ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

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Elements of Short Story

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1. Setting2. Character

3. Plot

4. Conflict5. Point of View

6. Theme

1. Setting

• The time and location in which a story takes place.

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place time

weather conditionssocial conditions

Greek term “opsis” (Scene or spectacle) - a particular visible setting in literature.

2. Character• There are two meanings for the word character:1. The person in a work of literature;2. The characteristics of a person.

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Characters are the persons represented in a work of literature.

They possess moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities.

We learn about a character by examining 5 areas:1. what he says (dialogue)2. what he thinks3. what he does (actions)4. what is said about him by other characters and the narrator5. an author's direct statement

Motivation is the reason behind a character’s behavior; it’s what drives a complex character to think and act in a certain way.

2. CharacterKinds of Characters

1. Protagonist (hero or heroine) - The main character in a plot, on whom our interest is centered.2. Antagonist – The person or force that opposes the main character.

**If the antagonist is evil or capable of cruel actions, he/she is called villain.

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2. CharacterOther Kinds of Characters1. Round Character – has many sides and complex personalities; capable of surprising the reader.2. Flat Character – personalities that are presented only briefly and not in depth.3. Dynamic – changes by the end of the story.4. Static – they never change, often stereotyped.

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3. PlotIt is the sequence of events in a story or

play.

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PlannedLogical

With unity of action

3. PlotFive parts of a plot:

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1. Introduction

The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed.

3. PlotFive parts of a plot:

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2. Rising Action

This is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed.

3. PlotFive parts of a plot:

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3. Climax / Turning Point

This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story. The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not?

Climax as a three-fold phenomenon:1) The main character receives new information2) Accepts this information 3) Acts on this information

3. PlotFive parts of a plot:

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4. Falling Action

The events and complications begin to resolve themselves. The reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not

3. PlotFive parts of a plot:

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5. Resolution / Denouement

This is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.

4. Conflict

• It is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move.

Two Types of Conflicts:

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1. External2. Internal

1. Human vs. Human

2. Human vs. Nature3. Human vs.

Society4. Human vs. Self

5. Point of View

• The angle or perspective from which the story is told.

Types of Points of View:

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1. First Person2. Second

Person3. Third Person

First PersonThe narrator is a character

in the story, often times, the protagonist.

5. Point of View

• The angle or perspective from which the story is told.

Types of Points of View:

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Stream of ConsciousnessThe story is told so that the

reader feels as if they are inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions.

5. Point of View

• The angle or perspective from which the story is told.

Types of Points of View:

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2. Second Person (“you”)It is most often used in training

manuals, role-playing games and Choose Your Own Adventure novels.

5. Point of View

• The angle or perspective from which the story is told.

Types of Points of View:

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3. Third PersonThe story is told using a narrator

who is located outside of the action of the story and uses third person pronouns such as “he”, “she”, “his”, “her”, “they”.

5. Point of View

• The angle or perspective from which the story is told.

Types of Points of View:

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3. Third Persona. Omniscient Third Personb. Limited Ominiscientc. Objective

5. Point of View• The angle or perspective from which the story is

told. Types of Points of View:

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a. Omniscient Third Person“all-knowing”

The narrator can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of any character and can introduce information where and when he or she chooses

5. Point of View• The angle or perspective from which the story is

told. Types of Points of View:

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b. Limited OmniscientThe story is told by a third person narrator

but from the viewpoint of a character in the story, usually the main character or protagonist. The reader has access to the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

5. Point of View• The angle or perspective from which the story is

told. Types of Points of View:

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c. Objective Third Person The author tells the story in the third

person. It appears as though a camera is following the characters, going anywhere, and recording only what is seen and heard.

No interpretations offered.

6. ThemeThe theme in a piece of fiction is its

controlling idea or its central insight. It is the author's underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey.

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