1. Elements of a short story
8th Grade

2. THEME, PLOT, CHARACTER, SETTING, and POINT of VIEW.
What is a short story?
A short story is a relatively brief fictional narrative or story written without the use of rhymes or rhythm.  The story will have a beginning, middle, and ending. Short stories are composed of the following elements:
THEME, PLOT, CHARACTER, SETTING, and POINT of VIEW.

3. Theme
The central idea that the author wishes to set forth in his/her writing
The “take-away” message
Examples:
Beauty is only skin deep
Good triumphs evil
Things are not always as they appear
Love is blind

4. How do you find theme? What is the story about?
What is the central idea?
What observations were made about human nature?

5. Literary devices that develop theme are:
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Irony
Tone
Motif
Symbolism

6. Foreshadowing
giving the reader hints about what is about to happen

7. Flashback
an interruption or break in the current story timeline, going back in the past to add scenes and events which helps the reader understand what is happening in the present and why.

8. Tone
the feeling or attitude conveyed by the author or speaker about the subject or topic in the story.

9. Irony
a contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality; between what is said and what is meant, between what is expected and what really happens, between what appears to be true and reality

10. Symbolism
the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

11. Motif
A recurring subject, theme, idea, or symbol, especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.
Motif examples include but are not limited to seasons, water, food, wisdom, forests, oceans, journeys, reunions, shapes
Examples:
Muggles (Harry Potter)
Fire (Hunger Games)
The elevator (“The Elevator”)
The old man (“The Hitchhiker”)

12. Allusion
brief reference to a historical figure, a famous work of art or piece of literature, a world renowned event or object. The effectiveness of the allusion depends on the common knowledge shared by the author and reader. The more well known the reference, the more meaningful the allusion is. Biblical references are the most common, followed by mythological ones.
Example: Like Adam and Eve, the two thieves could not resist the large, shiny diamond ring displayed in the window.

13. Plot To identify the plot, ask yourself these questions:
THE PLOT IS A SERIES OF RELATED EVENTS THAT THE AUTHOR USES TO CONVEY THE THEME OF A STORY. (SERIES OF EVENTS)
To identify the plot, ask yourself these questions:
What happens in the beginning of the story?
What happens in the middle of the story?
What happens at the end of a story?

14. Exposition The beginning stage The reader is:
Given the setting of the story
Introduced to the principle characters and told the relationship between them
Given information about events that occurred or existed before the story begins
Given some basic information about the conflict or struggle between two opposing forces

15. Main types of conflicts
Man vs. Man: an external struggle between two or more characters
Man vs. Self: an internal struggle concerning thoughts and emotions of a character
Man vs. Nature: an external struggle between man and the standards set by society
Man vs. Technology: an external struggle between humanity and technology that has been developed by man.