Elements of Fiction Analyzing the Short Story

10/24/ The Elements of a Short Story Plot Character Setting Point of View Theme Conflict Style

10/24/ PLOT – General Facts The plot of a story relates to the manner in which an author arranges the events in the story The plot answers the questions about “what happens” in the story and “why” it happens Plots can be arranged in a variety of ways depending on the effect the author wishes to create in the reader

10/24/ PLOT – Elements of Plot Exposition (introduction) – information needed to understand what will happen in the story Complication (rising action) – the elements that create the conflict(s) in the story Climax – the turning point in the story when characters try to resolve the complication(s) Falling Action– the elements that lead towards the conclusion of the story Resolution (denouement) – the final outcome

10/24/ PLOT – Questions to Ask What is the conflict(s) on which the plot turns? Is the conflict(s) external, internal, or a combination? What are the chief episodes that make up the plot? In what order, if any, are the episodes arranged? Comparing the beginning to the conclusion, what essential changes have taken place in the plot? What are the exposition, complication, climax, resolution, and conclusion? Is the plot unified? If not, why not? Is the conclusion logically drawn from the episodes? How do the characters advance the plot?

10/24/ CHARACTER - Definition Character can relate to a person in the short story Character can also relate to the qualities or characteristics of a person in a short story Characterization is the process of creating an imaginary person in the story so that they appear life-like or real.

10/24/ CHARACTER - Categories Protagonist – usually the leading character or main character Antagonist – usually the character that is the force acting against the protagonist Flat Character – a one-dimensional person in the story; one with little “depth” Round Character – a multi-dimensional person in the story; one with much “depth” Dynamic Character – any person in the story who grows and changes from beginning to end Static Character – any person in the story who does not grow or change from beginning to end

10/24/ CHARACTER – Qualities that Create Physical characteristics Attire Actions Opinions Viewpoint Manner of speaking Thoughts Opinions of other characters

10/24/ CHARACTER – Questions to Ask Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist? What is the function of the minor characters? Is the character flat, round, static, dynamic, etc.? How is the character revealed in the story? Are the actions of the character properly motivated and plausible? Is the character “real” to the reader? What are the character’s thoughts?

10/24/ SETTING - Definition The setting relates to the location of the story’s action, time, and location Setting adds an important dimension to the meaning of the story Setting can be literal, or it can be symbolic

10/24/ SETTING – Qualities that Create Geographical location Time – clock time, era Physical location – weather, time of day, etc. Social location Mood or atmosphere

10/24/ SETTING – Questions to Ask What is the story’s physical location? In what time period (clock and era) does the story take place? Does the reader “see” the setting more, or “feel” the setting more? Does the setting contribute to the advancement of plot or character in the story? Is the setting intended to be real or symbolic?

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW - Definition The perspective from which the story is told The point of view reveals to the reader what is known about the story, and how the action happens The point of view can come from one character, multiple characters, or from an narrator outside of the story

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW - Types First Person Central First Person Minor Third Person Limited (Central) Third Person Objective Third Person Omniscient

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW – First Person Limited The narrator is the central character (protagonist) The narrator can reveal his/her thoughts and actions The narrator is limited to his/her physical knowledge and/or interaction with the plot and other characters The reader is influenced by the narrator’s limitations and opinions

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW – First Person Minor The narrator is a minor character in the story The narrator can reveal his/her thoughts and actions The narrator can only reveal the external actions and interactions of other characters The reader is influenced by the narrator’s limitations and opinions

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW – Third Person Central The narrator is outside of the story The narrator can reveal the thoughts and actions of the central character (protagonist) The narrator can reveal the external actions of the other characters Since the narrator is not a character, the limitations and bias evident in First Person Central do not exist

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW – Third Person Objective The narrator is outside of the story The narrator can reveal the external actions and interactions of the characters Since the narrator is not a character, and since the narrator is limited to objective observation, the reader receives only an external view of the story

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW – Third Person Omniscient The narrator is outside of the story The narrator can reveal the thoughts and actions of all characters The narrator can reveal information unknown to the characters The narrator can offer any and all information to the reader The narrator is “all-knowing”

10/24/ POINT OF VIEW – Questions to Ask Who is telling the story to the reader? Is this view consistent throughout the story? What information does the narrator reveal to the reader? Does the narrator withhold any information? Does the narrator illustrate bias and/or influence the reader’s opinions of the story? How would the story differ if it was told from another point of view?

10/24/ THEME - Definition The theme is the main point or central idea promoted in the story The theme can be a statement about life that unifies or controls the story The theme is the insight the story wishes to convey

10/24/ THEME – Questions to Ask Is the theme stated or implied? Does the title offer evidence of a theme? Does the author use symbolism, allusion, irony, or other figures of speech to convey the theme? Does the author use elements of the story (character, setting, plot, etc.) to convey the theme? Does the theme emerge naturally, or does the author state the theme? What is the value or depth of the theme?

10/24/ CONFLICT - Definition Conflict is the opposition of forces which ties one incident in a story to another incident Conflict advances the plot There can be any number of conflicts, major and minor, in a story

10/24/ CONFLICT - Types External – a struggle with a force outside of one’s self Internal – a struggle within one’s self Man versus Man (physical) Man versus Circumstances (classical) Man versus Society (social) Man versus Himself/Herself (psychological)

10/24/ STYLE - Definition Style is the manner in which the author tells the story in terms of the specific formal techniques and language devices used Style can be a significant manner in which the reader can distinguish one author from another Style can also be generic and not help the reader distinguish one author from another Style, to a large degree, can be imitated

10/24/ STYLE – Characteristics Diction – the words the author chooses, the sounds they create, the rhythms they reflect, the images they convey Syntax – the manner in which the author uses words in phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs to achieve particular effects Dialogue – the manner in which the author conveys the conversations that occur within or between characters Dialect – the speech patterns that the characters or groups of characters reflect Tone – the attitude a character conveys through the manner in which he/she speaks Irony – the manner in which the author illustrates the difference between what is expected and what actually occurs

10/24/ STYLE – Questions to Ask What is the author’s diction? Is the language abstract/concrete, formal/informal, literal/figurative? What use does the author make of imagery, figures of speech, sound patterns, repetition, allusion, etc? What is the grammatical structure, length, and style of the author’s phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs? What is the author’s tone toward the characters? If the author employs irony, is if verbal, situational, dramatic? Does the author’s style, taken as a whole, distinguish his/her writing from other authors?

10/24/ TIPS FOR ANALYZING A STORY Read any and all relevant background information on the story or the story’s author before reading the story Read the story straight through the first time for enjoyment Mark or make notes on the story as you read it, paying particular attention to elements of the short story Make short notes or symbols in the story to mark passages/sections/words you don’t’ understand

10/24/ TIPS FOR ANALYZING A STORY Reread the story, paying particular attention to the opening section of the story and to the questions you created in the first reading The second reading can be done by skimming, completely rereading, reading topic sentences, etc. Take notes on the story during the second reading; use whatever note-taking process that helps you to organize your thoughts about the story

10/24/ TIPS FOR ANALYZING A STORY In your notes, make general observations, offer opinions, form judgments about the story In your notes, write a short character synopsis of each important character In your notes, “plot the plot” In your notes, list the conflict or conflicts in the story In your notes, provide a short synopsis of the setting

10/24/ TIPS FOR ANALYZING A STORY In your notes, record the theme(s) of the story In your notes, provide a short list of the qualities of the author’s style seen in the story After completing your notes, review them After reviewing your notes, write down any questions about the story that remain unanswered through your two readings and your note-taking