1. Parts of a Short Story

2. The Setting The setting is where and when the story takes place
General Setting – Time period, geographic area
Specific Setting – An office, an apartment, a spaceship; July 4, 1776

3. Characters
Characters are the people, animals, or things that the story is about
Main Character – the primary and most important characters in the story; these characters are affected by the story (they change)
Supporting characters – characters that have smaller parts; these characters affect the story

4. Characters, continued
Protagonist – The “good guy,” the hero, the main character
Antagonist – The “bad guy,” the person who stands in the way of the protagonist

5. Characterization
Direct Characterization – How the author describes the character
(The author comes out and tells you he is lazy or generous, etc)
Indirect Characterization – What other characters say about the character, what you learn through action and dialogue

6. Point of View From what perspective is the story told?
First person – POV of the main character, uses “I”
Third person – POV of an outside observer, uses “he” & “she”
Limited – the observer can only “see” what happens or has limited thoughts from one character
Omniscient – the observer knows many characters’ thoughts, can “see” inside their heads

7. Plot The plot of the story is what happens in the story
Almost every plot is based on a conflict:
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Self
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Society

8. The Plot Curve
Exposition – Beginning of the story; characters are introduced, setting is established, tone and mood are set
Rising Action – The conflict begins; the protagonist works towards settling the conflict
Climax – The turning point of the story; the protagonist solves the conflict (or doesn’t)

9. Plot Curve, continued
Falling Action – The specifics of the climax play out; what happens as a result of the climax
Resolution – Loose ends are wrapped up; the reader sees the new and changed protagonist; life goes on

10. example: sarcastic, angry, affectionate, approving, disapproving
Tone
The attitude of the author toward the story/subject matter
example: sarcastic, angry, affectionate, approving, disapproving
Tone = Author

11. – happy, sad, depressing, tragic
Mood
Mood – The way a story or selection makes the reader feel
– happy, sad, depressing, tragic
Mood = Me (the reader)

12. Theme
Theme – The message about life the author is trying to send; the “moral” of the story