2. What is a Short Story? A short story is a relatively brief fictional narrative or story written without using any rhymes of rhythms. The short story has a beginning, a middle, and an end and is composed of the following elements: Theme Plot Character Setting Point of View

3. Title A writer uses a title that is appropriate for his particular story. The title may focus the reader’s attention upon the central character or it may give a clue to the writer’s purpose or it may point to the basic idea or to a symbol. The title may be an allusion that is related to the story or it may be ironic.

4. The title of the story may be: Literal It is literal if the title appears written in the story or novel. Symbolic It is symbolic if it has a special meaning related to the story. Both literal and symbolic

5. Setting Is the environment which surrounds the characters and influences them and their action. The setting is to a story just as the background is to a painting. Writers do not always tell both the time and place. Sometimes they tell only one and give hints or clues about the other. You can figure out the setting by using clues in the story.

6. Physical Setting City, country, beach, a forest, island, house etc. Chronological Setting Historical moment, seasons, centuries, time of day, etc

7. PLOT PLOT—A series of related events that the author uses to develop the theme of a story.To identify the plot, ask yourself these questions: What happens in the beginning of the story? What happens in the middle of the story? What happens at the end of the story?

8. Plot It’s the sequence of events in a story. Many plots begin with a problem that is solved by the end of the story. The plot has a particular structure. Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

9. Introduction or Exposition a. the reader is given the setting of the story b. the reader is introduced to the principal characters and their relationships to each other c. the reader is given information about the events that existed before the story actually begins. d. The reader is also given some information about the conflict in the story. The beginning of the story

10. ` Rising Action Is the central part of a story during which various problems arise, and it leads up to the climax.

11. Climax or Turning The most important event in a story. The point in the story where the protagonist’s problem are solved. The climax is the highest point of action in the story.

12. Falling Action Is the part of a story which follows the climax or turning point; it has the action or dialogue needed to bring the story to an end.

13. Resolution or Denouement It follows the climax.It shows how the conflict winds down.Is the end of a play or story when the problems are solved. Sometimes the resolution is not clearly defined, leaving readers to decide for themselves how to interpret the ending.

14. Conflict The struggle which is the basis of every story ever written. It may be a conflict between people-fight, a lover’s misunderstanding, a war between a person, as nature- a swimmer against the current, a climber against the mountain, a hunter against an animal.

15. There are five basic types of conflict: Man against man against versus and A character has a problem with one or more of the other characters. Man against society A character has a problem with society the law, the school, tradition.

16. Man against Himself A character struggles with himself,trying to decide what to do about some problem. Man against Nature A character is in conflict with some element of nature-bitter cold, extreme heat, a tornado.

17. Man against Fate (Destiny) A character fights against a problem that seems too big to control. Conflicts may be physical, mental, emotional or moral and the character may be more than one conflict.

18. The central idea that the author wishes to set forth in his or her writing. To find the theme, ask yourself these questions: What is the story about? What is the central idea? What observation did the author make about human nature? Theme

19. foreshadowing—giving hints to the reader about what is to happen next flashback—the author interrupts the story to go back in time to add scenes or information. This helps the reader understand what is happening in the present. Irony—the opposite of what is expected to happen. Either a statement may have an opposite meaning, or an outcome of events may be the opposite of those hoped for or expected. Literary techniques used to develop theme:

20. Tone—the “feeling” conveyed by the way the writer writes about his subject. Realism—the author attempts to portray life in his/her novel realistically. He/she must use details to reflect the reality that we see around us. Romanticism—the author uses his imagination to present the world to us. At times his/her view may be extremely idealistic; at other times it may reflect extreme horror.

21. First person—the narrator is the main character who tells his own story. The narrator tells the story speaking with an “I” in his/her own language. First person observer—the narrator tells the story which he has observed. The character is usually of secondary importance in the story. He looks on and simply reports what the more important characters say. Types of Point of View:

22. Third person—the author is outside the story using “he” or “she” Author-Observer—allows the author to tell the story using the third person. He remains outside the minds of the characters. He records only what any observer in the same situation might also see. Omniscient author—may tell what happens with the power to go into the minds of characters and also give his own comments. He/she is “all-knowing.”

23. When the narrator is a character in the story ask:: Does the main character tell his own story? (first person narrator) Does a minor character tell the main character’s story? (first person observer When the narrator is not a character in the story ask:: Does the author tell what people think and explain feelings and motives? (omniscient author) Does the author simply tell the story without giving the thoughts and feelings of the characters? (author observer) Identifying point-of-view:

24. The Necklace