Short Story Elements

The time and place that a story takes place Setting The time and place that a story takes place

Author vs. Narrator Author- Narrator- the voice telling a story the writer of a literary work Narrator- the voice telling a story

Point of View the vantage point from which a narrator tells a story First Person- one of the characters is telling the story using the pronoun “I”. We get to know this character very well, but we can only know what this character knows and can only observe what this character observes Unreliable Narrator- does not always know what is happening in the story or might lie, or only tell part of the story

Third Person Point of Views a narrator from outside the story tells the reader what is going on Limited- Omniscient- The narrator tells everything there is to know about the characters and their problems, including what any character is thinking. They can tell us about the past, present, and future. They can tell us what is happening in other places. The narrator plays no part in the story, but zooms in on the thoughts of just one character

Character person in a story, poem, or play Protagonist The main character Antagonist The character or force that struggles against the Protagonist Subordinate Characters All other characters

Static vs. Dynamic Characters Static Character Does not change much in the course of the story Dynamic Character Changes as a result of the story’s events

Flat vs. Round Characters Flat Character Has only one or two traits and can be described in a few words Round Character Like a real person, has many different character traits

Characterization The process of revealing the personality of a character in a story Direct Characterization The narrator tells the reader what the character’s personality is like Indirect Characterization Speech Appearance Thoughts & Feelings Actions What other characters say

Parts of the Plot Diagram background information Exposition- Rising Action- Climax- Falling Action- Resolution- conflict is presented turning point conflict is being worked out conflict is resolved

Elements Affecting the Plot Foreshadowing The use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot Flashback The present action in the plot is interrupted to move back in time and tell an event that happened earlier Flash-Forward The present action of the plot is interrupted to shift into the future

Struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces Conflict Struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces

Internal Conflict Man vs. Himself Struggle takes place between opposing needs, wants, or desires entirely within the character’s own mind

External Conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society A physical fight, competing for the same prize or attention, sports Man vs. Nature Animals, weather, disease, landscapes Man vs. Society Poverty, lack of education, discrimination, government

Irony Situational Irony Verbal Irony Dramatic Irony The reader expects one thing to happen but something completely different happens instead (often involves timing) Verbal Irony What is said is not what is meant (includes sarcasm & puns) Dramatic Irony The reader knows something one or more characters in the story do not