1) a piece of prose fiction that can be read in a single sitting 2) restricted to one setting only (fixed time & place, social surroundings)

3) often little action and hardly any character development 4) limited set of characters that take part in the action and plot 5) the plot is not very complex (major contrast to the novel)

6) often has an open/abrupt beginning and an open or surprise ending (readers are often thrown straight into a short story without much explanation) 7) it mostly shows a decisive moment of life: some important event or conflict

two major categories: internal and external

 happens within a character struggle within a character about something example = a decision

 character faces struggles against outside forces:  man vs. man: one character against another character  man vs. nature: one character against an occurrence in the world (i.e. storm, animal, etc.)