Short Story ElementsShort Story Elements

Setting, Character, Theme,Setting, Character, Theme,

Conflict, Point of View, and PlotConflict, Point of View, and Plot

SettingSetting

The setting is the time and location in which a The setting is the time and location in which a story takes placestory takes place

There are several aspects of a story’s setting to There are several aspects of a story’s setting to consider when examining how setting consider when examining how setting contributes to a story: place, time, weather contributes to a story: place, time, weather conditions, social conditions, mood or conditions, social conditions, mood or atmosphereatmosphere

SettingSetting PlacePlace - geographical location - geographical location Time Time – when the story is taking place (historical – when the story is taking place (historical

period, time of day, year, etc.)period, time of day, year, etc.) Weather ConditionsWeather Conditions – is it raining, sunny, – is it raining, sunny,

stormy, etc stormy, etc Social Conditions Social Conditions – what is the daily life of a – what is the daily life of a

character like, does the writing focus of speech, character like, does the writing focus of speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc.?dress, mannerisms, customs, etc.?

Mood or Atmosphere Mood or Atmosphere – what feeling is portrayed, – what feeling is portrayed, bright and cheerful or dark and frightening? bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

CharacterCharacter

There are two meanings for the word There are two meanings for the word character: character:

1) the person in a work of fiction1) the person in a work of fiction

2) the characteristics of a person2) the characteristics of a person

CharacterCharacter

Persons in a work of fictionPersons in a work of fiction Antagonist and ProtagonistAntagonist and Protagonist Protagonist is the character at the center of the Protagonist is the character at the center of the

story with all the major events having some story with all the major events having some importance to this characterimportance to this character

Antagonist is the opposer of the main Antagonist is the opposer of the main charactercharacter

CharacterCharacter

The characteristics of a personThe characteristics of a person In order for a story to seem real, the characters In order for a story to seem real, the characters

must seem realmust seem real The author must show the character is several The author must show the character is several

waysways His/her physical appearanceHis/her physical appearance What he/she says, thinks, feels, and dreamsWhat he/she says, thinks, feels, and dreams What he/she does or does not doWhat he/she does or does not do What others say about him/her and how others What others say about him/her and how others

react to him/herreact to him/her

CharacterCharacter

Characters are…Characters are… DynamicDynamic – many sided personalities that change, – many sided personalities that change,

for better or worse, by the end of the storyfor better or worse, by the end of the story Static Static – stereotype, have one or two characteristics – stereotype, have one or two characteristics

that never change and are emphasized (brilliant that never change and are emphasized (brilliant detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.)detective, drunk, scrooge, cruel stepmother, etc.)

ThemeTheme

Theme is the story’s controlling idea or central Theme is the story’s controlling idea or central insight. The author’s underlying meaning or insight. The author’s underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to convey. main idea that he is trying to convey.

The title usually points to what the writer is The title usually points to what the writer is saying and may use various figures of speech saying and may use various figures of speech to emphasize the theme (symbol, allusion, to emphasize the theme (symbol, allusion, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony). simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony).

ThemeTheme

Common themes from literature, film and TVCommon themes from literature, film and TV Things are not always what they seemThings are not always what they seem Love is blindLove is blind Believe in yourselfBelieve in yourself People are afraid of changePeople are afraid of change Don’t judge a book by its coverDon’t judge a book by its cover

ConflictConflict

Conflict is Conflict is essentialessential to the plot, without it to the plot, without it there is no storythere is no story

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

ConflictConflict

There are two There are two typestypes of conflict of conflict1)1) ExternalExternal – a struggle with a force outside one’s – a struggle with a force outside one’s

selfself

2)2) Internal Internal – a struggle within one’s self; a person – a struggle within one’s self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc. their temper, resist an urge, etc.

ConflictConflict

There are four There are four kindskinds of conflict of conflict1)1) Man vs. Man Man vs. Man (external) – a character struggles against (external) – a character struggles against

another character (verbal or physical)another character (verbal or physical)

2)2) Man vs. Nature Man vs. Nature (external) – a character struggles against (external) – a character struggles against fate, weather, animals, etc.fate, weather, animals, etc.

3)3) Man vs. Society Man vs. Society (external) – main character struggles (external) – main character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other peopleagainst ideas, practices, or customs of other people

4)4) Man vs. Himself/Herself Man vs. Himself/Herself (internal) – main character (internal) – main character struggles with themselves; with their own soul, ideas of struggles with themselves; with their own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc. right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc.

Point of ViewPoint of View

Defined as the angle from which a story is toldDefined as the angle from which a story is told Innocent Eye Innocent Eye - the story is told through the eyes - the story is told through the eyes

of a child (their judgment being different from that of a child (their judgment being different from that of an adult)of an adult)

Stream of Consciousness Stream of Consciousness – the story is told so – the story is told so that the reader feels as is they are inside the head that the reader feels as is they are inside the head of one character and knows all their thought and of one character and knows all their thought and reactionsreactions

Point of ViewPoint of View

First Person First Person – the reader sees the story through this – the reader sees the story through this person’s eyes as he/she experiences it and only knows person’s eyes as he/she experiences it and only knows what that character knows and feels (uses pronouns I, what that character knows and feels (uses pronouns I, me, we, etc.)me, we, etc.)

Third PersonThird Person - told by a narrator who is merely - told by a narrator who is merely conveying a story, but conveying a story, but not not a character of any kind a character of any kind within the story being told (uses he, she, it, or they; within the story being told (uses he, she, it, or they; but never as I or we [first-person], or you [second-but never as I or we [first-person], or you [second-person]) person])

Point of ViewPoint of View

Limited Third PersonLimited Third Person - storytelling in which - storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented externallycharacters are presented externally

OmniscientOmniscient - author can move from character - author can move from character to character, event to event, having free access to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his characters and he introduces information characters and he introduces information where and when he chooseswhere and when he chooses

PlotPlot

Author arranges events to develop his basic Author arranges events to develop his basic ideasideas

Planned, logical series of events having a Planned, logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and endbeginning, middle, and end

Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and ResolutionAction, and Resolution

PlotPlot

Climax is a three-fold phenomenonClimax is a three-fold phenomenon1)1) Main character receives new informationMain character receives new information

2)2) He/she accepts this information (realizes it but He/she accepts this information (realizes it but does not necessarily agree with it)does not necessarily agree with it)

3)3) Then character acts on this information (makes a Then character acts on this information (makes a choice that will determine whether or not he/she choice that will determine whether or not he/she gains his objective)gains his objective)

BibliographyBibliography

Ms. Engram Ms. Engram http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/elements.html

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