SHORT STORIES

What is a Short Story ? A fictional prose narrative that is from about five to twenty book pages long. Short stories are more limited than novels. They usually have one or two major characters and one setting.

Short Story Elements Setting Setting Characters Characters Plot Plot Mood Mood Point of View Point of View Theme Theme

The time and place of a story, a poem, or a play The time and place of a story, a poem, or a play Helps the reader paint a vivid picture in their minds Helps the reader paint a vivid picture in their minds Brings the conflict and the mood into sharp focus Brings the conflict and the mood into sharp focus Often limited to one or two scenes in a short story Often limited to one or two scenes in a short story Setting

Characters A person or an animal in a story, play, or other literary work A person or an animal in a story, play, or other literary work Short stories only have a few characters (usually 1 – 4) Short stories only have a few characters (usually 1 – 4) Short stories usually only have one main character Short stories usually only have one main character Protagonist – main character (good guy) Protagonist – main character (good guy) Antagonist – opposing character or force (bad guy) Antagonist – opposing character or force (bad guy)

Characterization Direct characterization – Writer tells you what the characters are like through description Direct characterization – Writer tells you what the characters are like through description Indirect characterization – Writer shows you what the characters are like through their thoughts, their speech, their actions, and the reactions of other characters to them Indirect characterization – Writer shows you what the characters are like through their thoughts, their speech, their actions, and the reactions of other characters to them

Plot The series of related events that make up the story The series of related events that make up the story Usually uncomplicated and simple in a short story Usually uncomplicated and simple in a short story Plot line has five parts: Plot line has five parts: - Exposition - Rising Action - Climax - Falling Action - Resolution Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

Exposition Introduction of characters and setting of story Introduction of characters and setting of story Hooks the reader Hooks the reader

Rising Action Introduces problem or conflict of the story Tells us what the protagonist (main character) is facing

Types of conflict Man vs. Man – involves the main character and another character in the story Man vs. Man – involves the main character and another character in the story Man vs. society – main character faces problem involving something in the society (i.e. racism) Man vs. society – main character faces problem involving something in the society (i.e. racism) Man vs. Himself – main character has an internal struggle inside him/herself Man vs. Himself – main character has an internal struggle inside him/herself Man vs. Nature – main character struggles with some natural force (i.e. tornado, harsh climate, etc.) Man vs. Nature – main character struggles with some natural force (i.e. tornado, harsh climate, etc.)

Climax The point in the story where tension is the greatest The point in the story where tension is the greatest Highest point of interest Highest point of interest

Falling Action Events that lead to the end “resolution” of the story Events that lead to the end “resolution” of the story

Resolution All the problems are resolved, or worked out – happily or unhappily. All the problems are resolved, or worked out – happily or unhappily.

Mood Feeling or emotion you get from a story Feeling or emotion you get from a story - scary, strange, suspenseful, hopeful, easy, comfortable, desperate, relaxing, etc. Usually developed by description and/or dialogue Usually developed by description and/or dialogue

Point of View The angle from which the events are told The angle from which the events are told The point of view from which a writer chooses to have a story told affects your impression of the characters and events The point of view from which a writer chooses to have a story told affects your impression of the characters and events

Point of View First-person point of view – the narrator is the “I” telling the story First-person point of view – the narrator is the “I” telling the story - I, me, my Third-person point of view – story told by an outside observer Third-person point of view – story told by an outside observer - she, he, they, them

Theme An idea about life revealed in a work of literature Has to be expressed in a full sentence Usually not stated in the work The reader has to infer what it is