1. Elements of the Short Story

2. Narrative Element: Setting
Setting includes the time, place and circumstances in which the story takes place.
Time influences the way characters view the world—a story set in 1850 will be very different from one that takes place in
Place (town, country, region) of the story influences the behavior of the characters (culture and traditions, language, etc.)
The circumstances ( situation or events in the story) of the setting usually influence how the characters deal with life (conflicts, other characters, etc.)

3. Narrative Element: Setting
Setting can reveal character by showing how the characters deal with challenges—climate, heat, cold, etc.
The setting itself can create conflict as in a person- versus-nature conflict.
The setting can also create mood and atmosphere —full moons, heat waves, thunderstorms, create a specific mood or atmosphere in story
The setting may also act as a symbol. A wild winter storm could symbolize the anger and conflict in the story.
Setting may or may not be an important part of a story.
Test and exam questions based on setting usually focus on how the setting may influence the characters, mood, and conflict of the story.

4. Literary Term: Conflict
Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces.
Usually the main character must struggle with an opposing force
There are several types of conflict:
Person versus Self
Person versus Person
Person versus Nature
Person versus Society
Person versus Technology
Person versus Fate
Person versus Supernatural

5. Narrative Element: Internal Conflict
Internal conflict, or person-versus-self, occurs when main character struggles within himself or herself.
The main character must decide on a course of action in order to resolve a conflict.
The main character may have mixed emotions about a situation and this makes it hard to find a solution to the problem.
Conflict frequently leads to an important change in the main character’s life or attitude toward others.
Resolving internal conflict usually teaches the character and the reader an important lesson about life (theme)

6. Narrative Element: Interpersonal Conflict
Inter (between) personal (persons)
Interpersonal conflict, or person-versus-person, usually involves the main character struggle against another character in the story.
This kind of conflict is usually resolved when the main character defeats or outsmarts his opponent.
Stories with this type of conflict usually involve a good versus evil theme.

7. Narrative Element: Nature, Society, Technology
Person-versus-nature takes place when the main character (protagonist) is threatened by an element of nature.
Person-versus-society happens when the main character is in conflict with the values of society—Jewish families struggling with the Nazis, Katniss struggling against The Capitol
Person-versus- technology the main character struggles with advances in technology

8. Conflict: Fate and Supernatural Forces
Person-versus-the supernatural main characters are dealing with the supernatural forces (zombies, ghosts, etc.)
Person-versus-fate occurs when the main character struggles with something they have little control over—bad luck, death of friends, dealing with a disability

9. Writing about conflict
Conflict Paragraph Format 
Begin with a sentence that states the name of the story, the author, and identifies the main conflict (person versus ?).
Introduce evidence that supports why you believe the main conflict is… Use specific details from the story
Explain how your evidence/example supports your thoughts about the main conflict.
Discuss another piece of evidence that supports your position/opinion.
Use transitional expressions to help the reader follow/see the connections between your evidence and supporting details from the story.
Conclude your paragraph with an interesting final thought about whether or not the conflict was resolved.
What did the character learn from this struggle? What could the reader/you learn?

10. Narrative Element: Conflict
Several types of conflict may be present in any one story.
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between two types of conflict.
If a teenager is arrested by a policeman for breaking a law, the conflict is probably person- against-society.
If, however, a personal dispute develops between the two, so that the boy taunts the policeman and the policeman harasses the boy because they dislike each other, the conflict becomes person-against- person.

11. Narrative Element: Theme
Theme is the underlying lesson of the story about life and/or human nature
A theme is usually revealed through key events in the story.
Asking the following questions will help you come up with a theme for a narrative:
What did the main character realize/learn by the end of the story?
What message is the author sending through the decision, mistakes, conflicts, in the story?
Who was rewarded or punished
What events/results in the story could help the reader improve his/her own life?

12. Theme How an author reveals theme:
Theme may be revealed through characters’ thoughts and actions
The theme may be related to how the character has changed throughout the story.
The theme is always connected to what character has learned by the end of the story.
The theme may be revealed in how the story ends, especially who is rewarded or punished.

13. Writing about theme Theme Paragraph (Lessons Learned)
Opening (topic) Sentences: Capture attention
Open with an interesting comment about how the character has changed for the better in the story.
Introduce the author and the title of the work and state the theme of the selection in a sentence.
Supporting Details: Three (3) specific examples from the text 
Provide a short (1-2) sentence introduction showing how each specific example/detail/event supports your theme.
Use specific details from the selection (who, what, when, where, why, etc.).
Always explain how the example supports the theme
Conclude: Final thoughts about the theme
Comment on the importance of this theme for the character
Discuss how the theme is relevant—how you or another reader may benefit from understanding the theme.
Try to conclude with a final quotation from the story that summarizes the main idea(s) or theme.
A statement made by a character supporting your theme always works  

14. Character
A character is a person in a narrative (script, story, or poem).
Readers identify with the characters, recognize their feelings, and understand why they act in certain ways.
A believable story requires characters who seem lifelike and who develop throughout the story.
The main character’s (protagonist) actions and behaviors help the reader learn valuable insights about human nature and interpersonal relations.
How the character resolves problems (conflicts, etc.) often leads the reader to themes and valuable lessons about life.

15. Character Types of characters
Flat- They are not well developed. They are easily characterized in one or two sentences and they usually do not change within the story.
Example: The princess and the prince in folktales. The princess is usually beautiful, kind, and generous, and the prince is usually handsome, noble, and brave.
Round- These are complex and many- sided characters who develop and grow throughout the story.
Example: Harry Potter, his character changes throughout each of the novels in the series.

16. Character Main character
The main character is also referred to as the protagonist.
He/She should be believable to the readers.
If a main character is not believable, the readers will not care about what happens to him or her and will not get involved in the story.
Protagonists are not necessarily the heroes in a story.
Example: Dracula is a protagonist. His character is believable and interesting, but he is not a hero.
Most writers give their protagonists special characteristics or traits that set them apart from the other characters. The could have unusual talents or even a great sense of humour.
All good writers are careful not to create a character that is too “perfect”. Remember most people have flaws—no one is perfect. Your character must be believable.

17. Character
Antagonist
The antagonist is the person or thing in a story fighting against the main character.
The antagonist does not have to be a person; it could be an animal, the weather, fate, or some other condition working against the main character.
Readers may dislike the antagonist hope that he/she/thing doesn’t win.
Example: Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series.

18. Characterization
Characterization is the method or technique that writers use to reveal or describe characters and their personalities.
The Direct Method
Direct characterization occurs when the author literally tells the reader about the character.
Writers do this when they describe the appearance of the characters, where the characters live, and other important information about the characters’ lives.

19. Characterization
The Indirect Method: authors might also use indirect methods that require readers to draw their own conclusions about the characters.
Indirect Method
A character’s name, physical characteristics, clothing, may reveal something about his/her character.
Dialogue can be used to show what they are thinking and what they are feeling.
What other characters say about them (dialogue between two other characters can help reveal traits)
What other people think of a character.
How animals react to the character.
A character’s actions can show who they are. As characters act in certain ways, their actions reveal what kinds of people they are.

20. Characterization: Comparison
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.

21. Dumb ending