Short Story Elements

Setting The time and place of a story’s action. When and where the story takes place.

Characters Animals or people who participate in the story.

Protagonist The main character of the story.

Antagonist The character who opposes the main character of a story.

Point of View The vantage point from which the story is told.

Narrator The storyteller or person telling the story.

First Person Point of View When the narrator is a character IN the story and uses “I”.

Third Person Limited Point of View When the narrator is NOT a character in the story and uses “he” and “she”. Knows the thoughts and actions of only 1 character.

Third Person Omniscient Point of View The narrator is NOT a character in the story, but can reveal the thoughts and feelings of ALL the characters.

Theme The central or main idea of a story.

Stated Theme When the main idea of a story is directly stated or told by the narrator.

Implied Theme When the main idea of a story is not directly stated but must be inferred or guessed.

Plot The series of events that makes up the story.

Conflict A struggle between two opposing people or forces.

External Conflict A struggle between a character and an outside force. For example: man vs. man man vs. nature man vs. society

Internal Conflict A struggle that takes place inside a character’s mind.

Plot Stages 1. Exposition: The introduction to a literary work that includes the setting, characters, and conflict. 2. Rising Action: All of the complications and twists that arise from the conflict and lead to the climax. 3. Climax: The emotional high-point or turning point of the story. 4. Falling Action: All of the events that result from the climax and lead to the resolution. 5. Resolution: The outcome or ending of a story in which the conflict is resolved.