Elementsof a

Short StoryMs. Ghie D.VidarSALIS

Objectives

Elements of a Short Story

• Identify and define elements of a short story

• Demonstrate mastery of short story elements by creating story grammar

OverviewA Short Story is similar to your dish. It needs

the best ingredients for you to enjoy its delectable taste.

Elements of a Short Story

Stories are made up of four important elements:

Setting Characters, Plot, and Theme

SettingTells the reader where and

when the story takes place.

Characters and Characterization

The people, and in some stories, the animals that take part in the story.

The description of the personalities of the characters in the story and the way in which an author reveals their personalities.

Two Identifications of Characters

1. Protagonist – the hero of the story

2. Antagonist – the villain in the story who is always opposing the protagonist

Methods of CharacterizationCreating Believable Characters

• Indirect– physical appearance

– speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character

– speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characters

• Direct

– the narrator’s direct comments about a character

Plot• The chain of related

events that take place in a story.

• Built around conflict, which is a struggle between opposing forces.

PLOT DIAGRAM

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Fallin

g A

ction

Resolution

Climax

Exposition

Conflict

• The plot is the sequence or order of events in a story.

• The plot includes:

Exposition Statement The part of the plot that tells how the story begins.

Rising Action The action in the story

leading up to the climax.Conflict

The struggles or problems between opposing forces.

ClimaxThe point of crisis in the

plot. It may be the reader’s point of highest interest.

Falling action The action in the story

after the climax is revealed.

Resolution The part of the plot that

reveals the final outcome.

-Man vs. Man-Man vs. Man

-Man vs. Nature-Man vs. Nature

-Man vs. Obstacle or Society-Man vs. Obstacle or Society

- Man vs. Supernatural Being- Man vs. Supernatural Being

-Man vs. Himself-Man vs. Himself

Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict

Theme

Ex. Ex.

LoveLoveFamily FeudFamily Feud

Themes Themes from ‘The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’from ‘The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’

• The main idea of a story. The main idea of a story. • It is not a moral, lesson, or a It is not a moral, lesson, or a

rule for living.rule for living.

CONCLUSION

Now that we have Now that we have

identified and defined the identified and defined the

elements of a short story, let us elements of a short story, let us

use the elements to analyze a use the elements to analyze a

Short Story. Short Story.

You may use your notes You may use your notes

from the PowerPoint from the PowerPoint

presentation.presentation.

BibliographyDinneen, K. Elements of the Short Story.

Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003, from Yale-New Haven Teachers

Institute:

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1983/3/83.03.09.x.html Five Elements of a Story. Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003, http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2277.html

Guevin, D. Short Story Elements. Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003, http://www.uvm.edu/~dguevin/Elements.html