Introduction to Short Stories
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Transcript Introduction to Short Stories
Introduction to Short Stories
Plot triangles, literary terms and
reading strategies
What is a plot triangle?
A plot triangle shows the typical
progression of events in a story.
There are five parts of a plot triangle:
exposition, rising action, climax, falling
action, and resolution.
Also known as Freytag’s Pyramid
Freytag’s Pyramid (Plot Triangle)
Climax
Rising
Action
Exposition
Falling
Action
Resolution
Exposition (introduction): The beginning
of a story that introduces characters,
setting and conflict.
Rising Action: Conflict is established and
intensifies.
Climax: Highest point of action in story or
turning point in the story.
Falling Action: Conflict is in process of
being resolved; all action following climax
Resolution: Conflict is resolved and
“loose ends” are tied up.
Assignment
Choose a fairy tale: “Little Red Riding
Hood,” “Three Little Pigs” or “Hansel and
Gretel.”
As a group, retell the story.
Create a plot triangle for your group’s fairy
tale.
Literary Terms
Definitions and Examples
Setting
The time and place a
story takes place
Example: Titanic
takes place on a ship
in the North Atlantic in
April 1912.
Simile
A comparison of two
unlike objects using
like or as.
Example: The water
hit me like a bull
running at full speed.
Metaphor
A direct comparison
of two unlike objects.
Example: The sun is
a bright yellow beach
ball floating in the sky.
Personification
Giving a non-human
object human
characteristics.
Example: The tree
limbs waved hello to
me from the distance.
Protagonist
The main character of
the story (not always
the good guy)
Example: The
protagonist of Titanic
is Jack.
Antagonist
The character who
causes problems or
opposes the main
character (not always
the bad guy)
Example: The
antagonist of Titanic
is Rose’s fiancé Cal.
Conflict
A struggle or clash
between opposing
characters or
opposing forces.
Example: Two
students arguing over
who is right.
Two types of conflict
Internal Conflict
External Conflict
A struggle within the mind
of a character. Person vs.
himself
Example: A character
cannot decide whether to
skip school or go to class.
A struggle with an outside
opposing force. Person
vs. person, person vs.
nature, person vs. society
.
Alliteration
Repetition of the
same consonant
sounds at the
beginning of words
that are close
together in a passage
or poem.
Example: The
beautiful baby boy
waved bye-bye to his
brother.
Onomatopoeia
A word whose sound
imitates its meaning.
Examples: The bee
buzzed my ear.
The thud of the book
landing on the carpet
scared me.
Theme
Central idea of a work
or literature (moral of
the story)
Example: The theme
of Titanic is to follow
your heart no matter if
others agree with
your decision.
Hyperbole
A gross or extreme
exaggeration of a
truth to show strong
emotion or for humor.
Example: When my
mom saw my report
card, she was so mad
I thought her head
would explode.
Foreshadowing
Hints and clues to
events that will
happen later in the
story.
In Titanic, Jack and
Rose meet when he
saves her from
jumping to her death
which foreshadows
Jack rescuing Rose in
the end.
Pun
A play on words
using
1. Two words that
sound the same but
have different
meanings.
2. A word with more
than one meaning.
Character
Round Character has Static Character stays
many characteristics.
the same throughout
(76)
the story. (97)
Flat Character has
Dynamic Character
very few
changes ideals,
characteristics and
morals or values by
the audience does not
the end of the story.
get to know him/her.
(98)
(39)