Short StoryShort Story

The short story is a work of fiction that is The short story is a work of fiction that is shorter and more limited than the novel.shorter and more limited than the novel.

It usually focuses on one important event in It usually focuses on one important event in the lives of a small number of central the lives of a small number of central characters.characters.

Short stories vary in length but are usually Short stories vary in length but are usually short enough to be read in one sitting.short enough to be read in one sitting.

Elements of a Short StoryElements of a Short StoryCHARACTERCHARACTER

Who the story is about. All Who the story is about. All the people and sometimes the people and sometimes animals, that are in the story. animals, that are in the story. Character is the most important Character is the most important element of the short story. element of the short story.

The main character of a story is called The main character of a story is called the the protagonist. protagonist. This is the person that This is the person that most of the action is happening to and most of the action is happening to and who the story is mostly about. In the best who the story is mostly about. In the best stories, characters come alive. We care stories, characters come alive. We care about their dreams, fears, and about their dreams, fears, and frustrations just as if they were real frustrations just as if they were real people in our lives.people in our lives.

Supporting charactersSupporting characters are all of the other are all of the other people in the story who interact in some people in the story who interact in some way with the main character.way with the main character.

How Writers Portray How Writers Portray CharactersCharacters

CharacterizationCharacterization is the process by which is the process by which authors communicate their characters to authors communicate their characters to readers. The two types are direct and readers. The two types are direct and indirect characterization.indirect characterization.

Direct characterizationDirect characterization occurs when the occurs when the author tells readers about a character author tells readers about a character directly. directly.

Indirect characterizationIndirect characterization lets readers draw lets readers draw their own conclusions from clues in the story, their own conclusions from clues in the story, such as a character’s appearance, tone of such as a character’s appearance, tone of voice, or behavior.voice, or behavior.

Plot

Developmental information, the actual story that is unfolding before us. This includes the interaction taking place between the different characters.

Series of related events that make up the story.

Most plots involve solving some kind of conflict, and proceed in this way:

1. Introduction: Tells us who the main character(s) are and what the conflict (problem) is.

2. Complications develop as the characters struggle with different possible solutions.

3. Climax: The main character(s) make a final decision that settles the conflict.

4. Ending: The story ends with the resolution.

SETTING Where the action takes place. The

time and place in which the events occur. Setting is the environment in which a story takes place. Short stories usually have only one major setting.

A story’s setting can have both physical and psychological effects on the action and characters of the story. (Think how differently a story might turn out if it were set in a crowded city instead of on a deserted island!)

THEME

What the story is really about. Major idea or lesson that a story conveys about life.

Action

What is happening throughout the story, the action that is taking place.

Tone and Mood

Tone is the attitude or style of expression used to write.

Mood or atmosphere is the general feeling in a story. It refers to the emotion(s) a writer makes a reader feel. Writers create atmosphere or mood by using imagery and vivid descriptions.

POINT OF VIEW

Who is telling the story. The vantage point from which a story is told.

There are three points of view from which a story can be told.

1. First person: The person telling the story is also a character in the story and used I, me, and my to tell what they observe and experience.

2. Third person: We see the story events from the viewpoint of just one of the characters in it. This character is referred to in the third person (he, she)

3. Omniscient or all-knowing: the narrator knows what everyone in the story is thinking, feeling, and doing.

Figurative Language

Figurative language refers to any language that uses images or language that makes different kinds of comparisons.

1. Imagery is language that appeals to the senses of hearing, touch, taste, sight, or smell.

2. Simile is a description that compares two unlike things to one another, using like or as.

3. Metaphor compares unlike things without using like or as.

4. Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration, usually funny.

5. onomatopoeia- Words that imitate the sounds they make.

6.

Foreshadowing and Flashback

Foreshadowing means suggesting beforehand what is going to happen later in the story.

A flashback occurs when the author tells about an event that happened before the time of the story.

CONFLICTWhat central problem causes the action. Big struggle between characters or opposing forces. Conflict provides the tension and drama that stories are built upon. It involves the “story problem” that must be resolved.

The central conflict in many short stories is The central conflict in many short stories is often based on one of these four common often based on one of these four common types of conflicts:types of conflicts:

Character against characterCharacter against character Character against societyCharacter against society Character against natureCharacter against nature Character against selfCharacter against self

Climax

The climax of the story is the main part or most interesting part of the story. It is the part of the story when we find out the answer to the mystery. At this point all the suspense that has been building up in us througout the story is finally resolved. The climax usually occurs near the end of the story.

POINT OF VIEWPOINT OF VIEW

Point of view Point of view is the perspective from is the perspective from which the story is told.which the story is told.

A story’s point of view is called A story’s point of view is called omniscient omniscient when the author is outside when the author is outside the story and presents the thoughts of all the story and presents the thoughts of all the characters involved.the characters involved.

Other points of view are called Other points of view are called limited limited when the story is told from the viewpoint when the story is told from the viewpoint of one character who can see only a part of one character who can see only a part of the whole story.of the whole story.

CLIMAXCLIMAX

The The climax climax of a short story is the dramatic of a short story is the dramatic moment when the tension reaches its moment when the tension reaches its peak and the conflict comes to a head.peak and the conflict comes to a head.

Since the construction of the short story is Since the construction of the short story is limited, the short story usually has only limited, the short story usually has only one major climax. All elements of the one major climax. All elements of the story work together to lead to the climax.story work together to lead to the climax.

RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION

The The resolution resolution follows the climax. It follows the climax. It shows how the conflict winds down and shows how the conflict winds down and the story ends.the story ends.

Sometimes the resolution is not clearly Sometimes the resolution is not clearly defined, leaving readers to decide for defined, leaving readers to decide for themselves how to interpret the ending.themselves how to interpret the ending.