INTR

ODUCTION T

O THE

SHORT STO

RY

F I CT

I ON

DEFINITION: WHAT IS A SHORT STORY?

A short story is a work of fiction that focuses on one important event in

the lives of a small number of central characters and that can usually be read in one sitting.

A SHORT STORY HAS SIX BASIC ELEMENTS:

Plot

Setting

Conflict

Character

Point of View

Theme

PLOT = THE FRAMEWORK OF A STORY

Plot is the arrangement of related events that makes the story hang

together.

Plot can also be referred to as the structure of a short story.

Structure concerns how the story is told.

PARTS OF THE PLOT

Plot Line

EXPOSITION

Introduction to characters and situation

CONFLICT

The struggle of opposing forces

External

Internal

External = a character struggles with a force outside himself or herself.

Internal = a character struggles within his or her own mind with emotions, decisions, etc.

2 TYPES OF CONFLICT

MAN VS. MAN

MAN VS. SELF

MAN VS. NATURE

MAN VS. SOCIETY

RISING ACTION

The increasing steps of the conflict

CLIMAX

The highest point of interest or suspense

FALLING ACTION AND RESOLUTION

The end or solution of the conflict

PLOT LINE REVIEW

Conflict

Rising Action

ClimaxFalling Action

Exposition

Resolution

CHARACTERS

“In the best stories, characters come alive. We care about their dreams, fears, and

frustrations, just as if they were real people in our lives.”

CHARACTERS

Protagonist - ?

Protagonist – main character / clearly central to the story with all major events having some importance to him or her.

CHARACTERS

Antagonist - ?

Antagonist – any character who opposes or struggles against the protagonist.

Question: Does the antagonist always have to be a character (a person) in the

story?

SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY•C H A R A C T E R – A P E R S O N O R T H I N G I N A S T O R Y

Dynamic – one that undergoes some type of change because of the action of the plot

Static- One that doesn’t change throughout the work, reader’s knowledge of character does not grow

Flat – embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that can be readily accessible to readers (could be stereotypes “dumb blonde” or “evil stepmother”) Round- Display inconsistencies and internal conflicts found in most real people

Main – central character to the story – see protagonist

Minor – less important character in a literary work, but still is needed for explanation or development of plot

SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY

•ALLEGORY – A STORY IN WHICH PEOPLE , TH INGS AND ACT IONS REPRESENT AN IDEA OR A GENERAL IZAT ION ABOUT L IFE ; OFTEN CONTAINS STRONG MORAL LESSONS

•APOSTROPHE – THE ADDRESS ING OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING, USUALLY NOT PRESENT, AS THOUGH PRESENT (O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! . . . DEATH, BE NOT PROUD)

SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY•DIALOGUE – THE CONVERS AT IONS CARR IED ON BY THE CHARACTERS IN A L I TERARY WORK

•EP IPHANY – IN F ICT ION , WHEN A CHARACTER SUDDENLY EXPER IENCES A DEEP REAL IZAT ION ABOUT H IMSELF OR HERSELF ; A TRUTH WH ICH IS GRASPED IN AN ORD INARY RATHER THAN MELODRAMAT IC MOMENT

•FL ASHBACK – GO ING BACK TO AN EARL IER T IME IN A STORY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAK ING SOMETH ING PRESENT CLEARER

SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY

•F O I L – C H A RAC T E R I N A W O R K W H O S E B E H AV I O R A N D VA LU E S C O N T RA S T W I T H T H O S E O F A N O T H E R C H A RAC T E R I N O R D E R T O H I G H L I G H T T H E D I S T I N C T I V E T E M P E RA M E N T O F T H AT C H A RAC T E R ( U S U A L LY T H E P R O TAG O N I S T )

•F O R E S H A D O W I N G – T O B E A S I G N O F S O M E T H I N G T O C O M E ; I N D I C AT E O R S U G G E S T B E F O R E H A N D

SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY

•MOTIF – AN OFTEN-REPEATED IDEA OR THEME IN L ITERATURE

•MOOD – THE FEEL ING A P IECE OF L ITERATURE AROUSES IN THE READER; HAPP INESS , S ADNESS, PEACEFULNESS

SHORT STORY TERMINOLOGY•S T R E A M O F C O N S C I O U S N E S S – A S T Y L E O F W R I T I N G I N W H I C H T H E T H O U G H T S A N D F E E L I N G S O F T H E W R I T E R A R E R E C O R D E D A S T H E Y O C C U R

•S Y M BO L – A P E R S O N , P L AC E , O R T H I N G O R E V E N U S E D T O R E P R E S E N T S O M E T H I N G E L S E

•S Y N TA X – T H E O R D E R I N G O F W O R D S I N T O M E A N I N G F U L V E R B A L PATT E R N S S U C H A S P H RA S E , C L A U S E , A N D S E N T E N C E S ; P O E T S O FT E N M A N I P U L AT E S Y N TA X , C H A N G I N G C O N V E N T I O N A L W O R D O R D E R , T O P L AC E C E RTA I N E M P H A S I S O N PA RT I C U L A R W O R D S