The Short Story

A short story is a short piece of fiction.

We are going to learn the elements of short stories through the Disney

classic Cinderella.

Setting

• Setting is the time and place of the story’s action. Setting also includes ideas, customs, values, and beliefs.

What is the setting in “Cinderella”?

• The story takes place a long time ago in a land ruled by a king and a queen.

Characters

• Characters are the actors in a story’s plot. They can be people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses.

• The protagonist is the main character.• The antagonist is anything in conflict

with the main character. Not all stories have antagonists.

Characters in “Cinderella”• The major characters are Cinderella, the

stepsisters, their mother, the fairy godmother, and the prince.

• Protagonist: Cinderella• Antagonist: the stepsisters, their mother

Point of View• Point of view refers to the relationship of the

narrator, or storyteller, to the story.• In first-person point of view, the narrator is a

character in the story, referred to as “I.”• In third-person limited point of view, the narrator

reveals the thoughts of only one character.• In third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator

knows everything about the story’s events and reveals the thoughts of all the characters.

Cinderella is told through the third-person omniscient point of view.

Conflict & Plot• Plot is the sequence of events in a story.

Each event causes or leads to the next. Plot is often created through conflict, a struggle between opposing forces.

• An external conflict is one between a character and an outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate.

• An internal conflict takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings or between different courses of action.

Problem and Conflict in “Cinderella”

• Problem: Cinderella wants to go to the ball, but her stepsisters prevent her from going.

• Conflict: The conflict is external—Cinderella versus the stepsisters and their mother.

Types of Conflict• Conflict is generally categorized in the

following ways:– Character vs. Character: this is an external struggle

between two characters– Character vs. Society: this is an external struggle

between a character and a social force or condition produced by society, such as poverty, political revolution, or a set of values

– Character vs. Nature: this is an external struggle between a character and some natural obstacle or natural condition

– Character vs. Self: this is an internal struggle within a character, where aspects of his or her personality may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be emotional, intellectual, or moral.

Theme• Theme is the central idea or

message of a story, often a perception about life or human nature.

• Stated themes are directly presented in a story.

• Implied themes must be inferred by considering all the elements of a story and asking what message about life is conveyed.

• The theme of “Cinderella” is implied. The reader can infer the message that if you are in a bad situation, you should do the best that you can.

The Elements of Plot

The Five Stages of Plot

Rising A

ction

ExpositionFalling Action

Resolution

Climax

Introduces setting, characters, & conflict

Series of events which lead up to the

climax

Most dramatic and revealing

moment; turning point

Describes the result of the

climax

Tells (or suggests) the outcome

The 5 Stages of plot in

Cinderella

Cinderella liveswith her stepsistersand their mother. They make her wearrags and do all thehard work.

An invitation to the ball arrives.

A fairy godmother appears and provides Cinderellawith clothes, a coach, and footman.

The stepsisters go to the ball.

Cinderella goes to the ball.

Cinderella dances with the prince,but leaves hurriedly at midnight; losing a slipper

The princesays he will marrythe womanwhom theslipper fits.

The stepsisterstry to force theirfeet into the slipper, butit fits Cinderella.

Cinderella andthe prince marry.

They live happilyever after.