Story elements power point

Short Story Elements

What parts make up a story?QuickTime™ and a

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Story Terms

• Plot and Conflict

• Setting

• Characters

• Point of View

• Theme

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Plot• Definition: what happens and how it

happens in a narrative.– A narrative is any text that tells a story.

• Ex: short story, novel, drama, epic poem, etc…

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Parts of Plot• Exposition - establishes characters and setting.• Inciting Incident - propels plot forward; usually

introduces primary conflict.• Rising Action - events that complicate or

intensify the central conflict.• Climax - moment of highest interest or

emotional involvement in the story.• Falling Action - logical result of the climax.• Resolution - final outcome of the story.





Conflict• Definition: struggle between opposing

forces.

• Plot must contain conflict(s).

• Conflicts can be internal or external:– External conflict: conflict with an outside

force (person, group, animal, nature, fate, or the supernatural).

– Internal conflict: conflict against oneself.



Plot Techniques• Atmosphere - overall effect of the setting and

descriptive details to create an emotional response in the reader.

• Suspense - excitement or tension.• Foreshadowing - hints about what will happen later on

in the story.• Flashback - interrupts the normal sequence of events to

tell about something that happened in the past.• Surprise Ending - conclusion that the reader does not

expect (use of irony).• Symbol - something concrete that represents

something abstract.



Setting• Definition: time, place, and society

within which the action occurs.– Time: day, era, history, time of life, etc…– Place: physical environment, weather,

scenery, buildings, rooms, furniture, etc…– Society: companions, dialects, customs,

occupation, way of life, morality, psychological conditions, etc...

Function of a Setting• Creates mood and

atmosphere.• Makes action seem

more real.• Can be the source

of conflict or struggle.

• Can symbolize an idea.



Character• Types of Characters:

– Major characters• Protagonist• Antagonist

– Minor characters• Stock character• Foil character

– Round characters– Flat characters– Dynamic characters

(undergo change)– Static characters (stay

the same)





Characterization• Definition: how an author reveals what a

character is like and how they change throughout the story.

• Two methods:– Direct presentation - the author tells the reader

about the character directly.– Indirect presentation - the author reveals a

character through a physical description, their thoughts and actions, as well as the thoughts and actions of other characters in the story.

Direct Characterization• …and I don’t play the dozens or believe

in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I’m a little girl with skinny arms and a squeak voice, which is how I got the name Squeaky.

» From “Raymond’s Run” by T. Bambara

Indirect Characterization• The old man bowed to all of us in the

room. Then he removed his hat and gloves, slowly and carefully. Chaplin once did that in a picture, in a bank - he was the janitor.

» From “Gentleman of Rio en Medio” by J. Sedillo



Types of Character• There are two primary types of

character:– Flat character - only one or two

distinguishing traits; not fully developed– Round character - fully developed

character; reader may feel they exist in life.



Analyzing Character• Considering the following when completing a

literary analysis of a character:– Physical appearance– Personality– Background / personal history– Motivation– Relationships– Conflict– Do they change?



Point of View• Definition: the perspective from which a story

is told.• Two main types:

– First Person - told from perspective of a character in the story.

– Third Person - told from a removed perspective.• Third Person Omniscient = all-knowing perspective.• Third Person Limited = access to inner thoughts of some

characters, but not all.



Theme• A central message, concern, or insight into

life that is expressed through a literary work.• Stated in one or two sentences about human

beings or about life.• Interpretation uncovers theme.• All story elements should be interpreted in

how they contribute to the development of theme.

• Example: Sleeping Beauty - true love conquers all.

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Story elements power point