The Elements of a Short Story These terms also apply to fiction and non-fiction stories alike

An Overview b What is a short story? b How does it differ from a novel? b What are the main elements of nonfiction?

Basic Premises b A short story tells about something that happens to someone. b In a good short story, there are no accidents. That is everything is put there for a reason. b In a good short story all the parts work together to reinforce one another.

Literature of Escape (enjoyment):  Entertainment.  Pass time enjoyably.  Take us away from the real world.  Forget our troubles.  Requires little mental effort to read.  Escape literature’s only object is pleasure.

Literature of Interpretation (understanding): b To broaden, deepen, sharpen our awareness of life. b Takes us, through our imagination, deeper into the real world. b Enables us to understand our troubles. b Readers take a deeper pleasure in fiction that deals with life. b Interpretive literature’s object is pleasure and understanding.

Literature of Escape vs. Literature of Interpretation b The difference does not lie in the absence or presence of a moral, lesson, facts, or fantasy.

Plot Diagram b Exposition: necessary background information at the beginning of the story in order to establish the action. b Conflict: Presents the problem the main character has to deal with. b Rising Action: the main character begins to tackle the problem.

Plot Diagram (cont.) b Climax : the character comes face to face with the problem. b Falling Action: the problem is resolved and things get back to normal (or at least appear to). b Resolution (Denouement): the author ties all loose ends together to provide closure.

Character b Are the people, animals, things, or even machines that act or speak in a story. b In most stories you will find major and minor characters.

Character (cont.) b Major: play the most important role. They are involved in the action of the story. b Minor: play a supporting role. They may make comments that enlighten the major characters.

Character (cont.) b Reading for character is more difficult than reading for plot. Character is more complex, variable, and ambiguous. b Skill is needed to describe what a person is. b Authors may present their characters directly or indirectly.

Characters: Direct presentation b Direct Presentation: the author tells us straight out what the characters are like, or have someone in the story tell us what they are like (he was just like this, he had no jealousy).

Characters: Indirect presentation b Indirect Presentation: The author shows us the character in action. We infer what they are like from what they think, say, or do.

Characters: when convincing b Consistent: in their behavior unless there is a clear reason for change. Motivated: in whatever they do, especially when there is a change in their behavior (we must be able to understand the reasons). Plausible: or lifelike – not too good / not too bad.

Different Character Types  Flat: characterized by one or two traits. Summed up in a sentence.  Round: are complex, many sided. They might require an essay for full analysis (Romeo or Atticus).

Different Character Types (cont.)  Stock: stereotypical figure who has occurred so often in fiction that his nature is immediately known: the strong silent sheriff, the brilliant detective of eccentric habits, or the mad scientist…).  Static: same sort of person at the end of the story as at the beginning.  Developing or Dynamic: undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of character, personality, or outlook. Large or small – for better or worse.

Point of View b Who tells the story? b How much is that person allowed to know? b To what extent does the narrator look inside the characters and repeat their thoughts and feelings?

Points of View b Omniscient: told by the narrator using the third person. b Limited Omniscient: the author tells the story from the third person, but tells it from the viewpoint of one of the characters in the story.

Points of View (cont.) b Objective (dramatic): third person / roving reporter. b First person: author is telling the story in the first person by one of the characters.

Setting b Is the time and place of the action of a story. b Besides telling where a story takes place, the setting includes when the story takes place.

Setting (cont.) b Some stories give you an exact date or mention events that let you know the time. b By describing the setting, a writer can give you a feeling about what will happen in the story (calm or troubled, happy or sad).

Theme b The meaning of the story, its main idea or concern. b It is not the same thing as a moral, since it cannot be summed up in a neat saying or a bit of advice. b Essentially, the message the author intends to get across.

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