Unit IUnit IThe Short StoryThe Short Story

What is it?What is it?►Edgar Allan Poe’s Edgar Allan Poe’s definition = a definition = a narrative that could narrative that could be read at one be read at one sitting, from a half an sitting, from a half an hour up to two hours. hour up to two hours.

►A short story A short story succinct straightforward succinct straightforward plot plot

characters that are characters that are disclosed in action and disclosed in action and dramatic encounter dramatic encounter rather than description rather than description and comment. and comment.

►Notable writers of the Notable writers of the literary short story in literary short story in English include Edgar English include Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Hawthorne, Mark Twain, O. Henry, & Twain, O. Henry, & Ernest Hemingway.Ernest Hemingway.

►Short stories most often Short stories most often include the following literary include the following literary elements (terms) :elements (terms) :

PlotPlot SettingSetting

CharactersCharacters ThemeTheme

Point of viewPoint of view IronyIrony

►Plot – The sequence of Plot – The sequence of events that catches your events that catches your interest and takes you interest and takes you through a storythrough a story

►Characters -Characters - The people, The people, animals, or other beings animals, or other beings that take part in the that take part in the story’s actionstory’s action

►Setting – The time and Setting – The time and location in which the location in which the story takes placestory takes place►Theme – The message Theme – The message about life that the story about life that the story conveysconveys

List themes you have List themes you have readread

►Point of view – The Point of view – The perspective from which the perspective from which the story is told – i.e. First person story is told – i.e. First person point of view and third point of view and third person point of viewperson point of view

►Irony -Irony - The contrast The contrast between an actual outcome between an actual outcome and what the reader or the and what the reader or the characters expect, or what characters expect, or what might logically be expected. might logically be expected.

Strategies (pg. 521)Strategies (pg. 521)►1.1. Ask questionsAsk questions►2.2. Draw conclusionsDraw conclusions►3.3. Identify with a characterIdentify with a character►4.4. Use your sensesUse your senses