1. Short Written Texts

2. Short Stories
Usually a piece of fictional text that is short enough to be read at one sitting.
Similar to novels in that their main purpose is to entertain, to instruct or to comment on some aspect of human behaviour.

3. Style Because of abbreviated format…
language is used skilfully and succinctly
descriptions are brief and direct
vocabulary use is strong and precise

4. Most short stories are a combination of these types
Story of
character
Reveals a character’s
mind, motivation or
moral quality
Story of
incident
Looks at the course
& outcomes of a
Single event
Slice of life
Deals with an
experience of ordinary
life; often has no
climax; reveals
character &
situation
Types of
short stories
Story of
narration
Beginning, middle
& end, building to a
climax, often with a
turning point
Surprise
ending
Popular form, includes
Horror, suspense
stories
Story of
atmosphere
Brings alive a certain
Mood or setting
Most short stories are a combination of these types

5. Ingredients of short stories include…
Character
Theme
Setting/context
Style
Plot
Narrative viewpoint
Structure

6. Ingredients of short stories
Character –
There are seldom more than 2 or 3 characters described in any detail.
Only characters essential to the story are introduced
Theme –
Usually only one theme is present.
It may be general or only subtly hinted at through the title or repetition of certain words or phrases

7. Ingredients of short stories
Setting/context –
Usually set in one place and only over a brief space of time
Often not described in detail or hugely significant
Could be any street in any town
Style (how the story is written) –
Highly structured to make the best use of space
Style includes:
Language – dialogue, vocabulary
Plot structure – how the story is constructed; narrative viewpoint
Author’s purpose – why the text was written; it’s message

8. Ingredients of short stories
Plot –
Anything that happens or is described in a short story is important and there is a reason for it. The plot may tell a complete narrative (with a beginning, middle, & end) or be a slice of life (a single idea/incident from life).
It may be told:
Chronologically (in the order events happened)
In view from the present (story is started & finished in the present but is told mainly in the past)
Flashbacks (some events in the past help us understand what is going on now)

9. Ingredients of short stories
Narrative viewpoints
1st person: the narrator tells us what he/she saw and experienced
3rd person: we see events from this character’s POV
‘Eye of God’: narrator tells us what is happening but is not actually a character in the story. They can see into the minds of characters and tell us what they are thinking.
Structure –
Most short stories follow this structure:
Exposition Conflict & interaction Crisis/turning point Resolution

10. Remember: Just because the story is short, doesn’t mean it’s simplistic