1. Short Story Elements

2. Plot  Plot is a series of related events that are centered around a conflict.conflict

3. Conflict  Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces.  An external conflict is one between a character and an outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate.  An internal conflict takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings or between different courses of action.

4. The Five Stages of Plot Development  1. Exposition introduces the story’s characters, setting, and conflict  2. Rising action occurs as complications, twists, or intensifications of the conflict occur.  3. Climax is the emotional high point of the story.  4. Falling action is the logical result of the climax  5. Denouement presents the final outcome of the story. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

5. Setting  Setting is the time and place of the story’s action. Setting includes ideas, customs, values and beliefs.

6. Characters Characters are the actors in the story’s plot. They can be people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses. *The protagonist is the main character. *The antagonist is in conflict with the main character. Not all stories have antagonist.

7. Character Types  Static Character – Does not change.  Dynamic Character – Changes in important ways as a result of the story’s action.  Flat Character – Have only 1 or 2 personality traits (easy to describe).  Round Characters – Complex; have many different traits.

8. Point-of-View Point-of-view refers the relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story.  In first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as “I”  In third-person limited point of view, the narrator reveals the thought of only one character referring that character as “he” or “she”  In third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator knows everything about the story’s events and reveals the thoughts of all the characters.

9. Theme  Theme is the central idea or message of a story, often a perception about life or human nature.  Stated Themes are directly presented in a story.  Implied Themes must be inferred by considering all the elements of a story and asking what message about life is conveyed.

10. Short Story Elements

11. Plot  Plot is a series of related events that are centered around a ____________.

12. Conflict  ________ is a struggle between opposing forces.  An ______________ is one between a character and an outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate.  An _____________ takes place within the mind of a character who is torn between opposing feelings or between different courses of action.

13. The Five Stages of Plot Development  1. ____________ introduces the story’s characters, setting, and conflict  2. ___________ occurs as complications, twists, or intensifications of the conflict occur.  3. _______ is the emotional high point of the story.  4. ____________ is the logical result of the climax.  5. ____________ presents the final outcome of the story.

14. Setting  _________ is the time and place of the story’s action. Setting includes ideas, customs, values and beliefs.

15. Characters ____________ are the actors in the story’s plot. They can be people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses. *The _____________ is the main character. *The ___________ is in conflict with the main character. Not all stories have antagonist.

16. Character Types  ____________ – Does not change.  _________________ – Changes in important ways as a result of the story’s action.  _____________ – Have only 1 or 2 personality traits (easy to describe).  ________________ – Complex; have many different traits.

17. Point-of-View _______________ refers the relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story.  In _________ point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, referred to as “I”  In _________ limited point of view, the narrator reveals the thought of only one character referring that character as “he” or “she”  In _____________________ point of view, the narrator knows everything about the story’s events and reveals the thoughts of all the characters.

18. Theme  ________ is the central idea or message of a story, often a perception about life or human nature.  _______________ are directly presented in a story.  ____________________ must be inferred by considering all the elements of a story and asking what message about life is conveyed.