Short Story Literary Elements Some basic elements that every good story should have …. Adapted from http://www.nebo.edu./misc/ learning_resources/ppt/6-12/story_elements.ppt

Every story needs characters… People Animals Or Creatures

The protagonist is the main character with whom the audience tends to relate…

The protagonist is usually, but not always, a good guy.

The antagonist is the character or force who opposes the protagonist.

How can the antagonist be a force?

Good stories have a conflict. Person vs. Person Person vs. Nature Person vs. Self Person vs. Society Person vs. Fate

Conflict can be external (between a character and an outside force) or internal (within a character).

The time and place of the story is the setting. Details that describe: Furniture Scenery Customs Transportation Clothing Dialects Weather Time of day Time of year

Plot is the sequence of events in the story. Climax Rising Action Falling Action Resolution Exposition

During the exposition of the story, we are introduced to the characters, setting, and other background information.

The inciting incident is the point of the plot that begins the conflict. It is the event that catalyzes the protagonist to go into motion and to take action The rising action is the buildup of events, twists, and turns leading to the climax.

The climax is particular point in a narrative at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point. The turning point from which there is no going back The highest point of suspense in the story

During the falling action, the story winds down. During the resolution or dénouement, the conflict is resolved and the story usually has a conclusion.

The point of view is the perspective of the story. “I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!” “That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”

Omniscient: The narrator is aware of all information there is to know about the story’s events, characters, setting, and more. Limited: The narrator can only convey the thoughts and feelings of one specific character. Sometimes the narrator doesn’t even convey these facts at all, and sticks with describing the character’s external behaviors rather than the character’s internal feelings.

An unreliable narrator is a narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised. A character’s unreliability might be obvious to the reader throughout, it might be revealed gradually, or it might come as a revelation that provides a major plot twist.

The theme is the author’s central message or insight into life. A theme can be stated (told outright) or implied (revealed gradually).

Example of Theme “Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.” From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book

Whether you’re the reader, or the writer, a good story should include these literary elements!!! characters protagonist conflict climax point of view setting antagonist