Short Story Elements

What is a short story? A brief, imaginative narrative containing few characters, simple plot, conflict, and suspense which leads to a climax and a swift conclusion.

THE 4 ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY PLOT SETTING CHARACTER THEME

#1. PLOT The chain of events in a story. Consists of 6 main ingredients: Exposition (story’s introduction) Inciting incident Rising action Climax Falling Action Resolution

Plot taught different ways… plot triangle

PLOT GRAPH An excellent way to map out a story’s plot

Plot Slope format

Short Story Elements

Points of View- 3 types 1)First person 2)Third person limited 3)Third person omniscient

1st person POV One of the characters in a story talks to us, using “I”. We can know only what this person sees and hears about events and about other characters.

3rd person limited The storyteller zooms in on just one character. We witness the events of a story just as this one character witnesses them. What we know about other characters is limited.

3rd person omniscient Omniscient means “All Knowing”. This narrator is not a character in the story and never refers to him/herself with the first person pronoun “I”. This narrator tells us everything about every character.

Exposition (story’s introduction) Introduces the reader to: Setting Basic situation Characters involved Narrative Hook: question or statement that grabs the reader’s attention

Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe On a pod paper, create a slope or triangle. Work as a pod on the exposition.

Inciting Incident The first major action in the story that sets the story in motion (gets the ball rolling).

Tell Tale Heart As a pod, discuss and add the inciting incident

Rising Action Incidents which carry the plot along. It often includes the following: Foreshadowing Flashback Conflict Suspense

Tell Tale Heart As a pod, add and discuss the rising action

FORESHADOWING A technique for hinting at events that may occur later in the plot.

FLASHBACK The insertion of an earlier event into the time order of a narrative.

Conflict It is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she wants The plot is driven by climax and it is THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE STORY There are two types of conflicts: Internal and External

Internal Conflict PERSON VS. SELF

External Conflict PERSON VS. PERSON

External Conflict PERSON VS. SOCIETY

External Conflict PERSON VS.THE ENVIRONMENT

External Conflict PERSON VS. FATE

External Conflict PERSON VS. TECHNOLOGY

External Conflict PERSON VS. THE SUPERNATURAL

SUSPENSE The feeling of excitement and curiosity that keeps the reader turning the pages; created by making the readers wonder how the conflict will be resolved

CLIMAX The highest point of interest in the story when the character(s) solves his/her struggles Most unexpected moment!!! Usually the point of highest emotion The climax can be SUBJECTIVE (there may be different answers, so you must prove your choice)

Tell Tale Heart What is the conflict (s)? Types? What is the climax?

FALLING ACTION The character completes the action of his/her decision

THE RESOLUTION The final workings of a story’s conflict All of the loose ends are tied up (usually) Narrative Twist: a surprise ending

Tell Tale Heart Add the falling action and resolution as a pod to your diagram.

Final Plot diagram for Tell Tale Heart

#2. SETTING The time (time of day, season, present, past, future) and the location (country, planet, town, buildings, PLUS a description of the surroundings) where the action occurs Helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the text

ATMOSPHERE The feeling that the setting evokes (i.e. mysterious, happy, eerie)

MOOD The author’s emotional attitude toward the subject matter (i.e. excitement, nostalgia) NOT the mood of the characters

#3. CHARACTERs Any personalities who are involved in the plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy characters)

PROTAGONIST Usually the “good guy” or hero in the story The main character that we follow The character that strives to solve the conflict

ANTAGONIST The “bad guy” or villain in the story Usually creates conflict for the main character

SECONDARY CHARACTERS Other characters who are necessary to moving the plot along, but may not be involved with the central conflict

CHARACTER TRAITS Physical and personality characteristics that are revealed through: What the character does What the character says What other characters say or do about the character What the author states directly What the author infers

#4. THEME The central idea about life that the story highlights; THE MAIN IDEA (universal truths). The message the author is conveying. Determine the specific conflict Decide what side of the conflict the story represents How is the conflict resolved? Who wins? Who loses?

THEME Theme is NOT the moral of the story Theme is NOT plot Theme IS the general subject matter of a work of art Theme may contain a message

THEME Not all short stories have a theme; some are just for entertainment or fun

THEME OR NOT A THEME? 1) Red Riding Hood is about how you shouldn’t trust strangers 2) Stars Wars is a movie about Luke Skywalker 3) Apocalypse Now is about the insanity of war. 4) This painting is about loneliness 5) That story is about two guys who steal a car 6) Romeo and Juliet is about love 7) Romeo and Juliet is about two families fighting 8) I saw a movie last night about survival 9) Hansel and Gretel is about two children 10) Cinderella is about poetic justice

Symbolism in literature

Symbolism An object, sign, or image tha tis used to stand for something else

Irony (3 types) Situational Dramatic Verbal See lit packet for further definitions clarified.

Review terms in YELLOW lit packet: Personification Imagery Tone Simile Metaphor Word choice (significance)