Preparing for the Short Story Essay

SHORT STORY ESSAY PROMPT How do the story elements and literary techniques reveal the story’s theme?

1. Brainstorm Story’s Issues & Topics

2. Write a theme Choose the most dominant topic or issue from your brainstorm list Write a theme that is a(n)-- central idea insight into life comment about the topic/issue universal message important point about humans or life

3. What story elements & literary techniques in the story help to develop your theme? Story Elements POV (point of view) narrator setting writing style character(s) Literary Techniques allusion irony symbolism foreshadowing simile metaphor aphorism Which 3-5 stand out most in your mind from the story?

Story Elements HOW does each story element & literary technique you identified lead to your theme? HOW = the analytic portion of body paragraphs

4. Central Idea & Thesis Central idea = WHAT (theme for this essay) Thesis = HOW Write a paragraph that includes: title author genre brief story summary central idea (theme for this essay) 3 ways author develops that theme

Mrs. McCloud’s Example In Stephen Benet’s apocalyptic short story “By the Waters of Babylon,” he conveys the message that despite modernization, people have savage tendencies that lead to human destruction. Benet imparts this idea through his choice of narrator, the story’s setting, and the use of symbols. John, his traits, his symbolism Babylon allusion, primitive society vs. modern NY, spiritual journey setting: Dead Place, John’s name & desire to learn, nature imagery Insert brief story summary here

Outline Now add an outline of the body paragraphs below your paragraph graphic organizer format (flowchart0 OR outline format

Theme Despite modernization, people have savage tendencies that lead to human destruction. Body ¶#1: Narrator [1] Curious…desire for knowledge→prideful, arrogant, ambitious→ eventual destruction [2] Common name→ represents all of mankind & man’s destructive capabilities Body ¶#2: Setting [1] spiritual journey → discovery that “gods” are humans & resulted in destroying each other [2] allusion to Babylon → mankind’s traits lead to cyclical rise/fall pattern of civilizations Body ¶#3: Symbols Place of the Gods → all destroyed objects represent advanced society as well as man’s power to destroy himself

Essay Outline for “By the Waters of Babylon” Theme Despite modernization, people have savage tendencies that lead to human destruction. Body ¶#1: Narrator 1.curious…desire for knowledge → prideful, arrogant, ambitious → eventual destruction 2.common name → represents all of mankind & man’s destructive capabilities Body ¶#2: Setting 1.spiritual journey → discovery that “gods” are humans & resulted in destroying each other 2.allusion to Babylon → mankind’s traits lead to cyclical rise/fall pattern of civilizations Body ¶#3: Symbols 1.Place of the Gods → all destroyed objects represent advanced society as well as man’s power to destroy himself