OBJECTIVES Identify elements of a short story Define elements
of a short story Demonstrate mastery of short story elements
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OVERVIEW Short stories often contain structural and character
elements that should be familiar to you. These elements can be used
as guides to help you think about the actions, themes, and contexts
of the story.
THEME The main idea of a literary work, usually expressed as a
generalization. SETTING The time and place in which a work of
literature happens.
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Theme In literature, theme is a perception about life or human
nature that the writer wants to share with the reader. In most
cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred.
Themes can be revealed by - a storys title - key phrases and
statements about big ideas - the ways the characters change and the
lessons they learn about life.
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Setting= time and place -puts the reader in the story by giving
the reader the feeling of being in the situation. -creates
atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the
place.
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CHARACTERS The people (or actors) in the story. POINT OF VIEW
The story teller from whose point of view the story is being told,
the narrator.
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CHARACTERIZATION The description of the personalities of the
characters in the story and the way in which an author reveals
their personalities.
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Methods of Characterization Creating Believable Characters
Indirect physical appearance speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions
of the character speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other
characters Direct the narrators direct comments about a
character
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Point of View or... (Whos telling this story anyway?) -the
vantage point from which the story is told. -determines how much
we, the readers, know about the characters.
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1st Person Narrator is a character in the story. Narrator uses
first-person pronouns, I, me, my, we, us, our to refer to himself
or herself. Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one
character and speaks directly to reader.
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3rd Person Limited Narrator does not participate in action of
story. Narrator does not refer to himself or herself. Narrator
knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but readers are
able to maintain some emotional distance from the character.
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3rd Person Omniscient Narrator does not participate in action
of story. Narrator does not refer to himself or herself. Narrator
knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters; readers get
insight into several characters.
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PLOT 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 - Struggles or problems between
opposing forces.
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More PLOT -C-Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may
be the readers point of highest interest. -F-Falling action - The
action in the story after the climax is revealed. -R-Resolution -
The part of the plot that reveals the final outcome.
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PLOT DIAGRAM PLOT R i s i n g A c t i o n F a l l i n g A c t i
o n Resolution Climax Exposition Conflict
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The plot of a short story centers around conflict. Conflict is
a struggle between opposing forces. Complications build the readers
excitement.
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Types of Conflict External -Man v Man -Man v Nature - Man v
Fate -Man v Obstacle or Society Internal -Man v Himself
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Bibliography Dinneen, 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
