Transcript Short and Sweet: Elements of a Short Story

Short and Sweet:
Elements of a Short Story
7th Grade: Fall 2009
Why lift your head up off your
desk and listen up?
I’ll tell you why…
After today you will:
*Be an expert on all the
literary elements involved in a
short story.
*Relate elements (some old
and some new) to the stories
we have read and your favorite
childhood stories.
*Refresh your love for
READING (I promise…) 
Prose:
• Refers to the type of writing that
appears in stories (both short stories
and novels)
• Ordinary form of written language as
opposed to poetry.
Poetry vs. Prose
Pointing at the PLOT:
Don’t get
confused with
the setting.
Setting refers
to time,
location and
circumstance
of a story!
• The sequence of
events occurring
because of a problem
or a conflict.
• Each event results
from a previous one
and causes the next.
Think about “the domino effect”…
Consequently, when one domino falls, it
causes others to fall.
PLOT
DIAGRAM
Examining the EXPOSITION:
• Also called the
introduction—gives
necessary
background
information
• Introduces the
setting,
characters, and
basic situation
Raising the Roof with…
RISING ACTION:
• Series of events
that increase
tension and/or
suspense
• Internal/external
conflicts are
added to lead
toward climax
Choking on Popcorn at…
THE CLIMAX:
• The turning point
or high point
• Moment of
greatest tension/
intensity
• Outcome of the
plot “hangs” in the
balance
“OMG!!”
Free Falling….
THE FALLING ACTION:
• Event(s) following
the climax that may
answer questions
presented during the
rising action and lead
to the resolution
Reflecting on the
RESOLUTION:
• The conclusion
• The outcome of
the conflict in a
plot which may
reveal character
development and
theme
• Reader’s questions
may be answered
“No, no, no, no…
don’t mess with my
heart…”
CONFLICT:
• The struggle
between two
opposing forces
• Causes the
action of a story
Conflict:
Internal vs. External
External Conflict:
a struggle against
an outside force
– Man vs. Man
– Man vs. Nature
– Man vs. Society
Conflict:
Internal vs. External
• Internal Conflict:
a struggle within a
character
– Man vs. Self
I don’t
know who I
am… What
should I do
with life?
AHHHH!
Characterization:
• The act or
techniques used to
create or develop
characters in the
story.
PROTAGONIST: Central
character around which
conflict revolves.
ANTAGONIST: character in
conflict with central
character
We are
all our
unique own
character
, thanks
to the
writer of
our show!!
Fallin’ on the FLAT…
• Flat Characters:
– One sided,
often
stereotypical.
– Simple to
understand;
often lacking
creativity
Rockin’ with the ROUND.
• Round Characters:
– Complex &
multidimensional
– Fully developed and
exhibits many traits
(both flaws and
virtues)
Simply Static.
• Static Characters:
– Do not change
throughout the
entire story.
I’m waiting for
my true love’s
kiss…the
ENTIRE
MOVIE.
Getting Down with the
Dynamic.
• Dynamic Characters:
– Undergoes
important changes
throughout the
story
- Personality,
attitude or maturity
changes
Character
MOTIVATION:
• Provides a reason that explains the
character’s thoughts, feelings,
actions, or speech.
“What makes
the character
tick? I’m
gonna figure it
out!”
Pointing at the
Point of View:
• The perspective
or vantage point
from which the
story is told.
Feeling it First Hand.
• First Person P.O.V.:
– A character involved
in the story tells it (I,
me)
– The reader sees it
through this person’s
eyes as he/she
experiences it and
only knows only what
he/she feels
I’m Ponyboy,
the central
character of
this story.
This is my
story…
Wait for Second.
• Second Person P.O.V.:
– Anything written from the perspective
of you (e.g., recipes, instructions, selfhelp books).
– This is not very common in literature.
Third Times a Charm.
• Third Person P.O.V.:
Third Person Omniscient: This is the
“all knowing” narrator who knows everyone’s
thoughts and feelings.
Third Person Limited: The narrator shares the
inner thoughts and feelings of only one character
Third Person Objective: The narrator tells the
story without detailing any of the character’s
thoughts. This is the “fly on the wall” perspective.
(Often used in newspaper articles).
Isn’t it
“It’s a traffic
jam, when you’re
already late. A
no smoking sign
on your
cigarette
break.”
Ironic….Don’t You
Think?
• Irony:
– A contrast between
appearance and
reality.
– A situation that is
opposite from what is
expected.
Meet Timmy
Treadwell…he loved
bears and spent
summers in Alaska
with them.
Ironically, he was
mauled and eaten by
a bear.
I got a feeling that this term
is going be a good term to
know…
FORESHADOWING:
• Foreshadowing
– Clues hinting at what
will happen later
Flashback to something
important:
• Flashback:
-A technique that allows a writer to
present past events during current
events, in order to provide
background for the current
narration.
Staring at the Symbol
• Symbol:
– A person, place or
thing that stands for
something beyond
itself
Thinking about the
Theme
“You need
to know
what it has
been like
to be ME!”
• Theme:
– The message or
insight about life or
human nature, a
“significant truth”
to be learned
You should now have
complete Cornell notes on
“The Elements of a Short
Story”
Hang on to your notes until
I am well enough to come
back to school.
~Mrs. Andujar