ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

SHORT STORY SHORT ENOUGH TO READ IN ONE SITTING oral tradition - story handed down generation to generation parables - stories of the Bible

How to read a short story 1. Read carefully 2. Who is telling story - author or a character Are events happening to narrator? Is he or she standing outside seeing all happen? 3. Pay close attention to details.

Setting When and where the story takes place Many only have 1 place

MOOD The mood of a story is the feeling you get as you read. The writer carefully controls your feelings in a number of ways: control your emotions by choice of words or choice of setting.

Plot Plot - Events that occur in a story Exposition - characters and setting presented Complication or Rising Action - conflict, struggle develops characters face difficulties Climax - excitement reaches a turning point Falling action - action winds down as story draws to a close Resolution - action completed Remaining questions usually answered

Order of ideas Chronological order - time order Can use: 1st, next, then, often

Cause and effect Event depends on what happened before.

Inference Conclusion based on specific facts An educated guess

Context Words, sentences, paragraphs that surround word. definition clue - is, who is, which is, that is,, or, in other words. restatement clue - says again

Comparison How things are alike Contrast – how things are different

Conflict Struggle within a story internal conflict - character faces a decision external conflict - struggle between character and another person or force Man v. man Man v. nature Man v. supernatural man v. self Man v. technology

Personification animals, objects, ideas given human qualities

Foreshadowing A clue or hint of some future event in a story

Theme an important idea about life, human nature Stated theme Author tells you the theme Implied theme Theme hinted at through experiences of the characters. Also suggested through the actions and setting

symbol A person, a place, or an object that has a literal meaning and also stands for something larger. Example: American flag = freedom

epiphany A sudden understanding

irony Difference between appearance and reality; expectation and result Verbal irony Words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant Dramatic irony Contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true Situational irony An event happens that is opposite of what the characters, readers, audience expect

POINT OF VIEW First person point of view - the narrator, or the person who tells the story, is a character in the story. Third person point of view - The narrator is a person outside the story. 1.Omniscient point of view - the narrator knows everything that happens. 2.Limited point of view - tells only what one character can see.

Character A character is a person or an animal who takes part in the action of a literary work. The main character or protagonist, is the most important character in a story. This character often changes in some important way as a result of the story’s events. The antagonist opposes the main character.

Round Character A round character shows many different traits – faults as well as virtues. He or she is very complex – there are more sides to this character’s personality, more dimensions.

Flat Character A flat character is like a paper doll, with only one surface. Such a character has only one or two key personality traits and can be described in a single sentence

Stock Character A stock character is a person who fits our preconceived ideas about a type (typical old man, typical teenager). Stock characters have no individuality; there are dozens just like them on the shelf. stereotype

Dynamic Character A dynamic character develops and grows during the course of the story.

Static Character A static character does not change.

CHARACTERIZATION Characterization is the act of creating and developing a character. In direct characterization the author directly states a character’s traits or special qualities.

A writer uses indirect characterization when showing a character’s personality through his actions, thoughts, feelings, words, and appearance, or through another character’ observations and reactions.