The Elements of a Short StoryThe Elements of a Short Story

These terms also apply to fiction and non-fiction stories alike

An OverviewAn Overview

What is a short story?What is a short story? How does it differ from a novel?How does it differ from a novel? What are the main elements of nonfiction?What are the main elements of nonfiction?

Basic PremisesBasic Premises

A short story tells about something that A short story tells about something that happens happens to someoneto someone..

In a good short story, there are no In a good short story, there are no accidentsaccidents. . That is everything is put there for a That is everything is put there for a reasonreason..

In a good short story all the parts work In a good short story all the parts work togethertogether to reinforce one another. to reinforce one another.

Literature of Escape (enjoyment):Literature of Escape (enjoyment):

Entertainment.Entertainment. Pass time Pass time enjoyably.enjoyably. Take us away from Take us away from the real worldthe real world.. Forget our Forget our troubles.troubles. Requires little Requires little mental effortmental effort to read. to read. Escape literature’s only object is Escape literature’s only object is pleasure.pleasure.

Literature of Interpretation Literature of Interpretation (understanding):(understanding):

To broaden, deepen, sharpen our To broaden, deepen, sharpen our awareness of life.awareness of life. Takes us, through our Takes us, through our imaginationimagination, deeper into the , deeper into the

real world.real world. Enables us to understand our Enables us to understand our troubles.troubles. Readers take a deeper pleasure in fiction that deals Readers take a deeper pleasure in fiction that deals

with life.with life. Interpretive literature’s object is Interpretive literature’s object is pleasurepleasure and and

understanding.understanding.

Literature of Escape vs. Literature of Escape vs. Literature of InterpretationLiterature of Interpretation

The difference does not lie in the The difference does not lie in the absenceabsence or or presencepresence of a moral, lesson, of a moral, lesson, facts, or fantasy.facts, or fantasy.

Plot DiagramPlot Diagram

ExpositionExposition: : necessary necessary background informationbackground information at the at the beginning beginning of the story in order to establish of the story in order to establish the action.the action.

ConflictConflict: : Presents the Presents the problemproblem the the main main charactercharacter has to deal with. has to deal with.

Rising ActionRising Action: : the main character begins to the main character begins to tackle the problemtackle the problem..

Plot Diagram Plot Diagram (cont.)(cont.)

ClimaxClimax: the character comes : the character comes faceface to to faceface with the problem.with the problem.

Falling ActionFalling Action:: the problem is the problem is resolvedresolved and things get back to and things get back to normalnormal (or at least (or at least appear to).appear to).

Resolution (Denouement)Resolution (Denouement):: the author the author ties all ties all loose endsloose ends together to provide together to provide closure.closure.

CharacterCharacter

Are the people, animals, things, or even Are the people, animals, things, or even machines that machines that actact or or speakspeak in a story. in a story.

In most stories you will find In most stories you will find majormajor and and minorminor characters. characters.

Character Character (cont.)(cont.)

Major: Major: play the most play the most importantimportant role. They role. They are involved in the are involved in the actionaction of the story. of the story.

Minor: Minor: play play a supportinga supporting role. They may role. They may make make commentscomments that that enlightenenlighten the major the major characters.characters.

Character Character (cont.)(cont.)

Reading for character is more difficult than Reading for character is more difficult than reading for plot. Character is more reading for plot. Character is more complexcomplex, , variablevariable, and , and ambiguousambiguous..

Skill is needed to Skill is needed to describedescribe what a person is. what a person is.

Authors may present their characters Authors may present their characters directlydirectly or or indirectlyindirectly..

Characters: Direct presentationCharacters: Direct presentation

Direct Presentation:Direct Presentation: the author tellsthe author tells us us straight out what the characters are straight out what the characters are like, or have someone in the story tell like, or have someone in the story tell us what they are like (he was just like us what they are like (he was just like this, he had no jealousy).this, he had no jealousy).

Characters: Characters: Indirect presentationIndirect presentation

Indirect Presentation:Indirect Presentation: The author The author shows shows us the character in action. We us the character in action. We inferinfer what they are like from what they what they are like from what they think, say, or do.think, say, or do.

Characters: when convincingCharacters: when convincing

Consistent:Consistent: in their behavior unless there is in their behavior unless there is a clear reason for change.a clear reason for change.

Motivated:Motivated: in whatever they do, especially in whatever they do, especially when there is a change in their behavior (we when there is a change in their behavior (we must be able to understand the reasons).must be able to understand the reasons).

Plausible:Plausible: or lifelike – not too good / not or lifelike – not too good / not too bad.too bad.

Different Character TypesDifferent Character Types

FlatFlat: characterized by : characterized by oneone or or twotwo traits. traits. Summed up in a Summed up in a sentence.sentence.

RoundRound: are : are complexcomplex, many sided. , many sided. They might require an essay for full They might require an essay for full analysis (Romeo or Atticus).analysis (Romeo or Atticus).

Different Character Types Different Character Types (cont.)(cont.)

StockStock: : stereotypical stereotypical figure who has occurred so often figure who has occurred so often in fiction that his nature is immediately known: the in fiction that his nature is immediately known: the strong silent sheriff, the brilliant detective of strong silent sheriff, the brilliant detective of eccentric habits, or the mad scientist…).eccentric habits, or the mad scientist…).

StaticStatic: : samesame sort of person at the end of the story as sort of person at the end of the story as at the beginning.at the beginning.

Developing or DynamicDeveloping or Dynamic: undergoes a : undergoes a permanent permanent changechange in some aspect of character, personality, or in some aspect of character, personality, or outlook. Large or small – for better or worse.outlook. Large or small – for better or worse.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Who tells the story?Who tells the story? How much is that person allowed to know?How much is that person allowed to know? To what extent does the narrator look inside To what extent does the narrator look inside

the characters and repeat their thoughts and the characters and repeat their thoughts and feelings?feelings?

Points of ViewPoints of View

OmniscientOmniscient: : told by the told by the narratornarrator using the using the third personthird person..

Limited OmniscientLimited Omniscient: : the author tells the the author tells the story from the story from the third personthird person, but tells it from the , but tells it from the viewpoint of viewpoint of one of the charactersone of the characters in the story. in the story.

Points of View Points of View (cont.)(cont.)

Objective (dramatic)Objective (dramatic): : third personthird person / / roving reporter.roving reporter.

First personFirst person: : author is telling the story in author is telling the story in the the first personfirst person by one of the by one of the characters.characters.

SettingSetting

Is the Is the timetime and and placeplace of the action of a of the action of a story.story.

Besides telling Besides telling wherewhere a story takes a story takes place, the setting includes place, the setting includes whenwhen the the story takes place.story takes place.

Setting Setting (cont.)(cont.)

Some stories give you an Some stories give you an exact dateexact date or or mention eventsmention events that let you know the time. that let you know the time.

By describing the setting, a writer can give By describing the setting, a writer can give you you a feelinga feeling about what will happen in the about what will happen in the story (calm or troubled, happy or sad).story (calm or troubled, happy or sad).

ThemeTheme

The The meaningmeaning of the story, its of the story, its main ideamain idea or or concernconcern..

It is not the same thing as a It is not the same thing as a moralmoral, since it , since it cannot be summed up in a neat cannot be summed up in a neat sayingsaying or a or a bit of advicebit of advice..

Essentially, the Essentially, the messagemessage the author the author intendsintends to get to get acrossacross..

THE ENDTHE END