Characteristics Characteristics of the Short of the Short

StoryStory

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

It can be read in one sittingIt can be read in one sitting It is based on the incident or characterIt is based on the incident or character It has few characteristicsIt has few characteristics It presents a conflict situation from It presents a conflict situation from

which suspense ariseswhich suspense arises The climax evolves from the basic The climax evolves from the basic

conflictconflict It may or may not have a definite It may or may not have a definite

conclusion or outcomeconclusion or outcome

Elements of Plot of Short Elements of Plot of Short StoryStory

Exposition: will act as an introduction to the Exposition: will act as an introduction to the storystory

Time: time of the story (one year, month, day to Time: time of the story (one year, month, day to hour, etc)hour, etc)

Place: the place the story takes place may be Place: the place the story takes place may be very significant or not significant at all. Being very significant or not significant at all. Being with specific and move on to generalwith specific and move on to general

Antecedent action: This part of the exposition is Antecedent action: This part of the exposition is very important. The readers of the short story very important. The readers of the short story should know what happened before the story should know what happened before the story began (if they have a bearing on the story)began (if they have a bearing on the story)

Atmosphere and mood: should be easy to see at Atmosphere and mood: should be easy to see at start of storystart of story

Initial Incident or Initial Incident or ComplicationComplication

Introduces conflict or beings Introduces conflict or beings suspense.suspense.

Begins conflict which is resolved in Begins conflict which is resolved in climaxclimax

Rising ActionRising Action

Events that develop the conflictEvents that develop the conflict Three types of conflictThree types of conflict

Conflict between two characters, or Conflict between two characters, or character vs. charactercharacter vs. character

Conflict between a character and the Conflict between a character and the environment, character vs. environment, character vs. environment/nature/society/aliens/ fateenvironment/nature/society/aliens/ fate

Conflict within a character, or character Conflict within a character, or character vs. self-vs. self-

ClimaxClimax Conflict introduced in the initial incident is solved. Conflict introduced in the initial incident is solved.

There are different ways of solving the conflictThere are different ways of solving the conflict Happy ending: protagonists solves the conflict Happy ending: protagonists solves the conflict

successfullysuccessfully Unhappy ending: the protagonist does not solve the Unhappy ending: the protagonist does not solve the

conflict, and is beaten by the forces arrayed against himconflict, and is beaten by the forces arrayed against him Indeterminate ending: the conflict is not solved, or the Indeterminate ending: the conflict is not solved, or the

protagonists solves the conflict only to be worse off than protagonists solves the conflict only to be worse off than before. There is no clear win or loss for the protagonistbefore. There is no clear win or loss for the protagonist

Surprise ending: there is a sudden twist in the direction Surprise ending: there is a sudden twist in the direction of the storyof the story

Anticlimax: an event brings about an abrupt shift from Anticlimax: an event brings about an abrupt shift from the important to the trivial at the end of the story.the important to the trivial at the end of the story.

Falling ActionFalling Action

Fall out as a result of the ClimaxFall out as a result of the Climax

DenouementDenouement

Wrapping up of the story. Wrapping up of the story. The author may explain the climax The author may explain the climax

or tell what happens to the main or tell what happens to the main characters following the climax.characters following the climax.

Ties up any loose endsTies up any loose ends

Character in the short Character in the short storystory

How a character can be described:How a character can be described: ProtagonistProtagonist: main character in the story. Involved in the : main character in the story. Involved in the

major conflict of the story and also the climax. Desires to major conflict of the story and also the climax. Desires to reach a goalreach a goal

Antagonist:Antagonist: character, group or force that opposes the character, group or force that opposes the protagonistprotagonist

Flat CharacterFlat Character: characteristics can be summed up by one or : characteristics can be summed up by one or two traitstwo traits

Round Character: Round Character: Characteristics are complex and many-Characteristics are complex and many-faceted.faceted.

Stock or Stereotyped CharacterStock or Stereotyped Character: Characteristics are : Characteristics are immediately known because of the common conceptions immediately known because of the common conceptions about certain groups of peopleabout certain groups of people

Realistic Character:Realistic Character: character who is highly believable character who is highly believable because they have the strengths and weakness of an because they have the strengths and weakness of an ordinary personordinary person

How a Character is How a Character is RevealedRevealed

Indirect Characterization:Indirect Characterization: the reader the reader has to infer the informationhas to infer the information From what the character doesFrom what the character does From what the character saysFrom what the character says From what the character thinksFrom what the character thinks

How a Character is How a Character is RevealedRevealed

Direct Characterization: the reader Direct Characterization: the reader can find direct references in the can find direct references in the storystory From what the others say about the From what the others say about the

personperson From what author says about the From what author says about the

personperson

Dimensions of a Dimensions of a CharacterCharacter

Physical Dimension: How a character Physical Dimension: How a character lookslooks

Mental Dimension: How a character Mental Dimension: How a character thinksthinks

Emotional Dimension: How a Emotional Dimension: How a character acts and reacts in a certain character acts and reacts in a certain situationsituation

Spiritual Dimension: What a Spiritual Dimension: What a character valuescharacter values

Judging a characterJudging a character Consistent charactersConsistent characters are characters that act are characters that act

and react in similar ways. There are some and react in similar ways. There are some circumstances that cause the character to circumstances that cause the character to change; however, any change will be in lines change; however, any change will be in lines with the character’s personality and will be with the character’s personality and will be foreshadowed.foreshadowed.

Motivated charactersMotivated characters have a reason for acting have a reason for acting in the way he/she does. If the character in the way he/she does. If the character undergoes change in the story, the reader undergoes change in the story, the reader must understand the reasons for change.must understand the reasons for change.

Plausible characterPlausible character are realistic and life-like. are realistic and life-like. The reader must feel that this person could The reader must feel that this person could exist in the normal course of events.exist in the normal course of events.

Setting in the Short Setting in the Short StoryStory

Where it takes place and the period of time in Where it takes place and the period of time in which it is setwhich it is set

Establishes mood of storyEstablishes mood of story Can add to characterizationCan add to characterization Sometimes it is not important because it could Sometimes it is not important because it could

be set anywherebe set anywhere Sometimes it is basic to events and themeSometimes it is basic to events and theme Plot can be vital information in the setting. If Plot can be vital information in the setting. If

conflict is character vs. environment than it is conflict is character vs. environment than it is vitalvital

Characters can give vital information in the Characters can give vital information in the settingsetting

Point of ViewPoint of View Omniscient: knows the past, present and Omniscient: knows the past, present and

future of all the characters. Written in third future of all the characters. Written in third person pro nouns: he, she, him, her, etcperson pro nouns: he, she, him, her, etc

Limited Omniscient: limits his/her Limited Omniscient: limits his/her knowledge to only one character, knowing knowledge to only one character, knowing everything about this person. Third person everything about this person. Third person pronounspronouns

First person: becomes the character in the First person: becomes the character in the story so that he/she knows the past, the story so that he/she knows the past, the present, but not the future. First person present, but not the future. First person pronounspronouns

ThemeTheme Central truth about life that is revealed in the Central truth about life that is revealed in the

work. work. Some may not have a theme- they could be written Some may not have a theme- they could be written

to entertain, scare or create an atmosphere.to entertain, scare or create an atmosphere. Things to rememberThings to remember

Theme is a generalized statement about life that arises Theme is a generalized statement about life that arises from the storyfrom the story

Always stated as a sentence that develops a truth about Always stated as a sentence that develops a truth about lifelife

Must arise from the story and not from personal Must arise from the story and not from personal experiencesexperiences

Never written as a moralNever written as a moral Not expressed as a clichéNot expressed as a cliché

Short Story Devices and Short Story Devices and TechniquesTechniques

Repetition: the same incident repeats it self. Repetition: the same incident repeats it self. Similar lines are repeated. This is almost Similar lines are repeated. This is almost always important and relates to the theme!always important and relates to the theme!

Irony: the opposite happens as to what is Irony: the opposite happens as to what is expectedexpected Verbal irony: opposite is said as to what is Verbal irony: opposite is said as to what is

intendedintended Dramatic irony: audience or readers know more Dramatic irony: audience or readers know more

than the charactersthan the characters Situational irony: the opposite happens as to Situational irony: the opposite happens as to

what is expectedwhat is expected

Short Story Devices and Short Story Devices and TechniquesTechniques

Foreshadowing:Foreshadowing: consists of details early in the consists of details early in the story that hint as to what is coming later onstory that hint as to what is coming later on

Flashback:Flashback: story begins in one time setting, but story begins in one time setting, but then the author moves back in time to tell the then the author moves back in time to tell the story in an earlier time settingstory in an earlier time setting

Precarious situationPrecarious situation: conflict itself is scary, : conflict itself is scary, and the reader knows something bad will happenand the reader knows something bad will happen

Delaying the event:Delaying the event: when delaying the event, when delaying the event, the writer increases the amount of detail to delay the writer increases the amount of detail to delay the event, and create suspensethe event, and create suspense

Dilemma:Dilemma: protagonist has a choice between two protagonist has a choice between two negative alternativesnegative alternatives

Predicament: Predicament: a problem that is difficult to a problem that is difficult to solve; the positive solution is difficult to obtain.solve; the positive solution is difficult to obtain.

Short Story Devices and Short Story Devices and TechniquesTechniques

Symbol:Symbol: A concrete object that stands for an abstract idea. A concrete object that stands for an abstract idea. Both the object and the idea share common characteristics.Both the object and the idea share common characteristics.

ParallelsParallels: the author puts similar events or character in a : the author puts similar events or character in a story to clarify the meaning or heighten moodstory to clarify the meaning or heighten mood

Imagery:Imagery: appeals to our sense of sight, taste, touch, smell, appeals to our sense of sight, taste, touch, smell, heat and motionheat and motion

Sub-plot:Sub-plot: a secondary story line that develops along with the a secondary story line that develops along with the main story linemain story line

Deus ex machina: Deus ex machina: an artificial solution to a seemingly an artificial solution to a seemingly insolvable problem. Readers often feel cheated by this type of insolvable problem. Readers often feel cheated by this type of endingending

Motif: Motif: aa recurring image or detail in a story recurring image or detail in a story Epiphany:Epiphany: a moment of significant realization and insight a moment of significant realization and insight

experienced by protagonistexperienced by protagonist Verisimilitude:Verisimilitude: makes the story seem very life like. makes the story seem very life like.

Readers can identify with the characters or situation Readers can identify with the characters or situation personallypersonally

Figuring out meaningFiguring out meaning

Titles and NamesTitles and Names Beginnings and endingsBeginnings and endings PlotPlot

Movement from beginning to end of Movement from beginning to end of storystory

Situation of major characters at Situation of major characters at beginning and endbeginning and end

What makes no sense and seems to What makes no sense and seems to have no purpose- is it a hint?have no purpose- is it a hint?

Figuring out meaningFiguring out meaning

CharactersCharacters What do you know about themWhat do you know about them Are they individuals or typesAre they individuals or types What changes occur with themWhat changes occur with them

Figuring out meaningFiguring out meaning

Form/styleForm/style What is the tone? How is it established?What is the tone? How is it established? Symbolism: what is emphasized and/or Symbolism: what is emphasized and/or

repeatedrepeated Look for reoccurring patterns/ motifs/ Look for reoccurring patterns/ motifs/

elementselements

Theme: what do these all add up to?Theme: what do these all add up to?