Elements of the Short Story Literature and Composition I

Character

/ Character development in life is a continual evolutionary and vital process in which we are all participants--some more actively, directly, and dynamically than others.

Character / Because we bring to the reading of short stories our own sense of character development, we have a ready pool of experience with which to explore the character development in the short story.

Character / Wilson Thornley writes in his book, Short Story Writing, “the reader intensely participates through identification and such identification and participation are imperative.”

Character / We come to know the characters in the short story through the indirect method of: 1. Physical description 2. The character’s thoughts, feelings, and words 3. The comments and reactions of others 4. The actions of the character and the direct method of the author’s stated opinion about the character / We come to know the characters in the short story through the indirect method of: 1. Physical description 2. The character’s thoughts, feelings, and words 3. The comments and reactions of others 4. The actions of the character and the direct method of the author’s stated opinion about the character

Character / A person in a short story is called a character. / The person around whom the conflict revolves is called the main character, also known as the protagonist. / The most prominent of the characters who oppose the protagonist is the antagonist. / A person in a short story is called a character. / The person around whom the conflict revolves is called the main character, also known as the protagonist. / The most prominent of the characters who oppose the protagonist is the antagonist.

Character / A protagonist can be virtuous or a villain. / An antagonist can be virtuous or a villain, depending upon the protagonist, and is typically the opposite. / A foil is a character whose qualities or actions serve to emphasize those of the protagonist by providing a strong contrast with them. / A protagonist can be virtuous or a villain. / An antagonist can be virtuous or a villain, depending upon the protagonist, and is typically the opposite. / A foil is a character whose qualities or actions serve to emphasize those of the protagonist by providing a strong contrast with them.

Character types / A static character is one who does not change much in the course of the story. / A dynamic character changes in some important way as a result of the story’s events. / A static character is one who does not change much in the course of the story. / A dynamic character changes in some important way as a result of the story’s events.

Character types / Flat characters have few personality traits. They can be summed up by a single phrase: the loyal sidekick, the buffoon, the nosy neighbor. / Round characters have more dimensions to their personalities--they are more complex, just as real people are. / Flat characters have few personality traits. They can be summed up by a single phrase: the loyal sidekick, the buffoon, the nosy neighbor. / Round characters have more dimensions to their personalities--they are more complex, just as real people are.

Character / A motive is the reason behind an individual’s actions.

Setting

/ Setting--or the time and place of the action in a short story--has a definite impact on the character development and plot. / The setting is often found in the exposition of the plot and readily establish time and place. / Setting--or the time and place of the action in a short story--has a definite impact on the character development and plot. / The setting is often found in the exposition of the plot and readily establish time and place.

Plot

/ The term plot refers to the chain of events which make up the short story. Each link in this chain helps to build suspense and to solve a problem.

Plot / The main character is presented with a conflict--a situation or a problem which he or she will be called upon to resolve.

Plot / Sometimes the problem lies within the main character and is said to be internal. / Other times, outside forces act upon the main character, which is said to be an external conflict. / Sometimes the problem lies within the main character and is said to be internal. / Other times, outside forces act upon the main character, which is said to be an external conflict.

Plot / There is a constant, ongoing struggle in which the main character attempts to resolve his or her problem; hence, he or she seeks a solution.

Plot / Throughout this struggle a growing excitement or suspense is felt as the climax approaches.

Plot / The author often uses certain techniques to creatively unfold the plot: / Flashback: a move back in time to an earlier incident. / Foreshadowing: a hint of events which will occur later in the story. / The author often uses certain techniques to creatively unfold the plot: / Flashback: a move back in time to an earlier incident. / Foreshadowing: a hint of events which will occur later in the story.

Point of View

/ The vantage point from which the writer tells a story. / In broad terms, there are four main points of view. / The vantage point from which the writer tells a story. / In broad terms, there are four main points of view.

Point of View / First-person point of view. / One of the characters in the story tells the story. / The narrator uses first person pronouns such as I and we. / Readers can know only what the narrator knows. / First-person point of view. / One of the characters in the story tells the story. / The narrator uses first person pronouns such as I and we. / Readers can know only what the narrator knows.

Point of View / Third-person limited point of view. / An unknown narrator (usually thought of as the author) tells the story. / The narrator zooms in to focus on the thoughts and feelings of only one character. / Third-person limited point of view. / An unknown narrator (usually thought of as the author) tells the story. / The narrator zooms in to focus on the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Point of View / In the case of third-person limited point of view, the narrator can tell us many things about the character, things that the character himself (or herself) might be unaware of.

Point of View / The omniscient point of view. / An “all-knowing” narrator tells the story. / This narrator often tells us everything about many characters: / Their motives, weaknesses, hopes, childhoods, and sometimes, their futures. / The omniscient point of view. / An “all-knowing” narrator tells the story. / This narrator often tells us everything about many characters: / Their motives, weaknesses, hopes, childhoods, and sometimes, their futures.

Point of View / The objective point of view. / An impersonal and objective narrator. / No opinionated comment on any characters or events. / Like the point of view of a movie camera. / Readers can know only what the camera might see. / The narrator does not reveal the unspoken thoughts of the character. / The objective point of view. / An impersonal and objective narrator. / No opinionated comment on any characters or events. / Like the point of view of a movie camera. / Readers can know only what the camera might see. / The narrator does not reveal the unspoken thoughts of the character.

Theme

/ The insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work. / Themes are rarely stated directly in literature. / Most often, a reader has to infer the theme of a work after considerable thought. / The insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work. / Themes are rarely stated directly in literature. / Most often, a reader has to infer the theme of a work after considerable thought.

Theme / Theme is different from subject. / A story’s subject might be stated as “growing up,” “love,” “heroism,” or “fear.” / Theme is different from subject. / A story’s subject might be stated as “growing up,” “love,” “heroism,” or “fear.”

Theme / The theme is the statement the writer wants to make about that subject: / “For most young people, growing up is a process that involves the pain of achieving self-knowledge.” / The theme is the statement the writer wants to make about that subject: / “For most young people, growing up is a process that involves the pain of achieving self-knowledge.”

Theme / Theme must be stated in at least one sentence. / Most themes are complex enough to require several sentences, or even an essay. / Theme must be stated in at least one sentence. / Most themes are complex enough to require several sentences, or even an essay.

Style / The distinctive way in which a writer uses language. / Styles can be plain, ornate, metaphorical, spare, descriptive, and so on. / Style is determined by such factors as sentence length and complexity, syntax, use of figurative language and imagery, and diction. / The distinctive way in which a writer uses language. / Styles can be plain, ornate, metaphorical, spare, descriptive, and so on. / Style is determined by such factors as sentence length and complexity, syntax, use of figurative language and imagery, and diction.