1. Short Story Elements

2. What is a short story?
A brief, imaginative narrative containing few characters, simple plot, conflict, and suspense which leads to a climax and a swift conclusion.
Can be read in one sitting

3. THE 4 ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY
PLOT
SETTING
CHARACTER
THEME

4. CHARACTERs
Any personalities who are involved in the plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy characters)
Usually less than 6 in a short story

5. PROTAGONIST Sometimes the “good guy” or hero in the story
Always the main character that we follow
The character that strives to solve the conflict

6. ANTAGONIST Sometimes the “bad guy” or villain in the story
Always creates conflict for the main character

7. SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Other characters who are necessary to moving the plot along, but may not be involved with the central conflict

8. Round vs. Flat Character
Flat Character: one-dimensional, lacking personality, underdeveloped
Round Character: multi-dimensional; full of personality (like a friend); fully developed or developing

9. Dynamic vs. Static Static: stays the same throughout the plot
Dynamic: changes or grows intellectually because of experiences within the plot

10. Motivation
A force, person, or situation that moves a character to think a certain way, to feel a certain way, or to act a certain way.
Ex: Johnny gets left out of a game on the playground, so..
Ex: Sally grows up in an orphanage, so....
Ex: Becky’s big sister is voted as class president, so….

11. Characterization Physical and personality characteristics that
are revealed through:
What the character does (wears, moves, behaves)
What the character says (or doesn’t say)
What other characters say or do about the character (how they react)

12. Direct vs. Indirect Characterization
Direct : The author states directly what the character is like
Indirect: The author implies through hints and clues what the character is like

13. Character Traits Jealous Humble Proud Industrious Timid Optimistic
Passionate

14. SETTING The time and place of a story
Helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the text

15. MOOD
The feeling that the setting evokes (i.e. mysterious, happy, eerie)

16. TONE
The author’s emotional attitude toward the subject matter (i.e. excitement, nostalgia)
NOT the mood of the characters

17. Characteristics of Setting
Setting can include the locale (location) of a story
and/or people’s customs—how they live, dress, eat, and behave
Hong Kong

18. Characteristics era Setting can include….. weather time of day
time period (past, present, or future)

19. Purpose
Setting provides a background—a place where the characters live and act.

20. Sensory Details
Writers carefully select images and details to create a setting that draws us into the story.
the steady beat of the drum
three hot-air balloons colored the sky
the tart apple

21. Sensory Details gritty, wet sand between her toes
strong, sweet scent of a rose

22. Setting and Character
Sometimes writers place characters in settings that reflect the characters’ personalities.
What do you think these characters are like?

23. Setting and Mood
Setting can also create mood, or atmosphere. It can affect the way we feel about the characters and their situations.
mysterious
menacing
peaceful

24. Tone
Setting can also express a tone, or (author’s) attitude toward a subject or object.
What is the tone of this passage? How do you think the writer feels about these characters?
Now, with supper finished, we retire to the room in a faraway part of the house where my friend sleeps in a scrap-quilt-covered iron bed painted rose pink, her favorite color. Silently, wallowing in the pleasures of conspiracy, we take the bead purse from its secret place and spill its contents on the scrap quilt.
from “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote

25. Practice: Think of a story you’ve read in which the setting captured your imagination. Fill in a chart like this one to describe the setting and show its role in the story.

26. PLOT The chain of events in a story. Consists of 6 main ingredients:
Introduction/Exposition
Inciting incident (AKA: Initial Conflict)
Rising action (AKA: Complications)
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution (AKA: Denouement)

27. PLOT DIAGRAM (Story Map)
An excellent way to map out a story’s plot

28. Exposition (Introduction)
Introduces the reader to:
Setting
Characters
Basic situation / background information
Narrative Hook: question or statement that grabs the reader’s attention

29. Initial Conflict (Inciting Incident)
The first major action in the story that sets the story in motion (gets the ball rolling).

30. Rising Action Incidents which carry the plot along. It often
includes the following:
Conflict / Complications
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Suspense

31. FORESHADOWING
A technique for hinting at events that may occur later in the plot.

32. FLASHBACK
The insertion of an earlier event into the time order of a narrative.

33. Conflict
It is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she wants
The plot is driven by conflict and it is THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE STORY
There are two types of conflicts: Internal and External

34. Internal Conflict PERSON VS. SELF

35. External Conflict PERSON VS. PERSON

36. External Conflict PERSON VS. SOCIETY

37. External Conflict PERSON VS.THE ENVIRONMENT

38. External Conflict PERSON VS. FATE

39. External Conflict PERSON VS. TECHNOLOGY

40. External Conflict PERSON VS. THE SUPERNATURAL

41. SUSPENSE
The feeling of excitement and curiosity that keeps the reader turning the pages; created by making the readers wonder how the conflict will be resolved

42. CLIMAX
The highest point of interest in the story when the character(s) solves his/her struggles
Usually the point of highest emotion
The climax can be SUBJECTIVE (there may be different answers, so you must prove your choice)

43. FALLING ACTION
The character completes the action of his/her decision

44. Resolution (Denouement)
The final workings of a story’s conflict
All of the loose ends are tied up (usually)
Narrative Twist: a surprise ending

45. THE MEssage THEME THE MAIN IDEA Universal Truths
The central idea about life that the story highlights
THE MAIN IDEA
Universal Truths
The message the author is conveying
THE MEssage

46. THEME Characteristics
May be stated directly or implied
Usually can be stated in one sentence
Not the TOPIC (usually stated in one or two words)

47. Theme vs. Topic The theme of a work is not the same as the topic.
A topic is the subject of a literary work.
To determine the topic, ask yourself: What is this about?
The theme is a general observation based on that topic.
To identify theme, ask yourself: What is the author saying about this topic?

48. THEME Characteristics
Not all stories have a theme; some are just for entertainment or fun

49. Examples Love is blind. Believe in yourself.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Think before you speak.
You can’t buy love.
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
Money is the root of all evil.
Friends stick up for one another.
Sometimes people are not what you think.

50. Steps to Finding Theme Determine the specific conflict.
Decide what side of the conflict the story represents.
How is the conflict resolved? Who wins? Who loses?

51. Stated Theme
A stated theme occurs when a story’s theme or perception about life is stated directly by the author.
Stated themes are rare in fiction.
Stated themes most
commonly occur in
traditional literature, such
as fairy tales and fables.

52. Stated Theme
A stated theme can be seen in the folk tale “The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson” as retold by Leo Tolstoy.
The young peasant and his wife looked at each other and tears filled their eyes. They were ashamed because they had treated the old grandfather so meanly, and from that day they again let the old man eat with them at the table and took better care of him.

53. Implied Theme
An implied theme occurs when a story’s theme or perception about life must be inferred by readers.
To determine an implied theme, gather details about
the characters and their actions
the setting
the author’s tone

54. Using Characters to Determine Implied Theme
In this excerpt from “Born Worker” by Gary Soto, the reader must infer the theme by interpreting the actions of the characters.
José knelt on both knees at the old man’s side….The old man groaned and opened his eyes, which were shiny wet. He appeared startled, like a newborn. “Sir, you’ll be all right,” José cooed, then snapped at his cousin, “Arnie, get over here and help me!”
“I’m going home,” Arnie whined.
“You punk!” José yelled. “Go inside and call 911.”
Arnie said that they should leave him there.

55. Using Setting to Determine Implied Theme
In “Miss Butterfly” by Toshio Mori, the description of the setting at the end of the story provides clues about the story’s theme.
In the living room, Saiki-san smoked incessantly and the place became stuffy. He continued to read the paper. Hamada-san sat mutely in the corner, his eyes smarting with smoke. He could have gone outside for a bit of fresh air but did not move. His eyes took in the phonograph, the record albums, the spots where the girls danced, and the room that was now empty. In the silence he heard the clock in the hall ticking.

56. Using Tone to Determine Implied Theme
The solemn tone at the end of “The Medicine Bag” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve reflects the theme of the importance of respecting one’s family and heritage.
Grandpa turned and sat again on the bed. Wearily he leaned his head against the pillow. “Go,” he said. “I will sleep now.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” I said softly and left with the bag in my hands.
That night Mom and Dad took Grandpa to the hospital. Two weeks later I stood alone on the lonely prairie of the reservation and put the sacred sage in my medicine bag.

57. THEME OR NOT A THEME?
1) “Red Riding Hood” is about how you shouldn’t trust strangers.
2) Stars Wars is a movie about Luke Skywalker.
3) Apocalypse Now is about how there is never a winner in war.
4) This painting is about loneliness.
5) That story is about two guys who steal a car.
6) Romeo and Juliet is about love.
7) Romeo and Juliet is about two families fighting.
8) I saw a movie last night about survival.
9) “Hansel and Gretel” is about two children.
10) Cinderella is about how love always conquers over evil.

58. Summary
The theme of a literary work is the central observation about life that it reveals.
A writer expresses the theme by making a connection between the story and the human experience.
If a writer successfully makes this connection, readers will remember the message long after the story has ended.

59. Point of View
It is the angle from which the story is told.

60. Types In fiction, the two most common types of point of view are and
first-person point of view, in which the narrator is inside the story and involved in the plot
and
third-person point of view, in which the narrator is outside the story and observes and comments on the characters and plot

61. Types A third type is second-person point of view.
It is usually seen in informational texts (i.e. How-to Essays)
It uses the pronouns you, your, and yours.

62. First-Person Point of View
In first-person point of view, the narrator
is a character in the story who witnesses or participates in the action
uses words like I and we in telling the story we I

63. Example of First-Person Point of View
It is impossible to say how the idea first entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—A pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me; my blood ran cold; and so by degrees—very gradually—I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever. —from “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allan Poe

64. What are the advantages and disadvantages of telling a story from the first-person point of view?

65. Third-Person Point of View
In third-person point of view, the narrator
is someone who stands outside the action and observes
is not a character in the story
uses words like he, she, it, and they
Third-person point of view is the most common point of view used by writers. he
she it
they

66. Third-Person Point of View
There are two variations of third-person point of view:
In third-person limited point of view, the thoughts and feelings of only the narrator or a single character are revealed.
In third-person omniscient point of view, the thoughts and feelings of all characters are revealed.

67. Example of Third-Person Limited Point of View
“I was scrubbing the pool,” Arnie shouted, “and I said, ‘Mr. Clemens, you shouldn’t stand so close to the edge.’ But did he listen? No, he leaned over and…Well, you can just imagine my horror.” José walked away from Arnie’s jabbering. He walked away, and realized that there were people like his cousin, the liar, and people like himself, someone he was just getting to know. He walked away and in the midmorning heat boosted himself up a telephone pole. —from “Born Worker,” by Gary Soto

68. What are the advantages and disadvantages of telling a story from the third-person limited point of view?
Advantages
Disadvantages

69. Example of Third-Person Omniscient Point of View
“He’s only thirteen years old, for God’s sake,” Moon’s father said. Moon hated it when they talked about him as if he weren’t there. His parents, who were physicians, often spoke to each other clinically about their patients, and at times about Moon as if he were a patient. It was one more irritant in the list of things that made him angry. “We shouldn’t attach an ‘only’ to a thirteen-year-old,” said his mother, still seeing the face of the Pakistani boy, whose photograph had come her office in the morning mail. “A thirteen-year-old is not a child.” —from “Moon,” by Chaim Potok

70. What are the advantages and disadvantages of telling a story from the third-person omniscient point of view?
Advantages
Disadvantages

71. Reliability of the Narrator
No matter what point of view is used in a story, readers must determine if the narrator is reliable or unreliable.

72. Reliable Narrator A reliable narrator
has a credible (believable) voice in a story
tries to remain objective in telling a story
makes a connection with readers by interpreting events accurately
has values and motivations that are similar to those of readers
gains the trust of readers

73. Unreliable Narrator An unreliable narrator
has an incredible (unbelievable) voice in the story
struggles to remain objective in telling the story
fails to make a connection with readers because he or she misinterprets events
has values and motivations that may differ from those of readers
may appear suspect to readers

74. “TRUE! --nervous --very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story.”
-from “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

75. “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled— but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity…. It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.”
-from “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

76. Summary
To determine the point of view of a story, ask yourself the following questions:
Who is telling the story?
Is this person a character in the story?
Is more than one perspective presented?
Does the narrator comment on the events of the story, or simply present them?
Does the narrator seem unbiased and trustworthy?
How might the story be different if told from another character’s point of view?