1. Elements of a Short Story

2. What is a Short Story?  It’s a piece of prose fiction, usually under 10, 000 words, which can be read at one sitting.  In a short story every word counts, and is carefully selected by the author.  Artistically, a short story is intended to create an impression  Most stories have a beginning, middle, and end  A good story entertains, arouses questions about life, and makes the reader question his or her own values. The effect a story has is created through these elements:  Plot  Atmosphere  Character and Characterization  Conflict  Theme  Setting  Style (which includes a number of devices)

3. The Plot Graph  The plot is the series of actions or main events that happen in a story to effectively present some form of conflict and its outcome.  Most stories have a beginning, middle and end that look something like this:

4. The Plot Graph Climax: This is the turning point or most intense moment. The climax reveals the outcome of the conflict and a change in the character. Falling Action: Shows the outcome and results of the climax and unanswered details of the plot Conclusion/ Resolution: Everything is resolved or figured Rising Action : The events and challenges that lead to the climax Introduction/Exposition: The start of the story before the action. Introduces setting, characters, and the conflict serves to entice the reader to keep reading Inciting/Trigger Incident: The event that creates the conflict An interesting plot device writer’s use are called surprise or Twist endings.

5. Conflict  The conflict is the struggle between two people or things in a story.  It is the central source of tension in the story  It usually involves a struggle between opposing characters, emotions, etc.  Conflict is sometimes referred to as the problem in the story. Therefore, it must be solved or a goal must be achieved to resolve it.  The plot of the story usually revolves around conflict!

6. Conflict  There are TWO main types of conflict present in most stories: External and Internal External 1. Person vs Person ex._____________________ 2. Person vs Society ex. ____________________ 3. Person vs The Environment (Nature) ex. _______________ 4. Person vs Circumstance (fate) ex. ____________________ 5. Person vs Technology ex. ____________________ 6. Person vs The Supernatural ex. ___________________ Internal 1. Person vs Self

7. Setting  Where and when the story takes place!  Often helps create the MOOD  It is the environment in which the story takes place.  It refers to both the time (era) that a story is set  and the place (location) where the action occurs

8. Mood / Atmosphere  This term refers to the feeling that is created in the story.  It is created through word choice, descriptive details and imagery.  It could be dramatic, humorous, tragic or scary, for a few examples.  The author uses certain descriptive words, images, details about setting, etc. to create feelings in the reader of fear, anger, happiness, shock, etc.

9. Tone  Tone is NOT the same as Mood TONE - is the attitude a writer expresses towards his or her subject. It could be formal, informal, personal, impersonal, angry, cheerful or bitter, for a few examples.

10. Characters  Character refers to the individuals that are depicted in each story. Without characters there can be no story! Characters are important in a story because they experience the conflict. There are two main kinds of characters:  The PROTAGONIST: a regular or main character or a hero or heroine  An ANTAGONIST: the main opponent to the protagonist; often working in contrast to the protagonist such as a villain.

11. Characters cont… Characters are often classified as:  STATIC (those who are barely revealed and/or don’t change throughout a story) or  DYNAMIC (those who change or transform throughout a story and are described at great length)

12. Characters cont…  Flat character - is a minor character in a work of fiction who does not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story.  Also referred to as " two-dimensional characters" 2D or "static characters," flat characters play a supporting role to the main character, who as a rule should be round.static charactersround

13. Characters cont…  Round character - is a major character in a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it.  A round character is depicted with such psychological depth and details that he or she seems like a "real" person.  Also referred to as “three-dimensional” 3D If you think of the characters you most love in fiction, they probably seem as real to you as people you know in real life. This is a good sign that they are round characters.

14. Types of Characterization There are two ways character is established:  Direct Characterization  This is where the author comes right out and tells the reader what a certain character is like.  Example: In “Being Comfortable with being Weird”, the author/narrator calls a character a “superficial little wench.”  Or using the character’s name to show their personality. Example: Character’s Name (or nickname) ex “Mouse” or “Mrs. Nosy”

15. Types of Characterization  Indirect Characterization  This is where the author gives certain information and lets readers draw their own conclusions and make inferences about the character. 1.SPEECH - What a character says (dialogue) gives insight to his/her personality. 2.THOUGHTS - What a character thinks and feels. 3.EFFECTS ON OTHERS - What others say or think about the character. 4.ACTIONS - What a character does (actions). 5.LOOKS - The physical description of the character: what he/she looks like! The acronym for this is STEAL!

16. Point of View  Point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told  There are THREE common points of view:  First-person point of view : the story is told by the protagonist, a minor character or an interested bystander using the pronouns I or we  Third-person OMNISCIENT point of view: all-seeing, all- knowing perspective. It reveals the thoughts and emotions of several characters using he, she, and they.  Third-person LIMITED point of view: uses the pronouns he, she and they, but tells the story from the perspective of one of the characters.

17. Theme TTheme is the main message or idea the author is trying to communicate in the story about life or human nature. IIt is generally an underlying idea or value about the very topic that the author wrote about TThemes are often universal truths that are suggested by the specifics of the story but it is not stated directly. TTheme is not directly stated MMost simply it CAN BE the moral or lesson BUT these are different concepts SSome examples: TTragic Love in Romeo and Juliet FFitting In in Being Comfortable with being Weird

18. Literary Devices Literary devices are used to enhance the reader’s experience. Here are a few examples:  Simile – Comparisons between two things that doesn’t seem alike using “like” or “as”  (ie. She’s as light as a feather.)  Metaphor – A comparison between two things without using the words “like” or “as”  (eg. This class is a zoo, Her room is a pig sty.)  Personification – The author gives inanimate objects human qualities  (ie. The wind whispered through the trees.).  Allusion - a reference to another literary work, person, place, event, or object from history, literature, or mythology  (ie. “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.”)  Symbolism – the practice of representing things by items, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character.  (Ex. a dove means purity)

19. Literary Devices cont…  Foreshadowing – The author gives clues about what is going to happen later in the plot. It builds suspense and helps prepare the reader for what will happen later in the story  Suspense - That quality of a literary work that makes the reader or audience uncertain or tense about the outcome of events. Suspense makes the reader ask "What will happen next?".  Flashback - A literary or cinematic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative.  Irony – Contrast between what appears to be and what really is.  Verbal irony – the intended meaning is the opposite of what one says (sarcasm)  Dramatic irony – the audience/ reader knows more than the characters in the story  Situational irony – the reversal of what we expect occurs (ex. a fire station burning down)