Welcome to the Elements of the Story: You're going to have to know this stuff so spend some time on it! Mr. Mayer

Oh, yeah… n If the slide asks you a question, try to answer it inside your brain. You don’t have to write anything down, but you are expected to know the elements of a short story and recall them for use on tests and on the final exam.

Story Structure: tells how authors present the story n Exposition: background about characters, setting, situation n Rising Action: conflict arises, more information is learned about characters and setting n Climax: when action reaches the highest point n Falling Action: the story begins wrapping up, characters are dealing with whatever happened in the climax n Resolution: This tells how the story concludes Climax Falling Action Resolution Rising Action Exposition

How Writers Create Setting n Details: Adding details makes the story seem more believable. n Sensory Imagery: Adding details that appeal to the reader’s sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing creates a vivid picture.

Point of View: This is the view from which the story is told n Ask yourself, “Who is telling the story?” n There are 3 types of point of view. Get ready…here they are...

A- First Person

B- Third Person

3- Objective :

Theme: what the story is about--the issues that it explores n A theme is a universal idea. n A theme teaches a specific lesson or moral. n Most stories have more than one theme. n For example: sometimes it’s better to turn a person in to the cops if it means they will turn their life around and be a more positive and successful person!

Imagery: uses details to describe something and evoke feelings n Imagery gives you detailed pictures in your mind. The icy hail furiously pelted my car, leaving magnificent holes in the smooth hood. The sound pierced my ears ruthlessly, as I tried to find shelter.

Symbol: an image, character, or action that stands for an idea beyond its literal meaning Some are obvious... Some aren’t...

Tone: is like the author’s “tone of voice”--it tells you their attitude towards the characters, setting, etc. “She dismally muttered that she’d always love him, even though he was gone. She’d never love again.” What’s the tone here?

Irony: to intend a meaning opposite of what is expected. There are a few kinds of irony. n Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something that the character does not. n Situational Irony: when the opposite of what was expected happens.

Dramatic Irony: You know what the farmer does not.

Situational Irony: You’d expect cheetahs to run, not speed-walk.

Which kind of irony is this?

Hyperbole: an exaggerated statement used to make a strong effect “Whoa! That cookie looks like a million bucks!”

Foreshadowing: A writing technique that gives readers clues about what will happen later in the story. “As he pondered the morning, he reassured himself that he locked the door. Something kept telling him otherwise, but he pushed it out of his mind.” What might this be foreshadowing?

Protagonist: the main character in the story (good guy) Antagonist: the force against the protagonist (bad guy)

Simile: comparing 2 things using like or as. Metaphor: comparing 2 things without using like or as. Her hair was as soft as cotton. A heavy blanket of snow fell all day long.

Flashback: details from an earlier point in time are revealed to the reader