1. Short Story Literary Elements
Some basic elements that every good story should have ….
Adapted from
learning_resources/ppt/6-12/story_elements.ppt

2. Every story needs characters…
People
Animals
Or Creatures

3. The protagonist is the main character with whom the audience tends to relate…

4. The protagonist is usually, but not always, a good guy.

5. The antagonist is the character or force who opposes the protagonist.

6. How can the antagonist be a force?

7. Good stories have a conflict.
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Self
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Fate

8. The time and place of the story is the setting.
Details that describe:
Furniture
Scenery
Customs
Transportation
Clothing
Dialects
Weather
Time of day
Time of year

9. Plot is the sequence of events in the story.
Climax
Rising Action
Falling Action
Resolution
Exposition

10. During the exposition of the story, we are introduced to the characters, setting, and other background information.

11. The inciting incident is the point of the plot that begins the conflict. It is the event that catalyzes the protagonist to go into motion and to take action
The rising action is the buildup of events, twists, and turns leading to the climax.

12. The climax is particular point in a narrative at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point.
The turning point from which there is no going back
The highest point of suspense in the story

13. During the falling action, the story winds down.
During the resolution or dénouement, the conflict is resolved and the story usually has a conclusion.

14. The point of view is the perspective of the story.
“I was framed! I just wanted to borrow a cup of sugar!”
“That rotten wolf tried to eat us!!!!”

16. An unreliable narrator is a narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised.
A character’s unreliability might be obvious to the reader throughout, it might be revealed gradually, or it might come as a revelation that provides a major plot twist.

17. The theme is the author’s central message or insight into life.
A theme can be
stated (told outright) or implied (revealed gradually).

18. Example of Theme
“Every man needs to feel allegiance to his native country, whether he always appreciates that country or not.”
From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale pg. 185 in Prentice Hall Literature book

19. Whether you’re the reader, or the writer, a good story should include these literary elements!!!
characters
protagonist
conflict
climax
point of view
setting
antagonist