World Literature: Short Stories In this unit, we will build upon our understanding of literary concepts, elements, genres, and terms and apply those understandings to the interpretation of short stories.

We will examine short stories in their cultural context to appreciate the diversity and complexity of world issues. We will look at each text for its cultural significance and to connect global ideas to our own experiences.

First, we will look at some of the ways all short stories are alike. Then, we’ll analyze each short story individually for their particular significance, importance, and relevance to our own lives.

Let’s look at some elements of the short story…

Plot Structure in Short Stories Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows the arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Plot Components Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Types of Linear Plots Plots can be told in Chronological order Flashback In medias res (in the middle of things) when the story starts in the middle of the action

Conflict Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Types of Conflict External Conflict Character vs. Character Character vs Nature Character vs Society Character vs Self Internal Conflict

Other elements of short stories Point of view Characterization Setting Theme

Point of view In short fiction, who tells the story and how it is told are critical issues for an author to decide. The tone and feel of the story, and even its meaning, can change radically depending on who is telling the story. Third Person Point of View Narrator is not in the story, outside voice First Person Point of View Narrator is a character in the story, speaking from his feelings/observations

Point of view, cont. Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of View Omniscient: A narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all knowing, or omniscient Limited Omniscient: A narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor, has a limited omniscient point of view

Characterization Be alert to characters in the same way you are when you meet someone. Observe their actions. Listen closely to what they say and how they say it. Notice how they relate to other characters and how other characters respond to them. Look for clues as to their purpose and significance in the story. Characters are either major or minor and either static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing).

Characterization, cont. Characterization includes the methods the writer uses to tell the reader about a character: 1. DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION - the writer makes direct statements about a character's personality and tells what the character is like. 2. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION - the writer reveals information about a character and his personality through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him.

Setting The narrator uses details to describe the sights, sounds, colors, and textures of the location of the action, along with the time in which it occurs. These descriptions help the reader to picture the story as it’s happening. Setting includes not only the time and place the action in which the action occurred, but also the cultural, economic, and social environment.

Theme The theme is the main idea or insight the writer wants the reader to think about after reading the story or novel.