1. Elements of a Short Story
9th Grade English
Mrs. Rasinen

2. What is a short story?
“People create stories create people; or rather stories create people create stories” (“Short Story” 2).
Elements of a short story
Plot
Setting
Characters
Theme
Narrator
Voice

3. Plot Plot is the pattern of events in a work of literature. Exposition
Rising action
Climax
Falling action
Resolution

4. Conflict Conflict is the struggle between two opposing forces.
Internal conflict
Man vs. self
External conflict
Man vs. man
Man vs. nature
Man vs. society

5. Setting Setting includes where and when a story occurs.
Elements of setting may include
Location
Weather
Time period, time of year, time of day
Culture of a specific time or place

6. Characters
Characters are the subject of the story, the people, animals, and individuals about which a story is written.
Protagonist - the main character of a story
Antagonist – the character who opposes the protagonist
Foil – the character who acts as a contrast to the protagonist

7. Theme A theme is the main idea or message of a literary work.
A theme is NOT the subject of a work but the central idea or insight of a work.
Stated theme
Implied theme

8. Point of View
The point of view is the perspective from which a story is told or the position of the narrator in relation to the story.
A narrator is the person who tells the story.
Points of view
1st person – narrator can reveal personal thoughts and feelings
3rd person objective – narrator reports what he/she observes
3rd person limited point of view – narrates from the mind of one character
Omniscient point of view – able to narrate from the minds of all characters

9. Voice Voice conveys the writer’s or narrator’s personality.
Voice may be conveyed through
the distinctive use of language
word choices
Tone - an author’s attitude toward his or her subject or audience
Mood - the emotional quality of a work

10. Characterization
Direct characterization – the writer makes direct statement about who the character is and what the character is like
Indirect characterization - the writer reveals information about a character and through that character's thoughts, words, and actions as well as through other characters’ thoughts and responses

11. Direct vs. Indirect
Paragraph Pair 1: A. Ed Johnson scratched his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. The old mechanic hated modern electronics, preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of manuals and a good set of tools. B. “That Ed Johnson,” said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. “He hasn’t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he’d be happy as a hungry frog in a fly-field.”

12. Direct vs. Indirect
Paragraph Pair 2: A. Julie owned a multitude of outfits and accessories, and it always took her forever to decide which combination might impress Trent. As usual, she called her sister several times for advice. After doing so, Julie decided to give the navy blue skirt with the white sweater a try. B. Julie held up six different outfits in front of the mirror and pondered which would go best with her navy blue shoes, pastel eye shadow and the diamond earrings she’d already procured from her overflowing vanity. After ninety minutes of mixing and matching, and cell-phoning her sister three times for advice, Julie finally made up her mind. She’d give the navy blue skirt and white sweater a try, hoping Trent would love it.

13. Methods of Characterization
Author directly tells reader
Speech
Thoughts and feelings
Effects on others
Actions
Looks

14. Words to Know. The following terms are important to short
Words to Know The following terms are important to short stories as well as all other literary works.
Voice
Narrator
1st person point of view
3rd person point of view
3rd person limited point of view
Omniscient point of view
Tone
Mood
Irony
Foreshadowing
Symbol
Plot
Climax
Suspense
Setting
Characters
Protagonist
Antagonist
Foil
Theme
Stated theme
Implied theme
Conflict
Internal conflict
External conflict