1. Minds On Is it important to have an identity?
What are some ways in which people are “identified” in their lives?
Extension:
Are there any short story elements (e.g., keywords) that you’re unsure about? That you did not understand?

3. Elements of the Short Story A short story is a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting. Usually only deals with one issue, one set of characters.

4. Key Elements for Analysis
Any aspect of a story, even the title, can be analyzed for meaning. The key areas of study are:
Plot: what is happening
Setting: when and where it is happening
Character: who it is happening to
Narrative Point of View: who is telling the story
Theme: what does the author want the audience to learn

5. Plot
The plot is the pattern of events that occur in a story. Their importance can be described on a Plot Graph, or they can be examined sequentially on a Time Line.

6. Elements of a Plot
1) Introduction: also called the exposition: the opening of a piece of writing - usually gives a brief description of the setting, and sets up the inciting force: the event or force that sets in motion the rising action of the story.
2) Rising Action: the complication of action: establishes the specific conflict(s) between characters; can occur often.
3) Climax: the most emotional moment, the turning-point.
4) Falling Action: when conflict begins to be resolved.
5) Resolution/Conclusion: also called the denouement: the outcome of the story.

7. Development of the plot can often incorporate a device called foreshadowing. This is when hints or clues are given about what is going to happen later in the story.
- What would happen, or what do we hear before this scene?

8. Setting
The setting is the background against which the action of the story takes place. The elements that make up the setting are: 1) the location (physical environment), and 2) the time (of day, season, etc.) or time-period (18th C).

9. Setting- atmosphere
The setting will give the reader a general understanding of the atmosphere of the story... eg. Eerie, evil, serene. Often described using imagery devices: simile, metaphor, personification, pathetic fallacy, etc.

10. Setting can be used to connect the external world to the internal world of the characters’ emotions. This technique is called Pathetic Fallacy.

11. Characters
The character is a brief descriptive sketch of a real or imaginary person in a story. Level of detail may vary dependant upon how important the character is. They may be primary, secondary, or even tertiary.

12. Types of characters:
Round characters: deep, many personality traits.
Flat characters: shallow, very few personality traits.
3) Dynamic characters: undergo changes through the story, show evidence of growth, of learning a lesson.
4) Static characters: do not change throughout the story.
5) Stereotypes: often used as stock characters.

13. Main characters
Protagonist: The main character in the work, and the most important person. Usually trying to achieve a goal. Not necessarily a Hero or the Good Guy.
Antagonist: The character directly opposed to the protagonist (a rival, opponent, or enemy of the protagonist). Usually engaged in preventing the protagonist from achieving his or her goal. Not necessarily a Villain or the Bad Guy.

14. Characterization How we learn about characters: Dialogue:
What a character says.
What others characters say to, or about a character.
Action:
What a character does – can suggest motivation and can reveal a character’s moral and beliefs.
How a character interacts with others.
Description:
What the author/narrator tells us about a character.

15. Conflict
Conflict is the struggle that grows out of the battle between two opposing forces.

16. Types of Conflict Internal Conflict
Character vs.: Self – inner struggle within a character; torn between needs/wants, desire/morals or beliefs
Fate – a struggle for choice; fighting against one’s supposed destiny (could also be influenced by external forces)
External Conflict
Character vs.: Character – between two (or more) characters
Nature – between characters and the elements, usually tied to the setting.
Supernatural – char. vs. ghosts/spirits/god(s)
Machine – characters and their creations
Society – between characters and the demands of society

17. Narrative Point of View
The vantage point or perspective from which an author presents a story as told by a narrator

18. First-person p.o.v.
The first-person storyteller will tell a tale that involves him/herself in it. The storyteller will use words like “I” and “me”, “we” and “us”, and is usually the protagonist.

19. Second-person p.o.v.
The second-person narrative is rare, as it creates a story that draws the reader into the story as the main character, using the “You” perspective.

20. Third-person p.o.v.
The third person storyteller will tell a story about others (He, She, They). The narrator often knows everything about the people in their story: Omniscient, but may be Limited: only knowing about one character in detail.

21. Theme
The theme of a story is the central idea, but not the general topic... a love story does not simply have a theme of Love. Instead, we must ask ourselves what is it about love that we are supposed to learn or understand?
Often revealed through: a story’s title, key phrases and statements about big ideas, the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life.

22. The theme usually relates to the moral of the story (what we are supposed to learn), and it is usually not stated outright. Instead, it is inferred, suggested, or hinted at; we must read-between-the-lines
Relates to the differences between:
Implicit versus Explicit
Connotation versus Denotation.

23. …when something unexpected happens; a weird twist.
Irony
…when something unexpected happens; a weird twist.
There are three types of irony:
Situational – when something happens that is not supposed to happen
Dramatic – when the audience knows something that the characters are unaware of
Verbal – when the speaker intends a meaning that is different than what is actually said

24. Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of one person, place, activity, or object to represent or suggest another. e.g. a crown symbolizes royalty or power, a rose means love, white is pure, youth represents innocence, rings are said to symbolize unity/continuity, and red can represent danger, or love.

25. The end