1. Short Stories

2. Short story reviews This term you are to write a review of stories in the collection entitled Top Stories 2. The purpose of this is to focus on the elements of a short story, so that you will have the tools to write your own short story. Your review is due in the first lesson of week 3 (Sunday 24 January).

3. Writing a review Using paragraph structure (PEEL), write a series of paragraphs about the story, as follows: In the first paragraph, write about the Plot, focusing on orientation, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, resolution. In the second paragraph, write about Characterization. What direct and what indirect information are we given about a character in the story? In the third paragraph, write about sound devices. What sort of words does the writer use? What is the effect of using these words? In the fourth paragraph, write about visual devices What literary devices does the writer use? What is the effect of using these devices? In the fifth paragraph, write about other elements, such as point of view, setting and theme used in the story. No need to write an introduction or conclusion.

4. Elements of a short story The main elements of a short story are: Plot Setting Characters Conflict Theme You need to fully understand these elements before writing your own short story. Writing your review and reading many different short stories will assist you with this.

5. Structural features of a short story - Plot Orientation Complication (conflict happens) Rising Action Climax Resolution

6. Writing an orientation The purpose of the orientation is to introduce the major character/s and the story’s setting. The style in which this information is given can vary from story to story Readers become engaged in stories if the setting is described realistically – appealing to the readers’ senses is the best way to do this The story can begin with dialogue, an action or a description of the setting

7. Activity 1 Choose one story from the book and answer the following questions: 1.How many characters are introduced in the orientation 2.How does the story begin? 3.Do we get an indication of what the story will be about? (Signposting) 4.Identify the point at which the complication arises. Explain the change in dramatic tension at this point.

8. The Complication This is the point in the story at which tension increases. The character/s are presented with a problem which needs to be solved. In a short story, this as often presented early on; sometimes the story can begin with the complication before setting the scene – a skilled writer can do this well Sometimes, a new character (antagonist) is introduced at this point.

9. Types of conflict Human versus Human Human versus Nature Human versus Society Human versus Himself

11. The Rising Action Otherwise known as the sequence of events, this part of the narrative slowly builds in tension. In an attempt to resolve the problem, the protagonist faces a series of hurdles/barriers.

12. The Climax At this point in the story the tension is at its greatest. The protagonist must confront the problem in an attempt to resolve this issue. A good story will have readers completely engaged during this point. A level of uncertainty may still hang over the protagonist.

13. The Resolution At this point of the story the protagonist has resolved the problem. However, this can come in many forms – not always as the perfect ending. Normality is reinstated A lesson has been learnt Hope is restored.

14. The Wish by Roald Dahl Roald Dahl has managed to create a strong sense of suspense in this story. How has he been able to build up this feeling of rising panic and terror? What is the effect of his final sentence?

15. Order in a story There are two orders of events in a story. 1.The order in which the events happened (e.g. I saw the man, I murdered him, I took his money, I hid his body, the police started investigating, I was arrested, I went to jail, I served my time, I spent his money). 2.The order in which the writer tells the story (e.g. I spend the money, I’m serving my time, the police start investigating the crime, I murdered the man, I hid the body, I saw the man, I took his money, I was arrested, I went to jail).

16. Flashbacks The author interrupts the story to describe something that happened earlier

17. Style Diction Diction refers to the words that the writer chooses to use in his or her writing. For example, a story about an inner-city teenager may include profanity or vulgarity. This type of diction might be used in order to create a sense of realism by capturing how a specific character might actually talk and interact with other people. To produce a very different effect, the same kind of story may also be told using formal language that would reflect a more distanced, or omniscient perspective. When analyzing diction, the reader should consider the effect of a writer’s choice of words. A story that relies on formal language may do so to establish a kind of separation between the narrator and the characters. Other types of diction that the writer may use and that the reader should consider in analyzing his or her style are, contractions, conversational and colloquial language, and formal, educated and informal language choices. Sentence length How do varying sentence lengths influence a story?

18. Daddy Read the story ‘Daddy’ by Steve Rasnic Tem The style of this story is distinctive. The story is clearly being told by a young child. For example, the grammar is not always correct, as in the sentence ‘He had a order.’ 1.Pick out some other examples from Daddy which show that the writer is young. 2.What is the effect of telling a story of this kind in such a style?

19. Language – Sound devices Alliteration. Repetition of a consonant. (e.g. Can’t Kate cook without catastrophe?) Assonance. Repetition of a vowel sound. (e.g. Lou said coo to the moose Sue let loose.) Onomatopoeia. Use of words that sound like their meanings. (e.g. ‘Oomph,’ said the girl as she fell. Rhythm. The pattern of words in a sentence that gives the sentence a cadence. (e.g. Fast he ran, fast he ran, until he reached the end.) Allusion. A reference to literature or historical events that are part of our common cultural heritage. (e.g. He was as arrogant as Colonel Gaddafi.) Diction. This refers to the author’s choice of words. (e.g. A simple country girl might use simple, earthy words, whilst a sophisticated city girl might use complex words.) Tone. Tone reflects the author's attitude toward the story. (e.g. The story might be reflective, sad, encouraging, horrifying…)

20. Language - Visual devices Writers use visual devices to make their stories vivid. Imagery. Words that appeal to the senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. (e.g. The rose garden swamped his senses with its lush colours, enticing fragrances and cool air.) Figurative language. Using words in a non-literal way. (e.g. Fatima ate her words.) Simile. Comparison of two dissimilar things with "like" or "as." (e.g. She sang like an angel.) Metaphors. Suggesting one thing is another. (e.g. She was an angel.) Hyperbole. Using exaggeration. (e.g. He was the best story-teller who ever lived.) Understatement. Underscored statement with a seeming lack of emphasis. (e.g. A large building collapses, killing 100 people. One person survives, and he says, “I guess I was a little bit lucky.”) A symbol is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself.

21. The Wish by Roald Dahl Re-read ‘The Wish’ by Roald Dahl and highlight the sound and visual devices used. What is the effect of using these devices?

22. Characterisation The reader learns about the characters: Indirectly Appearance (e.g. she had long blonde hair and red lipstick) Actions (e.g. she leapt at the tiger) Thoughts (e.g. I really want to help my brother) How they speak (e.g. G’day mate!) What other characters think of them (e.g. you cannot help me because I don’t trust you). Directly How much the author tells the reader (Ali was the outstanding swimmer in his class).

23. The last cabinet Who are the characters in this story? What is your impression of the sarge? What parts of the story helped you to gain that impression? Why doesn’t the author use their names?

24. Point of View who tells the story the camera lens through which the story is seen. determines how much we, the readers, know about the characters 1 st Person: “I” tells the story. Narrator is a character in the story. Narrator uses first-person pronouns: I, me, my, we, us, our. Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of his/her character and speaks directly to the reader. 3 rd Person Limited: he, she or it tells the story. Narrator is a character in the story. Readers see whatever he/she sees and nothing else. Readers listen in to the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Readers feel they are a more distant from the character than 1 st Person. 3rd Person Omniscient Narrator knows everything. Narrator can jump from one character to another character. Readers are told the thoughts and feelings of any characters the narrator chooses.

25. Setting The setting is the time and the place of the story. Setting places the reader in the story (usually in the orientation but may be extended.) Backdrop. The setting is not vital to the action of the story. (e.g. a school story could be set in almost any school.) An essential part of the plot. The story could only happen here. (e.g. in deep space.) Acts as antagonist. The setting is against the protagonist (e.g. a steep, snow-covered mountain.) Illuminates the character (e.g. a person who normally stays at home all the time finds himself in a forest, where he has to deal with strange dangers. Symbolic. (e.g. the setting is on the sea, which is as strong and relentless as the character.) creates atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the place.

26. Theme In literature, theme is an idea about life or human nature. In most cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred. Themes can be revealed by: a story’s title. key phrases and statements about big ideas. the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life.

27. Writing about Plot At the beginning of the story, … When… happens, a sense of tension is introduced. The conflict, ……….., is an example of human versus ………., in which ………. The story becomes even more complicated when …… Eventually we see a climax when …. By the end of the story, the initial problem of …. has been resolved because ….

28. Writing about language The word that best describes the writer’s language is … The diction is appropriate to the theme because … The effect of this language is to … The use of sound devices has the effect of … By using the allusion to …, the writer heightens our understanding of … because … Words such as …, … and … suggest the author’s tone is one of …

29. Writing about visual devices The striking use of the simile … has the effect of … By personifying …, the author is linking … to … In the metaphor …, the author is comparing … to …, in order to emphasise … The author repeatedly refers to … because he wants to symbolize … The lack of symbolic language has the effect of …

30. Writing about character The reader learns about … through direct and indirect means. Firstly, …. The author tells the reader directly that … The reader learns that … is … because he looks like … Further, the reader learns that he is … when he says… When the character …, we know that this means …