1. Short Story Elements

2. The time and place that a story takes place
Setting
The time and place that a story takes place

3. Author vs. Narrator Author- Narrator- the voice telling a story
the writer of a literary work
Narrator-
the voice telling a story

4. Point of View the vantage point from which a narrator tells a story
First Person-
one of the characters is telling the story using the pronoun “I”. We get to know this character very well, but we can only know what this character knows and can only observe what this character observes
Unreliable Narrator-
does not always know what is happening in the story or might lie, or only tell part of the story

5. Third Person Point of Views a narrator from outside the story tells the reader what is going on
Limited-
Omniscient-
The narrator tells everything there is to know about the characters and their problems, including what any character is thinking. They can tell us about the past, present, and future. They can tell us what is happening in other places.
The narrator plays no part in the story, but zooms in on the thoughts of just one character

6. Character person in a story, poem, or play
Protagonist
The main character
Antagonist
The character or force that struggles against the Protagonist
Subordinate Characters
All other characters

7. Static vs. Dynamic Characters
Static Character
Does not change much in the course of the story
Dynamic Character
Changes as a result of the story’s events

8. Flat vs. Round Characters
Flat Character
Has only one or two traits and can be described in a few words
Round Character
Like a real person, has many different character traits

9. Characterization The process of revealing the personality of a character in a story
Direct Characterization
The narrator tells the reader what the character’s personality is like
Indirect Characterization
Speech
Appearance
Thoughts & Feelings
Actions
What other characters say

11. Parts of the Plot Diagram
background information
Exposition-
Rising Action-
Climax-
Falling Action-
Resolution-
conflict is presented
turning point
conflict is being worked out
conflict is resolved

12. Elements Affecting the Plot
Foreshadowing
The use of clues to hint at events that will occur later in the plot
Flashback
The present action in the plot is interrupted to move back in time and tell an event that happened earlier
Flash-Forward
The present action of the plot is interrupted to shift into the future

13. Struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces
Conflict
Struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces

14. Internal Conflict Man vs. Himself
Struggle takes place between opposing needs, wants, or desires entirely within the character’s own mind

15. External Conflict Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society
A physical fight, competing for the same prize or attention, sports
Man vs. Nature
Animals, weather, disease, landscapes
Man vs. Society
Poverty, lack of education, discrimination, government

16. Irony Situational Irony Verbal Irony Dramatic Irony
The reader expects one thing to happen but something completely different happens instead (often involves timing)
Verbal Irony
What is said is not what is meant (includes sarcasm & puns)
Dramatic Irony
The reader knows something one or more characters in the story do not