KickStarter – 9/16 Please pick up one of the “Short Story Vocab” packets in the front. THEN Write a (very) short fictional story about anything. 5-7 sentences.

7th Grade English Language Arts Elements of a Short Story Ms. Roussin 7th Grade English Language Arts

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

Some Elements of a Short Story Character Setting Plot Conflict Theme Mood Tone Point of View Foreshadowing Style Symbol Irony

Short Story Vocabulary Character: The person, animal, or thing that “acts as a person” Can you think of a cartoon that has an unusual character? How many characters do you see?

Short Story Vocabulary PROTAGONIST: The main character in a story ANTAGONIST: The character who opposes the protagonist A groovy example

Short Story Vocabulary STATIC: A character who stays the same during the story DYNAMIC: A character who changes 2 Very different brothers

Short Story Vocabulary SETTING: Tells the reader where and when the story takes place. Setting often creates mood. “During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country.” “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe What kind of a mood does this setting create?

Short Story Vocabulary Plot: A series of events through which the writer reveals what is happening, to whom, and why A familiar plot

Short Story Vocabulary Exposition: the start of the story-- which includes character and setting Sets up the story to be told

Short Story Vocabulary Rising Action: the series of conflicts leading to the climax

Short Story Vocabulary Climax: When the action comes to the HIGHEST POINT of conflict

Short Story Vocabulary Falling Action: All of the action which follows the climax and leads to the resolution

Short Story Vocabulary Resolution: The end or “conclusion” of the story where the problems are solved also called dénouement

Short Story Vocabulary Conflict: the struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Short Story Vocabulary TYPES of Conflict Person vs. Person Person vs. Nature Person vs. Self Person vs. Society

Person vs. Person Stop Early

Person vs. Self Be you...or not

Person vs. Nature Jaws

Person vs. Society Rosa Parks

Short Story Vocabulary Theme: The central idea or “message” of the story. What is the theme of this classic story?

Short Story Vocabulary Mood: the feeling you get in a story or the emotion you get while reading

Short Story Vocabulary Tone: The writer’s attitude as revealed through the writer’s words These men are drinking pop.

Madam and the Rent Man The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy-do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know Your rent is due. I said, Listen Before I’d pay I would rather Rot away! The sink is broke, The water don’t run, And you ain’t done a thing You promised to’ve done. Back window’s cracked, Kitchen floor squeaks, There’s rats in the cellar, And the attic leaks. He said, Madam, It’s not up to me. I’m just the agent, Don’t you see? I said, Naturally, You pass the buck. If it’s money you want You’re out of luck. I ain’t pleased! I said, me neither So we agrees. Mood: nervous and afraid like something is about to happen Tone: mad, angry, sarcastic

Short Story Vocabulary Point of view: narrator who is telling the story

Short Story Vocabulary 1st Person Point of View: The narrator tells the story using “I” “I told Snoopy that there was nothing better than a day at the lake.”

Short Story Vocabulary 3rd Person Limited Point of View: The narrator tells the story like a reporter (he, she, they…) They sat on the dock and looked out at the calm blue water.

Short Story Vocabulary Omniscient Point of View: The narrator is all knowing and can enter the minds of the characters “Charlie Brown was enchanted by the calm blue water while Snoopy dreamed of the fish that got away.” The narrator is an all-knowing outsider who can enter the minds of more than one of the characters.

Short Story Vocabulary Foreshadowing: a hint or clue of what is to come

Short Story Vocabulary Flashback: A scene in the story that goes back to a previous event or memory Skip 32 seconds in

Short Story Vocabulary Style: the way a writer writes

Short Story Vocabulary Symbol A symbol has meaning in itself but also has another level of meaning. Think of a symbol as a word that has a dictionary meaning and also a second meaning that represents something deeper.

Short Story Vocabulary A journey might be a symbol for life. Water might be a symbol for a new beginning. Black can represent evil or death. A lion might be a symbol of courage.

Short Story Vocabulary Irony: when a twist or the opposite of what is expected occurs

SHORT STORIES Great writers are able to use the literary elements with such precision that the reader is caught up in the action of the story. This is a mark of a great story!