Setting, Character, Theme, Conflict, Point of View, and Plot Short Story Elements Setting, Character, Theme, Conflict, Point of View, and Plot

Setting The setting is the ______ and location in which a story takes place There are several aspects of a story’s setting to consider when examining how setting contributes to a story: place, time, _________ conditions, social conditions, mood or atmosphere

Setting Place - geographical location Time – when the story is taking place (historical period, time of day, year, etc.) Weather Conditions – is it raining, sunny, stormy, etc Social Conditions – what is the daily life of a character like, does the writing focus of speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc.? __________or____________– what feeling is portrayed, bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

Character There are two meanings for the word character: 1) the person in a work of fiction 2) the characteristics of a person

Character Persons in a work of fiction Antagonist and Protagonist Protagonist is the character at the ________ of the story with all the major events having some importance to this character Antagonist is the __________ of the main character

Character The characteristics of a person In order for a story to seem real, the characters must seem real The author must show the character in several ways His/her physical appearance What he/she says, thinks, feels, and dreams What he/she _______or________not do What others say about him/her and how others react to him/her

Character Characters are… Dynamic – many sided personalities that ________, for better or worse, by the end of the story Static– stereotype, have one or two characteristics that _______ _______and are emphasized (brilliant detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.)

Theme Theme is the story’s controlling idea or central insight. The author’s underlying _________ or ______ ________ that he is trying to convey. The title usually points to what the writer is saying and may use various figures of speech to emphasize the theme (symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony).

Theme Common themes from literature, film and TV Things are not always what they seem Love is blind Believe in ___________ People are afraid of change Don’t judge a ________ by its cover

Conflict Conflict is _________ to the plot, without it there is no story It is the _________ of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the _____ move

Conflict There are ____ types of conflict External – a struggle with a force ________ one’s self Internal – a struggle _______one’s self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.

Conflict There are four kinds of conflict Man vs. Man (physical/__________) – main character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals Man vs. Circumstances (classical/_________) – main character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her Man vs. Society (social/__________) – main character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people Man vs. Himself/Herself (psychological/_________) – main character struggles with themselves; with their own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc.

Point of View First Person – the reader sees the story through this _______ _______as he/she experiences it and only knows what that character knows and feels (uses pronouns I, me, we, etc.) Third Person - told by a narrator who is merely conveying a story, but _____ a character of any kind within the story being told (uses he, she, it, or they; but never as I or we [first-person], or you [second-person])

Point of View Limited Third Person - storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a _________ character, while other characters are presented externally Omniscient - author can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his ______________ and he introduces information where and when he chooses

Plot Author __________ events to develop his basic ideas Planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and end Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution

Plot Climax is a three-fold phenomenon Main character _____________new information He/she accepts this information (realizes it but does not ____________ agree with it) Then character acts on this information (makes a ________ that will determine whether or not he/she gains his objective)

Bibliography Ms. Engram http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/elements.html About.com: fiction writing