Elements of a Short Story Students will be provided a copy of the power point presentation in outline form. The outline form will have blanks to be filled in during the presentation. This presentation is in preparation of writing a short story for their portfolio. This presentation was designed for a resource Language Arts class; students having learning and behavior disorders.

Goal: The short story? YOU will be able to: Identify the elements of the short story Establish working definitions of the elements of a short story Create your own short story

What we will focus on to learn. What is a short story? What are the characteristics or elements of a short story? How can we create a short story?

“Duffy’s Jacket” As you listen or read “Duffy’s Jacket, write down anything you notice the story having as far as their structure.

Definition of a Short Story Tells about a single event or experience Fictional (not true) 500 to 15,000 words in length It has a beginning, middle, and end Creates an impression on the reader

Elements of a Short Story Plot Theme Point of view Conflict Characterization Setting Climax Resolution

PLOT Plot: A series of events through which the writer reveals what is happening, to whom, and why.

Theme Theme: The story’s main idea. The “message” the writer intends to communicate by telling the story.

Theme A central message, concern, or insight into life expressed through a literary work Can be expressed by one or two sentence statement about human beings or about life May be stated directly or implied You will need to infer what the theme is from the work’s title, key scenes, characters, symbols, and plot events.

Identifying Theme Consider the following questions: What is the problem? Why does the problem occur? How does the character confront the problem? How does it turn out in the end? Why does it turn out that way? What is to be learned from the way the character dealt with the problem and the way it turned out?

Identifying Theme Consider the topic: What seems to be the topic of the message? Is there more than one topic? If so, how do the topics connect? What does the writer seem to be saying about the topic(s)?

Final Word about Theme In order to understand and appreciate a writer’s story, it is necessary to understand the message behind the story.

Point of View Point of view: The position of the narrator of the story and what the writer sees from that vantage point.

POINT OF VIEW THIRD PERSON (Matt made the winning shot.) FIRST PERSON (I made the winning shot.) THIRD PERSON (Matt made the winning shot.) OMNISCIENT–all knowing so it can reveal inner thoughts, feelings (Matt was nervous as he released the basketball.) LIMITED OMNISCIENT

Point of View Character – 1st person Major Minor Observer Participant Reliable/unreliable Narrator – third person Omniscient Limited Objective Example: “There was a man who had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.”

Conflict Conflict: Is a problem in the story that needs to be resolved.

These are Examples of Conflict

These are Examples

Types of Conflicts External Conflicts Internal Conflicts Person vs. Person Person vs. Nature Person vs. Society Person vs. Supernatural Person Vs. Technology Internal Conflicts Person vs. Self

Characterization Characterization: Creation of imaginary characters who appear to be real to the reader. The writer gives information about the characters in the story.

Characterization Telling us directly what the character is like Describing how the character looks and dresses Presenting the characters words and actions Revealing characters private thoughts and feelings Showing how other people respond and feel about the character

Setting Setting: Tells the reader where and when the story takes place.

Climax Climax: When the action comes to its highest point of conflict.

Resolution Resolution: The story’s action after the climax until the end of the story. The “conclusion” of the story.