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.

Elements of a Short Story Plot - exposition statement - rising action - conflict - climax - falling action - resolution Theme Setting Characters Point of view Characterization

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.

CHARACTERS POINT OF VIEW The people (or actors) in the story. The story teller from whose point of view the story is being told, the narrator.

CHARACTERIZATION The description of the personalities of the characters in the story and the way in which an author reveals their personalities.

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.

More PLOT Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may be the reader’s point of highest interest. Falling action - The action in the story after the climax is revealed. Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals the final outcome.

PLOT DIAGRAM Climax Rising Action Conflict Exposition Resolution Falling Action Exposition Resolution

CONCLUSION Now that we have identified and defined the elements of a short story, let us use the elements to analyze a familiar fairytale. You may use your notes from the PowerPoint presentation or consult the newsletter handout, “Analyzing a Short Story.”

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