1. Elements of a Short Story

2. Elements of a short story
Plot
Characters
Mood
Point of View
Figurative Language
Irony
Theme

3. Sequence of events or incidents that make up a story.
Parts of a Typical Plot
Sequence of events or incidents that make up a story.
Exposition – designed to arouse the reader’s interest; background is provided
Conflict – struggle between opposing forces (protagonist vs. antagonist)
Rising Action – complication or development of the conflict
Climax – turning point of the story; point of most intense interest
Falling Action – events that lead to resolution
Resolution (Denouement)– outcome of the conflict

4. Parts of a typical plot

5. Types of Conflict
Man vs. Man– external struggle between two or more individuals
Man vs. Self– internal struggle concerning emotion and decision
Man vs. Nature – external struggle between person and an element of nature or the environment
Man vs. Society – external or internal struggle between individuals making moral choices or frustrated by social rules in meeting their own goals

6. Generally the central or focal element in a story.
Character
Generally the central or focal element in a story.
2 Types of characterization (Direct and Indirect)
Techniques the writer uses to develop a character:
Physical Description
Speech and actions of the character
Direct comment from the narrator
Characters actions toward other characters

7. Character Types of characters – Round – complex or presented in detail
Dynamic – developing and learning in the course of the story
Flat – characterized by one or two traits
Static – unchanged from the story’s beginning to end
Protagonist – the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text
Antagonist - a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another; opponent; adversary

8. Analyzing Characters Motivation – cause of/reason for actions
Behavior – actions of the character
Consequences – results of actions
Responsibility – moral, legal, or mental accountability
Expectations – what the reader expects

9. Mood
Setting – the time and place in which the story is taking place, including factors such as weather and social customs
Atmosphere – the mood to feeling which pervades the story

10. Point of View
Omniscient – the author tells the story using third person. Author knows all of what is done, said, felt, and thought by the characters
Limited Omniscient – author tells the story from the third person, but limits observations of thoughts and feelings to one character
First person – one character tells the story in the first person. The reader sees and knows only as much as the narrator
Objective – the author is like a movie camera that moves around freely recording objects. However, the author offers no comments on the characters or their actions. Readers are not told the thoughts or feelings of the characters

11. Figurative Language Simile – comparison using like or as
Metaphor – comparison using is or a form of is
Personification – attributing humanlike qualities to inanimate things
Onomatopoeia - imitates the natural sounds of a thing

12. Figurative Language
Irony -a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated.
Dramatic - a situation in a story where the audience knows something that the character does not.
Verbal- sarcastic
Situational: When a characters actions are opposite of what you would think was going to happen.

13. Put it in action
When analyzing a piece of literature you will look at all of the short story elements to help you determine the deeper meaning or literary significance of the author’s words.