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.

3. THE 5 ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY
PLOT
CONFLICT
SETTING
CHARACTER
THEME

4. #1. PLOT The chain of events in a story.
Consists of 6 main ingredients:
Introduction/Exposition
Inciting incident
Rising action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

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

6. Internal Conflict MAN VS. SELF

7. External Conflict MAN VS. MAN

8. External Conflict MAN VS. SOCIETY

9. External Conflict MAN VS. NATURE

10. External Conflict MAN VS. TECHNOLOGY

11. #3. SETTING
The time (time of day, season, present, past, future) and the location (country, planet, town, buildings, PLUS a description of the surroundings) where the action occurs
Helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the text

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

13. #4. CHARACTERS
Any personalities who are involved in the plot of the story (people, animals, fantasy characters)

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

15. ANTAGONIST The “bad guy” or villain in the story
Usually creates conflict for the main character

16. #5. THEME
The message the author is conveying.

17. 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 the insanity of 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 poetic justice