1. Short Story NOtes ©

2. The Basics
Short stories are mainly written in prose, which is writing or speaking in sentences (so everything that is not poetry).
Short stories are a type of literary genre.
Genre-identifies the major categories of something.
Music example: Country, rock, r&b, etc.
Literary Examples: fiction, non-fiction, informational, drama. ©

3. Characters
Characters: people, animals, or imaginary creatures that take part in the action of a story. 
Protagonist- main character in the story
Can be good or evil, the protagonist is not always “the good guy,” it just means that he/she is the main character
Antagonist- forces at work against the protagonist; may be another character, nature, society, or a force from within the character ©

4. Static character-describes a character that changes little or not at all during the story.©

5. Dynamic character-describes a character that changes and grows during the story.
This type of character usually goes through a life altering experience such as war, death of a close family member, or natural disaster.
Think Beast from “Beauty and the Beast” ©

6. Why would this be useful in a SHORT story?
Stereotype -broad generalization about someone or something that leaves no room for individual differences .
Why would this be useful in a SHORT story? ©

7. Point of View
1st person- point of view- one of the characters is telling the story (I, me, my) 
3rd person point of view- someone outside of the story is telling the story 
3rd person omniscient-all-knowing 
3rd person limited- someone outside of the story who has limited knowledge of what’s going on. ©

8. PLOT
Plot- the action of the story (main points) & Setting-time and place of the story  ©

9. Rising Action- main plot points leading up to the climax
Exposition-the introduction of the story . This is where the setting and the characters are introduced.
Rising Action- main plot points leading up to the climax 
Climax-the turning point in the action of the story
Falling Action- main plot points after the climax 
Resolution- the end of the story ©

10. Other Elements:
When you come to the end of a short story, you should be able to reason these out:
Theme- the central idea of a story.
Ex: love, growing up, hate, revenge.
Mood-the feeling the reader gets from the work .
Tone-the writer’s attitude toward the subject
Mood and tone go hand in hand. Example… ©

11. More Elements
Foreshadowing- is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story.
Flashback- a scene that takes the reader back in time from the current time in the story. ©

12. Types of Conflict
Conflict-problem or struggle between two or more opposing forces 
Person v. Person- character has problems with another character
ex: a fight in the lunchroom
Batman and Joker
Glozell- ©

13. Types of Conflict
Person vs. Society- character has problems with traditions, laws, school, etc.
Ex: dress code
The Speed Limit (because we all want to drive faster) ©

14. Types of Conflict
Person vs. Self- character struggles with himself trying to decide what to do
Ex: making hard decisions/choices ©

15. Types of Conflict
Person vs. Nature- character struggles with natural happenings
EX: storms ©

16. Types of Conflict
Person vs. Fate- character battles with what seems to be an uncontrollable problem/unbelievable coincidence.
EX: Hercules. Ancient mythology ©

17. Types of Conflict Person v. Technology
When an individual has a problem with technology.
Ex: computer, phone, etc. ©

18. Types of Conflict Person v. Machine
When an individual has a problem with a machine.
Car, dishwasher, washer, etc. ©

19. Check for Understanding
Watch the clip on the next slide and answer the following…
1) Who is the protagonist?
2) Name one antagonist.
3) What point of view is it written in?
4) What main type of conflict does Will have throughout the story? Person v. ___________.
5) What is the climax of the story?
6) To what genre does it belong? (fiction, non-fiction) ©

20. Insert theme song video here from YouTube
The Fresh Prince
Insert theme song video here from YouTube ©

21. Answers
1) Will Smith
2) His mother, guys up to no good, police man in the beginning
3) First person
4) Person
5) When will gets in the fight
6) Fiction ©

22. WARNING!
ALL OF THESE VOCABULARY WORDS WILL SHOW UP FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER!
If you have to write somewhere “DO NOT THROW AWAY”…do it. You need to keep up with these. ©

23. THE END ©

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