what is a short story? a short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. a short...

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ELEMENTS OF FICTION

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Page 1: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

ELEMENTS OFFICTION

ELEMENTS OFFICTION

Page 2: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

What is a short story?

A short story is a work of fiction that

is usually written in prose.

A short story is usually written in narrative format, which means

it tells a story.

A short story can come in many shapes and sizes. More than

100 pages is usually considered a novella.

Page 3: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

What is a plot?

Plot is the chain ofrelated events that take

place in a story.

Plot is built around a conflict,which is a struggle between

opposing forces.

Page 4: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

What does a plot look like?

exposition conflict

risin

g ac

tion

climax

falling action resolution

Page 5: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

The exposition gives the background of the story.

The rising action introduces the story’s complications and builds suspense.

The climax is the turning point of the story, and suspense reaches its peak.

The falling action and resolution resolve the conflict and usually tie up loose

ends.

Page 6: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

The plot of a short story centers around a conflict.

A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces.

These complications build the reader’s excitement.

Page 7: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

External conflict is a battle between a character and an outside force.

-Man v Man

-Man v Nature

-Man v an Obstacle/Society

Internal conflict is a battle within a character.

-Man v Himself

What are the types of conflict?

Page 8: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

Characterization is the information the author gives the reader about the characters .

The author may reveal a character in several ways:

his/her physical appearancewhat he/she says, thinks, feels and

dreamswhat he/she does or does not dowhat others say about him/herhow others react to him/her

Characters are convincing if they are consistent, motivated, and life-like (resemble real people) .

What is characterization?

Page 9: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

Indirect Characterization

uses

physical appearance

speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character

speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characters

to reveal a character.

Direct Characterization

uses

the narrator’s direct comments

to reveal a character.

What are the methods of characterization?

Page 10: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

Characters can be:

• Main or Minor

• Protagonist or Antagonist

• Round or Dynamic (Main)• Complex personalities - we learn much about them

- the character goes through a change for better or worse by the end of the story

• Flat or Static (Minor)• Stock Characters/Stereotypes -they never change - not much is

revealed about them.

What are the types of characters?

Page 11: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

To observe the difference between direct and indirect characterization, read the paired paragraphs below. Each is written to convey the same basic information. One of each pair demonstrates direct characterization while the other

demonstrates indirect characterization. See if you can identify which method is being used.

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.”

Page 12: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

Setting is the time and place in which a story happens.

Setting puts the reader in the story by giving the reader the feeling of being in

the situation.

Setting creates an atmosphere with the positive or negative feelings associated with the place.

What is a setting?

Page 13: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

Point of view is the person telling the story.

Point of view is the vantage point from which the story is told.

Point of view determines how much we, the readers, know about the characters.

What is point of view?

Page 14: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

In first person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story who is also telling

the story.

A first person narrator uses first-person pronouns, I, me, my, we, us, our, to refer to

him or herself.

A first person narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character (him or

herself) and speaks directly to reader.

What is first person?

Page 15: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

With third person limited, the narrator does not participate in the action of the story.

With third person limited, the narrator does not refer to him or herself (no first person pronouns).

With third person limited, the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but readers are able to maintain some emotional distance from the character (the story is told through the eyes of one character).

What is third person limited?

Page 16: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

A third person omniscient narrator does not participate in the action of the story.

A third person omniscient narrator does not refer to him or herself (no first person

pronouns).

A third person omniscient narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters; readers get insight into several characters

(the narrator is ‘God like’).

What is third person omniscient?

Page 17: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

What is a symbol?

Page 18: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

A symbol is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself.

Page 19: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

In literature, theme is a message about life or human nature that the writer wants to share

with the reader.

In most cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred.

What is theme?

Page 20: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

A theme can be revealed through:

- a story’s title

- key phrases and statements about big ideas

- the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life

How is the theme revealed?

Page 21: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

COMMON TYPES OF THEMES

-Things are not always what they seem.-Love can conquer all-Believe in yourself--Don’t judge a book by its cover-- People are afraid of change.

Page 22: What is a short story? A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose. A short story is usually written in narrative f ormat, which

Foreshadowing

When an author gives clues in the story about what is to happen in the future.