An introduction to Short Stories

Short Story Elements Setting Characters Plot Climax Theme Resolution

Setting Every short story has a background or setting such as Place Where the events occur Time When the events occur Sensory details Clothing, dialect, modes of transportation, etc.

The Functions of a Setting To create a mood or atmosphere To show a reader a different way of life To make action seem more real To be the source of conflict or struggle To symbolize an idea We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever. At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed. That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill. Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

Types of Characters People or animals Major characters Minor characters Protagonist Antagonist

Protagonist The “good guy” or hero/heroin in the story who struggles against the conflict Usually the main character

Antagonist The “bad guy” or villain in the story that creates conflict for the protagonist.

Six Ways to Reveal Character Telling the audience directly Thoughtshots – revealing the character’s thoughts or feelings Dialogue – character’s words when he/she speaks The character’s actions Descriptions of how the character looks What other characters think of or say about the character

Factors in Analyzing Characters Physical appearance of character Personality Background/personal history Motivation Relationships Conflict Does character change?

Plot A series of events that make a story. A plot is built around a conflict. Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Man vs. Man An external struggle Man vs. Self An internal struggle Man vs. Society/Government An external struggle between a larger group: community, society, culture, etc. Man vs. Nature An external struggle between man and an element of nature

Plot Development Most plots develop in 5 basic stages 1. Exposition/Introduction Introduces the main characters and gives the purpose or problem of the story: setting is revealed 2. Rising Action Happens as the plot “thickens” and the main conflict is revealed; mini-conflict s may add to the build-up of tension

Plot Development 3. Climax 4. Falling action 5. Conclusion/Resolution the highest point of interest; the turning point; the outcome of the conflict is revealed 4. Falling action The suspense goes away; may be very brief 5. Conclusion/Resolution Loose ends are tied up, story ends

Special Techniques of Plot Foreshadowing- is a hint or clue about what will happen in story Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past Suspense -is a feeling of excitement, curiosity, or expectation about what will happen. Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

Theme The main message the author wants his/her audience to take away Not all stories have a theme For example, the purpose of a horror story may be simply to scare the reader Stated: writer states the theme of the story Implied: theme is not stated

Theme Examples Good will triumph over evil Honesty is the best policy Slow and steady wins the race Believe in yourself People are afraid of change Don’t judge a book by its cover

Point of View A writer tells his/her story from three points of view First Person The author becomes the character Third Person Limited Author limits what he tells the reader to what a single character could observe or know (one character who can see only a part of the whole story) Third Person Omniscient When a story is told from the viewpoint of someone who can be in several places at the same time and can see into the hearts and minds of two or more characters.

Short story terms Atmosphere/Mood Tone This is the mood or spirit of the story. The mood of a story is the feeling created by the writer and expressed through the setting. Tone The sound of the narrator’s voice; expresses the writers attitude toward the story; it can range from playful or humorous to serious or tragic.

Two more short story terms Symbol This is an image or object that also sands for something larger than itself. (For example, a flag is a symbol for the country it represents.) Style The unique flair with which the writer uses language and words to create effect Like a person who wears a certain style of clothes

One more short story term Irony-is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Three kinds of irony: 1. verbal irony is when an author says one thing and means something else. 2. dramatic irony is when an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know. 3. irony of situation is a discrepancy between the expected result and actual results.

Figurative and Literal Language Literally: words function exactly as defined The car is blue. He caught the football. Figuratively: figure out what it means I’ve got your back. You’re a doll.

Comparison of two things using “like” or “as.” Simile Comparison of two things using “like” or “as.” Examples The metal twisted like a ribbon. She is as sweet as candy.

A comparison must be made. Important! Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile. A comparison must be made. Not a Simile: I like pizza. Simile: The moon is like a pizza.

Metaphor Her lovely voice was music to his ears. Two things are compared without using “like” or “as.” Examples Her lovely voice was music to his ears.  The alligator’s teeth are white daggers. Her heart is stone. Tom’s eyes were ice. The snow is a white blanket. 

Personification Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Examples The sunlight danced. Water on the lake shivers. The streets are calling me.

Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect. Hyperbole Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect. Examples I will love you forever. My house is a million miles away. She’d kill me.

Onomatopoeia A word that “makes” a sound SPLAT PING SLAM POP POW

Idiom A saying that isn’t meant to be taken literally. Doesn’t “mean” what it says Don’t be a stick in the mud! You’re the apple of my eye. I have an ace up my sleeve.

Repetition Repeating a word or words for effect. Example Nobody No, nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody