SHORT STORIES …

Definition:  Most often fictional writing between 500 to 5000 words  Tells about a single event or experience  Has a beginning, middle & end  Has a protagonist & antagonist

Overview of Short Story  Has a single plot  Focuses on only one incident  A small number of characters  Single setting (most often)  Setting covers a short period of time or a few places

Overview of Short Story  Can be read in its entirety within one sitting.  The plot is not very complex.  The story quickly comes to the point.

Purpose To entertain To involve the reader in a single situation or conflict To demonstrate a central theme through a character’s life.

Elements of a Short Story  Characters/ Characterization  Plot- Exposition, Trigger, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution  Conflict  Setting  Theme  Point of View (P.O.V.)

Theme  Portrays the views about life and how people behave – often a universal truth. (Golden Rule etc.)  Is not usually presented directly, the reader must connect the pieces.  The reader can figure out the theme from the characters, their actions, setting of the story or with symbols presented.

Theme Continued To uncover the theme, the reader might refer to… 1. The title of the story 2. Notice repeating patterns, motifs and symbols 3. Make connections to allusions made throughout the story

Central Themes for English 9  Inter-Relationships  How people interact with other people  Self-Reliance  How the character behaves/acts

The Theme may make you wonder:  How do I relate to my family, my community, and my country?  How do my relationships, skills and talents help to define me?  What lesson(s) can I derive from stories?  How can I apply these lessons to my life?

Character’s Development Characters’ Actions Dialogue or Thoughts Reactions to Other Characters or Situations Character’s Habits/Idiosyncrasies Character’s Possessions Physical Descriptions Background Information from Other Sources (usually from characters or foreshadowing from author)

Types of Characters  Round- Major character who encounters conflict and is changed by it externally.  Flat- Minor characters who do not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story.

Types of Characters  Dynamic-A character major or minor who changes significantly during the course of the story. Changes must result because of some change within the character's self-conscience.  Static- The character does not undergo a significant change. A static character is a character that remains basically unchanged throughout a work. Stereotyped: Brilliant Detective, Bully Cruel Step-Mother etc.

Good Guy vs. Bad Guy The Good Guy= Protagonist  The character is clearly central to the story with all major events having some importance to this character. The Bad Guy= Antagonist  The opposer of the main character

Point of View Point of View, or P.O.V., is defined as the angle from which the story is told. 1. Innocent Eye - The story is told through the eyes of a child (his/her judgment being different from that of an adult). 2. First Person - The story is told by the protagonist or one of the characters who interacts closely with or other characters (using pronouns I, me, we, etc). The reader sees the story through this person's eyes as he/she experiences it.

P.O.V. Continued 3. Omniscient- The author can narrate the story using the following: He can move from character to character Event to event Having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of the characters and introduces information where and when he/she chooses.

Two main types of omniscient point of view: a) Omniscient Limited - The author tells the story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc). We know only what the character knows and what the author allows him/her to tell us. b) Omniscient Objective – Told through third person. It appears as though a camera is following the characters, going anywhere, and recording only what is seen and heard. The reader is placed in the position of spectator without the author there to explain. The reader has to interpret events on his own.

 internal man vs. himself—the struggle takes place in the character’s mind or heart  external man vs. an outside force—the struggle is against another man, nature, the environment, the supernatural, society Conflict: a struggle between two opposing forces