Elements of a Short Story

OBJECTIVES Identify elements of a short story Define elements of a short story Demonstrate mastery of short story elements

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.

Genre: a distinctive category of literary composition

Inference A conclusion reached based on textual evidence and reasoning

Elements of a Short Story Theme The subject of a story. It is not a moral, lesson, or a rule for living. It is a general idea Ex. Love Family Feud Themes from ‘The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet’

Central Idea The most important or central thoughts Tells reader what text is about More specific to the story

“STEAL” CHARACTERIZATION The description of the personalities of the characters in the story and the ways in which authors reveal their personalities: Speech Thoughts Effect on other characters Action Looks “STEAL”

Dialogue Conversations between people in a piece of writing. Usually has quotation marks (“Hello”)

THEME The main idea of a literary work, usually expressed as a generalization and in sentence form. Example: “Forgiveness is the key to true happiness.” SETTING The time and place in which the story is set.

“Characters in the plot connect us with the vastness of our secret life, which is endlessly explorable.” – Eudora Welty CHARACTERS The point of writing stories: telling us what human beings are like. Characters allow readers to “see” life from different perspectives and to “meet” new (or familiar) people.

FORESHADOWING A warning or indication of future event(s)

FLASHBACK A scene in a movie set in a time earlier than the main story. Goes back in time

Point of View The position of the author or character It is their attitude

Point of View First Person Point of View- a character from the story is telling the story; uses the pronouns “I” and “me” Second Person Point of View- the narrator tells the story to another character using the words “you” Third Person Point of View- an outside narrator is telling the story; uses the pronouns “he”, “she”, “they”

Types of Third-Person Point of View Third-Person Limited The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings on only ONE character in a story. Third-Person Omniscient The narrator knows the thoughts and feeling of ALL the characters in a story.

Tone and Mood Tone: The author’s attitude toward the subject Mood: the emotion the reader feels from a piece of literature

Characters Protagonist and antagonist are used to describe characters. The protagonist is the main character of the story, the one with whom the reader identifies. This person is not necessary “good”. The antagonist is the force in opposition of the protagonist; this person may not be “bad” or “evil”, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way

Conflict = Struggle

Conflict External Conflict: Conflict between a character and another person OR a character and something non-human. - Man vs. Man - Man vs. Society - Man vs. Nature

Conflict Internal Conflict: Conflict takes place inside a character’s mind Man vs. Himself (fears, self-doubts, etc.)

Parts of a Plot Exposition - introduction; characters, setting and conflict (problem) are introduced Rising Action- where the conflict starts to develop Climax- highest point of interest or suspense of a story Falling Action - tension eases; events show the results of how the main character begins to resolve the conflict Resolution- loose ends are tied up; the conflict is solved

Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

Exposition This usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

2. Rising Action This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs and leads to the climax. Complications arise

3. Climax This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way. This is the most intense moment.

4. Falling Action Action that follows the climax and ultimately leads to the resolution

5. Resolution The conclusion; all loose ends are tied up. Either the character defeats the problem, learns to live with the problem, or the problem defeats the character.

Putting It All Together 1. Exposition 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution Beginning of Story Middle of Story End of Story

Diagram of Plot Climax Falling Action Development/ Rising Action Introduction/ Exposition Resolution Setting, characters, and conflict are introduced

PLOT The sequence or order of events in a story, each event connected to the next like a chain. Each event in a plot “hooks” our curiosity and pulls us forward to the next event. Suspense builds as the series of related events hook our curiosity. The plot includes the following (4) parts:

Types of Linear Plots Chronological Flashback In media res (in the middle of things): when the story starts in the middle of the action without an exposition.

CHRONOLOGICAL PLOT DIAGRAM Climax Rising Action Conflict Falling Action Exposition Resolution

1. Basic Situation/Exposition Exposition Statement – This is the part of the plot that tells how the story begins. The character, conflict, and setting are usually introduced. Example ~ Cinderella The basic situation shows us Cinderella, a beautiful and good heroine, in a conflict with her evil stepmother and nasty stepsisters.

2. Rising Action/Complication The part of the story in which the main character takes some action to resolve the conflict and meets with problems or complications: danger, fear, hostility, etc. Example ~ Cinderella Cinderella wants to go to the ball. Her stepmother says “No,” but a Fairy Godmother promises to get her to the ball if she obeys one rule: “Be home by midnight.” Cinderella goes to the ball, the Prince falls in love with her, she flees at midnight, and she loses one of her glass slippers.

3. Climax Climax: the KEY scene of the story That tense or exciting moment when we realize what the outcome of the conflict is going to be. Example ~ Cinderella The Prince makes a house-to-house search for the foot that fits the slipper and finds that foot on Cinderella.

4. Falling Action(s) All of the action which follows the climax Example ~ Cinderella: Cinderella and the prince make preparations for their wedding.

5. Resolution/Denouement The final part of the story. (The French word, denouement, means “unraveling the knot”). You learn how the conflict is resolved and what happens to the characters. Example ~ Cinderella Cinderella marries the Prince and they live happily ever after. In the original Girmm story, you also learn that ravens peck out the eyes of the evil stepmother.

CONCLUSION Now that we have identified and defined the elements of a short story, let us use the elements to analyze the short story by Ray Bradbury, “The Pedestrian”. You may use your notes from the PowerPoint presentation.

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 Anderson, Robert, Et. al. Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1989.