Elements of a Short Story

What is a Short Story? It’s a piece of prose fiction, usually under 10,

000 words, which can be read at one sitting. In a short story every word counts, and is

carefully selected by the author. Artistically, a short story is intended to create

an impression Most stories have a beginning, middle, and

end A good story entertains, arouses questions

about life, and makes the reader question his or her own values.

The effect a story has is created through these elements: Plot Atmosphere Character and Characterization Conflict Theme Setting Style (which includes a number of devices)

The Plot Graph

The plot is the series of actions or main events that happen in a story to effectively present some form of conflict and its outcome.

Most stories have a beginning, middle and end that look something like this:

The Plot GraphClimax: This is the turning point or most intense moment. The climax reveals the outcome of the conflict and a change in the character.

Falling Action: Shows the outcome and results of the climax and unanswered details of the plot

Conclusion/ Resolution: Everything is resolved or figured

Rising Action: The events and challenges that lead to the climax

Introduction/Exposition: The start of the story before the action. Introduces setting, characters, and the conflict serves to entice the reader to keep reading

Inciting/Trigger Incident: The event that creates the conflict

Conflict The conflict is the struggle between two

people or things in a story. It is the central source of tension in the

story It usually involves a struggle between

opposing characters, emotions, etc. Conflict is sometimes referred to as the

problem in the story. Therefore, it must be solved or a goal must be achieved to resolve it.

The plot of the story usually revolves around conflict!

Conflict There are TWO main types of conflict present in most

stories:

External and Internal

External1. Person vs Person ex._____________________2. Person vs Society ex. ____________________3. Person vs The Environment (Nature) ex.

_______________4. Person vs Circumstance (fate) ex. ____________________5. Person vs Technology ex. ____________________6. Person vs The Supernatural ex. ___________________

Internal 1. Person vs Self

Setting Where and when the story

takes place! Often helps create the MOOD It is the environment in which

the story takes place. It refers to both the time (era)

that a story is set and the place (location) where

the action occurs

Mood / Atmosphere This term refers to the feeling that is created in the story. It is created through word choice,

descriptive details and imagery. It could be dramatic, humorous, tragic

or scary, for a few examples. The author uses certain descriptive

words, images, details about setting, etc. to create feelings in the reader of fear, anger, happiness, shock, etc.

Tone Tone is NOT the same as Mood

TONE - is the attitude a writer expresses towards his or her subject.

It could be formal, informal, personal, impersonal, angry, cheerful or bitter, for a few examples.

Characters

Character refers to the individuals that are depicted in each story. Without characters there can be no story!

Characters are important in a story because they experience the conflict.

There are two main kinds of characters:

The PROTAGONIST: a regular or main character or a hero or heroine

An ANTAGONIST: the main opponent to the protagonist; often working in contrast to the protagonist such as a villain.

Characters cont…Characters are often classified as:

STATIC (those who are barely revealed and/or don’t change throughout a story) or

DYNAMIC (those who change or transform throughout a story and are described at great length)

Characters cont… Flat character - is a minor character in a

work of fiction who does not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story.

Also referred to as "two-dimensional characters" 2D or "static characters," flat characters play a supporting role to the main character, who as a rule should be round.

Characters cont… Round character - is a major character in

a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it.

A round character is depicted with such psychological depth and details that he or she seems like a "real" person.

Also referred to as “three-dimensional” 3D

If you think of the characters you most love in fiction, they probably seem as real to you as people you

know in real life. This is a good sign that they are

round characters.

Types of CharacterizationThere are two ways character is established: Direct Characterization

This is where the author comes right out and tells the reader what a certain character is like. Example: In “Being Comfortable with being

Weird”, the author/narrator calls a character a “superficial little wench.”

Or using the character’s name to show their personality. Example: Character’s Name (or nickname) ex “Mouse” or “Mrs. Nosy”

Types of Characterization Indirect Characterization

This is where the author gives certain information and lets readers draw their own conclusions and make inferences about the character.

1.SPEECH - What a character says (dialogue) gives insight to his/her personality.

2.THOUGHTS - What a character thinks and feels.

3.EFFECTS ON OTHERS - What others say or think about the character.

4.ACTIONS - What a character does (actions).

5.LOOKS - The physical description of the character: what he/she looks like!

The acronym for this is STEAL!

Point of View Point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told

There are THREE common points of view:

First-person point of view: the story is told by the protagonist, a minor character or an interested bystander using the pronouns I or we

Third-person OMNISCIENT point of view: all-seeing, all-knowing perspective. It reveals the thoughts and emotions of several characters using he, she, and they.

Third-person LIMITED point of view: uses the pronouns he, she and they, but tells the story from the perspective of one of the characters.

Theme Theme is the main message or idea the

author is trying to communicate in the story about life or human nature.

It is generally an underlying idea or value about the very topic that the author wrote about

Themes are often universal truths that are suggested by the specifics of the story but it is not stated directly.

Theme is not directly stated Most simply it CAN BE the moral or lesson

BUT these are different concepts

Some examples: Tragic Love in Romeo and Juliet Fitting In in Being Comfortable with being Weird

Literary DevicesLiterary devices are used to enhance the reader’s experience. Here are a few examples:Simile – Comparisons between two things that doesn’t seem alike using “like” or “as”

(ie. She’s as light as a feather.)Metaphor – A comparison between two things without using the words “like” or “as”

(eg. This class is a zoo, Her room is a pig sty.)Personification – The author gives inanimate objects human qualities

(ie. The wind whispered through the trees.).Allusion - a reference to another literary work, person, place, event, or object from history, literature, or mythology

(ie. “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.”)Symbolism – the practice of representing things by items, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character.

(Ex. a dove means purity)

Literary Devices cont… Foreshadowing – The author gives clues about what is going

to happen later in the plot. It builds suspense and helps prepare the reader for what will happen later in the story Suspense - That quality of a literary work that makes the reader or

audience uncertain or tense about the outcome of events. Suspense makes the reader ask "What will happen next?".

Flashback - A literary or cinematic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative.

Irony – Contrast between what appears to be and what really is. Verbal irony – the intended meaning is the opposite of

what one says (sarcasm) Dramatic irony – the audience/ reader knows more than

the characters in the story Situational irony – the reversal of what we expect occurs

(ex. a fire station burning down)