1. Short Story Unit
3U English
2015

2. Before you Read:
Preview – when you preview a story, you do not read every word. Instead, skim through the story.
Preview Checklist
the title and author
any background or biographical material about the author
the point of view from which the story is told
any name of characters or places
the first few paragraphs
any repeated words
any questions printed at the end

3. PACTS - SHORT STORY ANALYSIS

4. PLOT – the plot in a dramatic or narrative work is the structure of its actions/events. These actions are ordered in such a way in order to achieve a particular emotional or artistic effect.
Parts of plot:
Inciting Event: the event which initiates the main conflict
Conflict: the struggle that grows (There is often more than one type of conflict)
Rising Action: where the main conflict intensifies because of additional complications
Climax: the point of highest interest for the reader; the place where the greatest emotional response exists
Falling Action / Resolution: conflict is resolved

5. ATMOSPHERE, TONE & MOOD
Atmosphere – the prevailing mood of a work; connected to emotions created by setting or character.
Tone – refers to the author’s attitude to the subject –matter (e.g. ironic, light, solemn, sentimental, satiric, etc…)
While "tone" is the writer's attitude, "mood" is the feeling the reader gets from the writing.  While tone often describes the writing overall, the mood of a piece of writing can change throughout it.

6. CHARACTER – a character can be revealed or developed in a story
Methods of Characterization:
the reader can only know as much about a character as the story reveals.
the reader must form a judgment on the character based on the information presented.
The reader gets to know a character through both the obvious and subtle clues in the narrative.
The reader learns about a character:
Through what the character says
Through the character’s thoughts, feelings, reactions, etc.
Through the character’s actions
Through what other characters say and think about the character
Through what the narrator says about the character

7. Types of Characters Protagonist – the main character in a story Antagonist – a character opposed to the protagonist Minor Character, Secondary Character
Static
Character: a character that does not change or grow through the course of the narrative
Foil Character : a character that serves as a contrast to another (not always human: beast, rugged landscape etc…)
Dynamic Character: a character that changes, grows or matures in some way (negative or positive), comes to a new understanding.

8. THEME the message the writer wants to get across
The central idea in non-fiction may be considered the thesis
the theme is the main idea of a work of literature
the message the writer wants to get across
the theme is rarely expressed, but is rather implied
a work of literature can have more than one theme
on the other hand, some writings are written mainly to entertain the reader and have no real theme
Theme and thesis imply a subject and a predicate of some kind
i.e. “Human wishes” is a topic or subject
“The vanity of human wishes” is a theme

9. Familiar Themes Search for mother / father / child
Striving for fame / recognition
Desire to give life / death meaning
Exploration of behavior codes (good vs. evil)
From innocence to experience (coming of age)
From ignorance to knowledge
Joy of discovering a friend
Search for romantic love
Psychology: people at their limits
Internal / external conflicts

10. Setting
The physical, and sometimes spiritual background against which the action of a narrative takes place; time, place , circumstance
Elements of Setting:
The time period in which the action takes place (year, day, season, era) – these sorts of details are often determined through contextual clues (such as the type of technology used by the characters)
The actual geographic location, its topography, scenery, and such physical arrangements as the location of the windows and doors in a room.
The general environment of the characters – religious, mental, moral, social and emotional conditions (manners, customs of a locality – local colour) through which the people in the narrative move.

11. Other Literary Terms
Suspense: the poised anticipation of the reader or audience as to the outcome of the events of a short story, novel or drama.
Foreshadowing: an event or detail in a story that hints a later development.
Irony: a broad term referring to the recognition of a reality different from appearances.

12. Point of View First-person - character narrates the story with
I-me-my-mine in his or her speech.
The advantage of this point of view is that you get to hear the thoughts of the narrator and see the world depicted in the story through his or her eyes.
However, remember that no narrator, like no human being, has complete self-knowledge or, for that matter, complete knowledge of anything. Therefore, the reader's role is to go beyond what the narrator says.

13. 2nd Person
Second-person point of view, in which the author uses you and your, is rare; authors seldom speak directly to the reader. When you encounter this point of view, pay attention. Why? The author has made a daring choice, probably with a specific purpose in mind. Most times, second-person point of view draws the reader into the story, almost making the reader a participant in the action.
Here's an example: Jay McInerney's best-selling Bright Lights, Big City was written in second person to make the experiences and tribulations of the unnamed main character more personal and intimate for the reader.

14. 3rd Person
Third-person - view is that of an outsider looking at the action.
The writer may choose third-person omniscient, in which the thoughts of every character are open to the reader, or
third-person limited, in which the reader enters only one character's mind, either throughout the entire work or in a specific section.
Third-person limited differs from first-person because the author's voice, not the character's voice, is what you hear in the descriptive passages.
When you're reading a third-person selection, either limited or omniscient, you're watching the story unfold as an outsider. Remember that most writers choose this point of view