1. “Charles” by: Shirley Jackson
The Elements of a Short Story

2. Exposition Usually begins the structure of the plot
Gives the reader important background information

3. Basic Situation (exposition)
Laurie goes to Kindergarten

4. Conflict A struggle between opposing forces External Conflict
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Supernatural
Man vs. Society
Internal Conflict
Man vs. Self

5. Conflict (Internal and external)
Internal Conflict
Alter ego… Laurie vs. himself (Charles)
External Conflict
Charles vs. teacher
Charles vs. classmates

6. Complications
These arise during the rising action as the characters struggle with the conflict.

7. Complications Bad influence Violent Liar Smart/clever/trickster
disobedient

8. Rising Action
The characters struggle with the conflict.

9. Rising Action
Laurie comes home everyday and tells his parents what Charles has done at school.

10. Climax
The turning point of the story

11. Climax
References are made by the family that family members are “pulling” a Charles.

12. Falling Action
Occurs after the climax

13. Falling Action
Mom goes to the PTA meeting and searches for Charles’s parents.
The mother starts talking to the teacher.

14. Resolution
Loose ends are tied up, and the story is brought to a close.

15. Resolution
Mom finds out that there is no Charles in Laurie’s class.

16. Characters Main vs. Minor Characters (Dynamic & Static) Protagonist
The leading “good” character
Antagonist
The main “bad” character

17. Character(s) Laurie/Charles - Dynamic Mom - static Dad - static
Teacher - dynamic
Classmates
Baby sister

18. Setting
Time and place

19. Setting (place and/or time)
At Laurie’s house
Fall

20. Mood
The feeling conveyed to the reader

21. Mood and/or Atmosphere
Humorous

22. Theme
Meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work.
Expressed in a complete sentence.

23. Theme
Don’t be quick to judge others.

24. Point of View Perspective from which a story is told 1st Person
Narrator is a character in the story and uses first person pronouns: I, me, and we.
Third Person
Told by a narrative voice outside the action, not by one of the characters.
Uses third person pronouns: he, she, it, and they.

25. Point of View
1st & 3rd person

26. Tone
Writer’s attitude toward the subject

27. Tone
simplistic

28. Author’s Purpose The reason for the writing To entertain To persuade
To explain or inform
To express an opinion

29. Author’s Purpose
Entertainment