Daily Journal What is the main setting and who are some of the characters in your life story? How does this make you who you are? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ZTLN49Cx4

Elements of a Short Story

OVERVIEW Identity Short stories often contain structural and character elements that should be familiar to you. These elements can be used as guides to help you think about the actions, themes, and contexts of the story.

Elements of a Short Story Plot - exposition statement - rising action - conflict - climax - falling action - resolution Theme Setting Characters Point of view Characterization

THEME SETTING A lesson, message, or moral in the text. The time and place in which a work of literature happens.

Theme Central, universal message or insight revealed through a literary work Author’s intended purpose of writing – their meaning behind the text Generalization about people or life that is communicated through a piece of literature

Theme Usually no single correct statement of a work’s theme Message about life you should learn from the literary piece Stated as a phrase or sentence, NOT just a single word

CHARACTERS POINT OF VIEW The people in the story. The story teller from whose point of view the story is being told, the narrator.

CHARACTERIZATION The description of the personalities of the characters in the story and the way in which an author reveals their personalities. (Direct and indirect)

round or dynamic character:  is a major character in a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it.

flat or static character: a supporting character that does not change throughout the story.(

direct characterization: the author makes direct statements about the character. The Joker is an evil villain.

indirect characterization: the author reveals the character's personality through that character's thoughts, words, or interactions with others.

PLOT The sequence or order of events in a story. The plot includes: Exposition Statement - The part of the plot that tells how the story begins. Rising Action - The action in the story leading up to the climax. Conflict - Struggles or problems between opposing forces.

More PLOT Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may be the reader’s point of highest interest. Falling action - The action in the story after the climax is revealed. Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals the final outcome. (denouement)

PLOT DIAGRAM Climax Rising Action Conflict Exposition Resolution Falling Action Exposition Resolution

Tone The author’s attitude towards the subject of the text Examples: serious, silly, frivolous

Mood The way that the text makes the reader feel Examples: happy, sad, scared, excited

CONCLUSION Theme Setting Plot Characters Mood Tone Now that we have identified and defined the elements of a short story, let us use the elements to analyze a familiar fairytale. You may use your notes from the PowerPoint presentation. Theme Setting Plot Characters Mood Tone