ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

1. A short story is a brief piece of fiction that tells of an event.

2. The setting is the w time w and place of the story.

3. The plot (storyline) is the action or series of events. Usually the events are told in order, but not always.

w A. Exposition (introduction)- the setting and characters are introduced. w B. Rising action- the characters face a problem. This struggle is called a conflict.

w C. Climax- most exciting part or the turning point of the story. w D. Falling Action- follows the climax and the story begins to come to a close.

w E. Resolution or denouement- loose ends of the story are tied up.

Exposition Rising Action Falling Action Climax Resolution Set t ing Characters

4.The plot usually involves a conflict or struggle: Sometimes the conflict is external: w A. Person vs. person

B. Person vs. Groups of People Let me through !

w C. Person vs. forces of nature

w D. Person vs. environment

E. Person vs. technology

But sometimes the conflict is internal. w F. Person vs. self

5.Characters- The author describes characters by: A. Dialogue: what the character says B. What other characters say about him and how they react to him

C. What the author tells us- a direct description of the character’s personality and physical characteristics. D. What the character does- how he or she acts E. What the character thinks

w 6. Protaganist- the central character in a story; the one who drives the action; can be hero or villian. w 7. Antagonist- the opponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in the story.

8. Point of View: w A. First person- One of the characters tells the story using first person pronouns such as I, me, or we. “I saved the princess”.

w B. Third person limited- the author is not a part of the story but he zooms in on the thoughts and feelings of only one character using 3 rd person pronouns such as he, she, or they.

w C. Third Person Omniscient- The all- knowing narrator tells the story using 3 rd person pronouns. The focus is on many characters.

9. The theme is the underlying point or meaning of the story- the insight about human life. It can be directly stated or implied.

10. The mood of the story is the tone or emotions in the story.

11. Foreshadowing is when the author gives a hint or clue of what is going to happen in the story.

12. Flashback- an interruption in the action of a plot to tell what happened at an earlier time. w “It was Dec. 25, Snow covered the ground…..”

13. Allusion- a reference to a statement, person, place, or event from literature, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, or science. “There’s no place like home.” “With all this rain, we’re going to need an ark!”