1. Short Story Elements

2. What is a short story?
A brief, imaginative narrative containing few characters, simple plot, conflict, and suspense which leads to a climax and a swift conclusion.
Can be read in one sitting

3. THE 4 ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY
PLOT
SETTING
CHARACTER
THEME

4. #1. PLOT The chain of events in a story.
Consists of 6 main ingredients:
Introduction/Exposition
Inciting incident
Rising action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

5. PLOT GRAPH
An excellent way to map out a story’s plot

6. Introduction Introduces the reader to: Setting Basic situation
Characters involved
Narrative Hook: question or statement that grabs the reader’s attention

7. Inciting Incident
The first major action in the story that sets the story in motion (gets the ball rolling).

8. Rising Action Incidents which carry the plot along. It often
includes the following:
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Conflict
Suspense

9. FORESHADOWING
A technique for hinting at events that may occur later in the plot.

10. FLASHBACK
The insertion of an earlier event into the time order of a narrative.

11. Conflict
It is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she wants
The plot is driven by climax and it is THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE STORY
There are two types of conflicts: Internal and External

12. Internal Conflict PERSON VS. SELF

13. External Conflict PERSON VS. PERSON

14. External Conflict PERSON VS. SOCIETY

15. External Conflict PERSON VS.THE ENVIRONMENT

16. Short Story Elements
ENG4CI-02 – Hammoud

17. Mr. H.

18. Mr. H.

19. About You Biogram Student Profile Sheet
Have fun with it, but try to be honest
Student Profile Sheet
Please fill out as accurately and honestly as possible

20. News and Announcements
DUE: Lamb to the Slaughter Assignment
Please submit now
Short Story Test
Next Friday, March 13
Review is Wednesday, March 11
Room 1-120
Advertising or Essay Unit
Begins early next week
What did we pick?

21. Agenda Finish Short Story Elements note
Conflict, Suspense, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution etc.
Plot Diagram for “The Flying Machine” and “Lamb to the Slaughter” (both will appear on your test

22. External Conflict PERSON VS. FATE

23. External Conflict PERSON VS. TECHNOLOGY

24. External Conflict PERSON VS. THE SUPERNATURAL

25. SUSPENSE
The feeling of excitement and curiosity that keeps the reader turning the pages; created by making the readers wonder how the conflict will be resolved

26. CLIMAX
The highest point of interest in the story when the character(s) solves his/her struggles
Usually the point of highest emotion
The climax can be SUBJECTIVE (there may be different answers, so you must prove your choice)

27. FALLING ACTION
The character completes the action of his/her decision

28. THE RESOLUTION The final workings of a story’s conflict
All of the loose ends are tied up (usually)
Narrative Twist: a surprise ending

29. #2. SETTING
The time (time of day, season, present, past, future) and the location (country, planet, town, buildings, PLUS a description of the surroundings) where the action occurs
Helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the text

30. ATMOSPHERE
The feeling that the setting evokes (i.e. mysterious, happy, eerie)

31. MOOD
The author’s emotional attitude toward the subject matter (i.e. excitement, nostalgia)
NOT the mood of the characters

32. #3. CHARACTERs
Any personalities who are involved in the plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy characters)
Usually less than 6 in a short story

33. PROTAGONIST Usually the “good guy” or hero in the story
The main character that we follow
The character that strives to solve the conflict

34. ANTAGONIST The “bad guy” or villain in the story
Usually creates conflict for the main character

35. SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Other characters who are necessary to moving the plot along, but may not be involved with the central conflict

36. CHARACTER TRAITS Physical and personality characteristics that
are revealed through:
What the character does
What the character says
What other characters say or do about the character
What the author states directly
What the author infers

37. #4. THEME The central idea about life that the story
highlights; THE MAIN IDEA (universal truths).
The message the author is conveying.
Determine the specific conflict
Decide what side of the conflict the story represents
How is the conflict resolved? Who wins? Who loses?

38. THEME Theme is NOT the moral of the story Theme is NOT plot
Theme IS the general subject matter of a work of art
Theme may contain a message

39. THEME
Not all short stories have a theme; some are just for entertainment or fun

40. THEME OR NOT A THEME?
1) Red Riding Hood is about how you shouldn’t trust strangers
2) Stars Wars is a movie about Luke Skywalker
3) Apocalypse Now is about the insanity of war.
4) This painting is about loneliness
5) That story is about two guys who steal a car
6) Romeo and Juliet is about love
7) Romeo and Juliet is about two families fighting
8) I saw a movie last night about survival
9) Hansel and Gretel is about two children
10) Cinderella is about poetic justice