Elements of the Short Story English 12 Mrs. Taylor

Plot Structure Exposition/Introduction: background about characters, setting, situation Rising Action: conflict arises, more information is learned about characters and setting Climax: when action reaches the highest point Falling Action: the story begins wrapping up, characters are dealing with whatever happened in the climax Resolution/Denouement: This tells how the story concludes Climax Falling Action Rising Action Exposition Resolution

How Writers Create Setting Details: Adding details makes the story seem more believable. Sensory Imagery: Adding details that appeal to the reader’s sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing creates a vivid picture. Why is setting important? Because it often indicates MOOD. Mood is the emotion or feeling that the author communicates to the reader through a variety of details—particularly at the beginning of the story.

Point of View: This is the view from which the story is told Ask yourself, “Who is telling the story?”

First Person

Omniscient -An outside force without clear identity tells the story. Often described as a God-like narrator. -This narrator knows all thoughts and feelings of characters and may comment on their behavior and its meaning.

Limited Omniscient -An omniscient narrator who can only tell the story with insight into one character knowing what he/she sees, feels etc.

Objective :

Theme: what the story is about--the issues that it explores A theme is a universal idea. A theme teaches a specific lesson or moral. Most stories have more than one theme. For example: sometimes it’s better to turn a person in to the cops if it means they will turn their life around and be a more positive and successful person!

Imagery: uses details to describe something and evoke feelings The icy hail furiously pelted my car, leaving magnificent holes in the smooth hood. The sound pierced my ears ruthlessly, as I tried to find shelter. Imagery gives you detailed pictures in your mind.

Symbol: an image, character, or action that stands for an idea beyond its literal meaning Some aren’t... Some are obvious...

Tone: is like the author’s “tone of voice”--it tells you their attitude towards the characters, setting, etc. “She dismally muttered that she’d always love him, even though he was gone. She’d never love again.” What’s the tone here?

Irony: to intend a meaning opposite of what is expected Irony: to intend a meaning opposite of what is expected. There are a few kinds of irony. Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something that the character does not. Situational Irony: when the opposite of what was expected happens.

Dramatic Irony: You know what the farmer does not.

Situational Irony: You’d expect cheetahs to run, not speed-walk.

Which kind of irony is this?

Which kind of irony is this?

Hyperbole: an exaggerated statement used to make a strong effect “Whoa! That cookie looks like a million bucks!”

What might this be foreshadowing? Foreshadowing: A writing technique that gives readers clues about what will happen later in the story. “As he pondered the morning, he reassured himself that he locked the door. Something kept telling him otherwise, but he pushed it out of his mind.” What might this be foreshadowing?

Protagonist: the main character in the story Protagonist: the main character in the story Antagonist: the force against the protagonist

Simile: comparing 2 things using like or as. Her hair was as soft as cotton. His hair was like wires Metaphor: comparing 2 things without using like or as. A heavy blanket of snow fell all day long.

Flashback: details from an earlier point in time are revealed to the reader