1. Elements of a Short Story

2. Definition of a Short Story Tells about a ____________ event or experience Fictional (not true) 500 to 15,000 words in length It has a _______________ ________________, and __________________. Creates an impression on the reader

3. Elements of a Short Story _______________ Characterization _______________ Conflict _______________ Resolution _______________ Point of view

4. Setting The time and ________________ of the story’s action

5. Short Story Vocabulary Theme: The story’s main ideas. The “______________” the writer intends to communicate by telling the story.

6. Short Story Vocabulary Characterization: Creation of imaginary people who appear to be ____________ to the reader. The writer gives _______________ about the characters in the story.

7. Characterization How the author ________________ the characters, especially the main character. This is done through: –what the character ____________ or says –what others say of and __________ the character –author’s _____________ _____________ in descriptive passages

8. Characterization Direct characterization –The author ________________ states what the character’s personality is like. Example: cruel, kind Indirect characterization –Showing a character’s personality through his/her ________________, thoughts, feelings, ________________, appearance or other character’s observations or reactions

9. Protagonist Main character of the story that changes –the most ___________________ character –changes and grows because of experiences in the story –“______________ Character”

10. Antagonist A major character who _______________ the protagonist –“_________________ Character”

11. Short Story Vocabulary Plot: A series of _______________ through which the writer reveals what is happening, to whom, and why.

12. What is the Plot? Plot: Series of related events that make up a story.

13. Exposition Section that ______________________ characters, the setting, and conflicts.

14. Rising Action Consists of a series of _______________. These occur when the main characters take _____________ to resolve their problems and are met with further problems: –Fear –Hostility –Threatening situation

15. Climax The turning _____________ in the story: the high point of interest and _______________. Rising Action or Complications Falling Action Climax

16. Falling Action All events following the climax or turning point in the story. These events are a _______________ of the action taken at the climax.

17. Resolution The _____________ of the central conflict: it shows how the situation turns out and ties up loose ends

18. Short Story Vocabulary Conflict: Is a _______________ in the story that needs to be resolved.

19. Conflict A struggle between two opposing forces Types –Internal – takes place in a character’s own ________. Man vs. Him(Her)self –External – a character struggles against an _________________ force Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Society

20. Man v/s Himself/Herself: The central character has to make personal decisions about what is the right thing to do (ex.: a young person must decide whether or not to tell his parents he stole some money, a person sees a twenty dollar bill fall out of someone’s pocket and must decide whether to return it or not.) Internal

21. The two types of conflict can be shown in the following ways: Man v/s nature: the central character battles the forces of nature (ex.: caught in a rain storm w/ no umbrella, stalked by a wild animal)

22. Man v/s Society The central character battles societal norms (ex.: a new student dressing differently than the other students, a person who won’t drink even though his friends are)

23. Man v/s Man: The central character battles another character in the story (ex.: Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vadar, Tweety vs. Sylvester)

24. Short Story Vocabulary Point of view: The _______________ of the ______________ of the story and what the writer sees from that vantage point.

25. Point of View –First person- One of the characters is actually telling the story using the pronoun “__________” –Third person- Centers on _____________ character’s thoughts and actions. –Omniscient- ___________ knowing narrator. Can center on the thoughts any actions of _________ and _________ characters.

26. Flashback The present scene in the story is interrupted to flash backward and tell what happened in an ________________ time.

27. Foreshadowing _____________ the writer puts in the story to give the reader a hint of what is to come.

28. Irony A _____________ between expectation and reality.

29. Irony Verbal Irony – _______________ one thing but meaning something completely different. –Calling a clumsy basketball player “Michael Jordan” Situational Irony – A contradiction between what we _______________ to happen and what really does happen Dramatic Irony – occurs when the ____________ knows something important that the characters in the story do not know.