Transcript Elements of a Short Story

Elements of a
Short Story
OBJECTIVES
Identify elements of a short story
Define elements of a short story
Demonstrate mastery of short story
elements
OVERVIEW
Short stories often contain structural and
character elements that should be
familiar to you.
These elements can be used as guides to
help you think about the actions,
themes, and contexts of the story.
Elements of a Short Story
Theme
Setting
Characters
Point of view
Characterization
Plot
- exposition statement
- rising action
- conflict
- climax
- falling action
- resolution
THEME
 The main idea of a literary work, usually
expressed as a generalization and in
sentence form.
 Example: “Forgiveness is the key to true
happiness.”
SETTING
• The time and place in which the
story is set.
CHARACTERS
The point of writing stories: telling us what
human beings are like.
Characters allow readers to “see” life
from different perspectives and to
“meet” new (or familiar) people.
“Characters
in the plot connect us with the
vastness of our secret life, which is endlessly
explorable.” – Eudora Welty
CHARACTERIZATION
The description of the
personalities of the characters
in the story and the ways in
which authors reveal their
personalities:
-
Speech
-
Thoughts
-
Effect on other characters
-
Action
-
Looks
PLOT
The sequence or order of events in a
story, each event connected to the next
like a chain. Each event in a plot
“hooks” our curiosity and pulls us forward
to the next event.
Suspense builds as the series of related
events hook our curiosity.
The plot includes the following parts:
CHRONOLOGICAL PLOT DIAGRAM
1. BASIC SITUATION/EXPOSITION
- Exposition Statement – This is the part of the plot
that tells how the story begins. The character,
conflict, and setting are usually introduced.
- Example ~ Cinderella
The basic situation shows us Cinderella, a
beautiful and good heroine, in a conflict with
her evil stepmother and nasty stepsisters.
2. RISING ACTION/COMPLICATION


The part of the story in which the main
character takes some action to resolve
the conflict and meets with problems or
complications: danger, fear, hostility,
etc.
Example ~ Cinderella
Cinderella wants to go to the ball. Her stepmother says “No,” but a
Fairy Godmother promises to get her to the ball if she obeys one rule:
“Be home by midnight.” Cinderella goes to the ball, the Prince falls in
love with her, she flees at midnight, and she loses one of her glass
slippers.
3. CLIMAX
- Climax: the KEY scene of the story
That tense or exciting moment when
we realize what the outcome of the
conflict is going to be.
-
Example ~ Cinderella
The Prince makes a house-to-house search for the foot that fits the
slipper and finds that foot on Cinderella.
4. FALLING ACTION(s)
 All of the action which follows the climax
 Example ~ Cinderella:
Cinderella and the prince make
preparations for their wedding.
5. RESOLUTION/DENOUEMENT
 The final part of the story. (The French word,
denouement, means “unraveling the knot”).
 You learn how the conflict is resolved and what happens
to the characters.
 Example ~ Cinderella
Cinderella marries the Prince and they live happily ever
after. In the original Grimm story, you also learn that
ravens peck out the eyes of the evil stepmother.
CONFLICT=STRUGGLE
CONFLICT
External Conflict:
Conflict between a character and
another person OR a character and
something non-human.
- Man vs. Man
- Man vs. Society
- Man vs. Nature
CONFLICT
 Internal Conflict:
Conflict takes place inside a
character’s mind
Man vs. Himself (fears, self-doubts,
etc.)