2. INTRODUCTION TO THE SHORT STORY FICTION

3. DEFINITION: WHAT IS A SHORT STORY? A short story is a work of fiction that focuses on one important event in the lives of a small number of central characters and that can usually be read in one sitting.

4. A SHORT STORY HAS SIX BASIC ELEMENTS: Plot Setting Conflict Character Point of View Theme

5. PLOT = THE FRAMEWORK OF A STORY Plot is the arrangement of related events that makes the story hang together. Plot can also be referred to as the structure of a short story. Structure concerns how the story is told.

6. PARTS OF THE PLOT Plot Line

7. EXPOSITION Introduction to characters and situation

8. CONFLICT The struggle of opposing forces

9. External Internal External = a character struggles with a force outside himself or herself. Internal = a character struggles within his or her own mind with emotions, decisions, etc. 2 TYPES OF CONFLICT

10. MAN VS. MAN

11. MAN VS. SELF

12. MAN VS. NATURE

13. MAN VS. SOCIETY

14. RISING ACTION The increasing steps of the conflict

15. CLIMAX The highest point of interest or suspense

16. FALLING ACTION AND RESOLUTION The end or solution of the conflict

17. PLOT LINE REVIEW Conflict Rising Action Climax Falling Action Exposition Resolution

18. CHARACTERS “ In the best stories, characters come alive. We care about their dreams, fears, and frustrations, just as if they were real people in our lives. ”

19. CHARACTERS Protagonist - ? Protagonist – main character / clearly central to the story with all major events having some importance to him or her.

20. CHARACTERS Antagonist - ? Antagonist – any character who opposes or struggles against the protagonist. Question: Does the antagonist always have to be a character (a person) in the story?

21. SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY CHARACTER – A PERSON OR THING IN A STORY Dynamic – one that undergoes some type of change because of the action of the plot Static- One that doesn’t change throughout the work, reader’s knowledge of character does not grow Flat – embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that can be readily accessible to readers (could be stereotypes “ dumb blonde ” or “ evil stepmother ” ) Round- Display inconsistencies and internal conflicts found in most real people Main – central character to the story – see protagonist Minor – less important character in a literary work, but still is needed for explanation or development of plot

22. SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY ALLEGORY – A STORY IN WHICH PEOPLE, THINGS AND ACTIONS REPRESENT AN IDEA OR A GENERALIZATION ABOUT LIFE; OFTEN CONTAINS STRONG MORAL LESSONS APOSTROPHE – THE ADDRESSING OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING, USUALLY NOT PRESENT, AS THOUGH PRESENT (O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!... DEATH, BE NOT PROUD)

23. SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY DIALOGUE – THE CONVERSATIONS CARRIED ON BY THE CHARACTERS IN A LITERARY WORK EPIPHANY – IN FICTION, WHEN A CHARACTER SUDDENLY EXPERIENCES A DEEP REALIZATION ABOUT HIMSELF OR HERSELF; A TRUTH WHICH IS GRASPED IN AN ORDINARY RATHER THAN MELODRAMATIC MOMENT FLASHBACK – GOING BACK TO AN EARLIER TIME IN A STORY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING SOMETHING PRESENT CLEARER

24. SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY FOIL – CHARACTER IN A WORK WHOSE BEHAVIOR AND VALUES CONTRAST WITH THOSE OF ANOTHER CHARACTER IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT THE DISTINCTIVE TEMPERAMENT OF THAT CHARACTER ( USUALLY THE PROTAGONIST) FORESHADOWING – TO BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING TO COME; INDICATE OR SUGGEST BEFORE HAND

25. SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY MOTIF – AN OFTEN-REPEATED IDEA OR THEME IN LITERATURE MOOD – THE FEELING A PIECE OF LITERATURE AROUSES IN THE READER; HAPPINESS, SADNESS, PEACEFULNESS

26. SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS – A STYLE OF WRITING IN WHICH THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF THE WRITER ARE RECORDED AS THEY OCCUR SYMBOL – A PERSON, PLACE, OR THING OR EVEN USED TO REPRESENT SOMETHING ELSE SYNTAX – THE ORDERING OF WORDS INTO MEANINGFUL VERBAL PATTERNS SUCH AS PHRASE, CLAUSE, AND SENTENCES; POETS OFTEN MANIPULATE SYNTAX, CHANGING CONVENTIONAL WORD ORDER, TO PLACE CERTAIN EMPHASIS ON PARTICULAR WORDS