible
Example: smell of cookies during winter break; swimming in cold lake water
DETAILS: BUILD DESCRIPTION WITH REALISTIC DETAILS TO MAKE IT BELIEVABLE
SENSE IMAGES: APPEAL TO SENSES, WHICH HELPS READER RELATE TO PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
QUESTIONS I SHOULD ASK WHILE READING
WHAT IS THE PHYSICAL BACKDROP? DOES IT CREATE ATMOSPHERE/ SHAPE CHARACTERS’ ACTIONS/REFLECT INNER THOUGHTS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES DID THE AUTHOR USE?
Conflicts & Short StoriesThe central source of tension and drama that makes a story interesting to read and gives it purpose
CATEGO
RIES OF CO
NFLICT
Character vs. Character
› Conflict between 2 people or 2 groups of people
› Examples: family troubles, bullies or romantic trouble
CATEGO
RIES OF CO
NFLICT
Character vs. Society
› Between individual and larger groups
› Examples: outsider in a strange culture, a struggle to “make it” in the world
CATEGORIES OF CONFLICT
Character vs. Nature› Individual and the
natural world
› Examples: Fighting a force of nature
› Surviving a plane crash in the desert
CATEGO
RIES OF CO
NFLICT
Character vs. Self› Psychological conflicts
within a person
› Examples: Overcoming a drug habit
› Grieving over loss of loved one
› Making a moral decision
READING STRATEGIES:
Story Problem
› Try to state the problem in one sentence
Elements of plot
› Include both the conflict and the climax
CHARACTERIZATIONThe methods a writer uses to
communicate information about characters to readers
Techniques of Characterization
DIRECT: The author tells the readers details about the character directly› Even though she was the youngest, Sarah
was the smartest of all three sisters
INDIRECT: The author shows the character in action and lets readers make their own interpretations› At report card time, Sarah received an A in
all subjects, unlike her sisters.
AUTH
OR’S
CHARACTERIZATIO
N TO
OLS
Character’s Name Physical Appearance How the character is
dressed Occupation Home & Surroundings Habit’s and Actions What other characters
say about him or her
Understanding Character Defined by the qualities that make them think, act
and feel in certain ways.
› Values: What people, places or things are most important in the character’s life? What does he or she value most?
› Feelings: What Emotions does the character feel most strongly?
› Goals: What are the character’s greatest hopes? What are they working to accomplish?
› Problems: What other characters or circumstances are keeping the character from achieving his goals?