Notes – Short Story Elements

What Makes a Good Short Story? A Good Short Story: Can usually be read in one sittingCan usually be read in one sitting Has one or two well-developed charactersHas one or two well-developed characters Tries to leave behind a single impression or effectTries to leave behind a single impression or effect Has a problem/conflict which is developed as the story progressesHas a problem/conflict which is developed as the story progresses Has a recognizable solution to the conflict

Elements of a Short Story Setting Plot Character Conflict Point of View Theme

What is Plot ? The sequence of events, or basically what happens in a story.The sequence of events, or basically what happens in a story.

What is Conflict ? All stories are built on CONFLICT. It provides the central source of tension and drama that make stories interesting to read. Types of Conflict: External: A struggle between a character and an outside force. Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature Internal: A struggle that takes place in a character’s mind. Man vs. Self

Man vs. Man involves conflicts between people – such as family conflict, trouble with a buddy, difficulties in romance, etc. Man vs. Society involves conflict between an individual and larger groups – such as the outsider in a strange culture, a poor character’s struggle to “make it” in the business world, etc. Man vs. Nature involves conflict between and individual and the natural world – such as fighting a powerful hurricane, surviving a plane crash in the desert, etc. Man vs. Self involves characters’ psychological conflicts with themselves – such as overcoming a drug habit or alcoholism, grieving over the loss of a loved one, etc.

What is Setting? The SETTING of a story serves different functions in the action and the emotional effect it has on the reader. In some stories, the setting might almost be considered a “character” itself! Setting works in many important ways in the short story: Provides a backdrop for the action (mood). Establishes atmosphere. Shapes character and action. Reflects character psychology.

How Do Authors Create Setting? Details By building their description of setting with realistic details, authors make their story seem more believable – such as using actual street names when setting a story in a real city, or choosing authentic details to depict a setting set in a foreign country. Sense Images By describing settings in images that appeal to the reader’s senses, the author creates a vivid atmosphere that readers can associate with settings in their own experiences – such as the smell of bread baking in a farmhouse kitchen, the feel of swimming in cool lake water, or the sound of rain falling on a tin roof.

What mood does the setting create in Poe’s story? “During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country” “During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country” - Edgar Allan Poe, “The Fall of the House of Usher”

Examples of Setting: Atmosphere/mood Historical Time Period Culture

What is Character? CHARACTER is perhaps the most important of all elements of the short story. Almost invariably, it is the people in stories that interest us most.

UNDERSTANDING CHARACTER Characters are defined by the qualities that make them think, feel, and act in certain ways. To understand each character completely, try looking at him/her from different angles: VALUES What people, places, or things are most important in the character’s life? What does he/she value most? FEELINGS What emotions does the character feel strongly? (Anger? Fear? Love? Hate?...) GOALS What are the character’s greatest hopes? What is he or she working to accomplish? PROBLEMS What other characters of circumstances are keeping the character from achieving his or her goals?

Types of Character Protagonist – the main character, typically the “good guy” (but not always)Protagonist – the main character, typically the “good guy” (but not always) Can you think of an example from a popular story or fairy tale?Can you think of an example from a popular story or fairy tale? Antagonist – the character or force in conflictAntagonist – the character or force in conflict Can you think of an example? Who opposed the person you just named?Can you think of an example? Who opposed the person you just named?

TECHNIQUES OF CHARACTERIZATION DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: The author TELLS the reader information about the characters directly. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: STEAL The author SHOWS the character in action and lets the readers make their own interpretations. S peech What does the character say? How does the character speak? T houghts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? E ffect on others/ toward the character What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? A ctions What does the character do? How does the character behave? L ooks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Flashback, Flash- forward, & Foreshadowing Flashback is an interruption in the present action of a story to tell about something that happened in the past—a jump back in time. Flash-forward is a scene in a story that interrupts the present action and shifts into the future. Foreshadowing is when the author gives clues or hints about what might happen later on in a story (Bambi).

What is Point of View? The perspective from which a story is told. Ask yourself, “Who is telling the story?” There are several different POINTS OF VIEW:

Limited Points of View FIRST PERSON: The character narrates his/her own experiences directly. SECOND PERSON (very rare): Your point of view THIRD PERSON LIMITED: The author tells the story from the viewpoint of JUST one character.

OMNICSCIENT POINT OF VIEW This point of view is called “Third Person Omniscient” if the author is OUTSIDE the story and presents the thoughts of ALL the characters involved as an OBJECTIVE OBSERVER. Ex: When Jane saw Bill jogging past her house, her heart skipped a beat. When Bill saw Jane in the hallway at school, he fought hard to catch his breath. No doubt about it – it was love!

Style, Tone, & Mood STYLE can be broken down into diction and voice. It is the way an author uses words, phrases, sentences, language, and conventions. It is the author’s unique way of expressing his/her ideas. Two authors’ styles can be as different as their speaking voices or signatures. Example: Suzanne Collins vs. George Owell

Style, Tone & Mood TONE is the author’s attitude/feelings about the subject of his/her writing. It is the way a writer uses words (connotation), creates images, chooses details, uses language, and structures sentences to present a certain attitude or feeling to the reader about his/her writing topic. Tone can be positive, negative, or neutral.

Style, Tone, & Mood Mood is the overall feeling – light, happy, dark or mysterious, for example – created by an author’s words. Mood is the way the text makes the READER feel.

Symbolism Symbols are animals, elements, things, places, or colors, writers use to represent other things. What might these things symbolize? Fox Snake Lamb Red Black Purple Spring Winter Sunse t Thunderstorm

What is Figurative Language? Figurative language is a tool that an author uses to help the reader visualize what is happening in a story or poem. Figurative language is meant to be interpreted imaginatively, not literally.

Types of Figurative Language Simile- a figure of speech that compares two dissimilar things by using the key words “like” or “as” Simile- a figure of speech that compares two dissimilar things by using the key words “like” or “as” Metaphor- a figure of speech that compares two unlike things describing one as if it were the other. *Does not use “like” or “as” Metaphor- a figure of speech that compares two unlike things describing one as if it were the other. *Does not use “like” or “as” Personification- a figure of speech in which human qualities are given to a nonhuman subject Personification- a figure of speech in which human qualities are given to a nonhuman subject

Epiphany Epiphany is a sudden flash of insight by a character in the story. Epiphany is a sudden flash of insight by a character in the story. It sometimes takes the place of a resolution to the conflict(s) in the story. It sometimes takes the place of a resolution to the conflict(s) in the story.

What is Theme? Theme is a novel/short story/poem’s central message or insight into life; a “universal truth.” It is NOT “What is the story about.” It is what the work MEANS.

Some Traditional Story Themes Have you encountered any of these common theme patterns in your reading? The struggle between good and evil The differences between nature and civilized society The conflict between the individual and the community The differences between country and city life The conflict between human free will and fate

RECOGNIZING THEME: SOME POINTERS The interaction of the literary elements (plot, setting/mood, characters, and symbols/imagery) develops the themes of the story. theme plot setting/ mood characters symbols/ imagery

Essential Question How do authors use literary elements -- such as setting, characterization, imagery, plot, and symbolism-- to develop the themes of their stories? How do authors use literary elements -- such as setting, characterization, imagery, plot, and symbolism-- to develop the themes of their stories?