1. Short Stories

2. Why do we need stories? Describe the non-human
To Entertain
Describe the non-human
world and offer explanations of phenomena.
Communicate human experience
Convey wisdom, social behaviour, origins.

3. Need stories? Continued…
Provide windows between unfamiliar groups and peoples, as people reveal their identity and perspective on the world.
To give perspective to our own lives. To show that we have choices; life doesn’t just happen. What we are feeling has been felt by others.

4. Analyzing Short Stories

5. Elements of a short story
Plot
Setting
Character
Conflict
Point of View
Theme

6. Plot Plot is different from Story
STORY is a chronological sequence (arranged in time) of events/episodes
PLOT: need not be chronologically sequenced
Can rearrange the elements of the story so they are not in order (e.g. showing the ending at the beginning)
Sometimes in detective tales, the initial action of the story is not disclosed to the reader until nearly the end to produce the element of surprise

7. Plot Structure

8. Constituents of a Plot
EXPOSITION/INTRODUCTION is the information needed to understand what will happen during the time frame of a story. It usually consists of background information and the setting
Contains the inciting incident/moment
the spark that starts the story

9. Constituents of a Plot
RISING ACTION is the catalyst that begins the major conflict.
The basic conflict is made more complicated by the introduction of details and further conflict
Suspense is built

10. Constituents of a Plot
CLIMAX OR CRISIS is the turning point in the story that occurs when characters try to resolve the complication. This is the point of no return. After the climax, things cannot go back to the way they were.
Most exciting moment of the story

11. Constituents of a Plot Con’d
FALLING ACTION: Comes after the climax
Loose ends are tied up
The complexities of the plot are solved and / or revealed
RESOLUTION is the tying up of the loose ends of the story, the ending or outcome.
All final questions are answered
EPIPHANY: a moment of startling, sudden insight gained by the main character as a result of the unfolding of events in the story

12. The Three Little Pigs

13. Plot Structure of a movie…
Create a plot diagram for a movie that you are very familiar with.
Remember to Include:
Exposition and Inciting Incident
Rising Action (include 3 conflicts/details of the conflict)
Climax
Falling Action and Resolution

14. Setting
The location of a story’s action, along with the time in which it occurs
It can add an important dimension of meaning, reflecting character and embodying theme.
Look at:
Place
Time
Weather
Social conditions
Tone/mood

15. Character
Characterization is the showing and telling about a character
We learn about a character through:
Dialogue – what he/she says and how they say it
Action/behaviour – what the character does
Interactions with others – what other characters say about him/her, how they respond to him/her
Narrative description – what the narrator describes of the characters thoughts, feelings and emotions

16. Character
An author may present his/her characters directly or indirectly, or through a mixture of the two methods.
Direct Characterization refers to an author directly stating traits about the character. Ie. The old man was stubborn.
Indirect Characterization refers to when an author indirectly reveals traits about a character through their actions or how others relate to them.

17. How do we learn about a character?
Physical traits
Dialogue
Actions
Attire
Opinions
Point of View

18. The Characters Protagonist: main character
Antagonist: character working against the main character

19. Types of Characters
Flat character: single dominant trait; two dimensional; usually minor characters are developed this way. What you see is what you get.
Round character: complex, fully rounded and developed personality. These characters may be difficult to describe, as in real life. They are capable of surprising us.

20. Types of Characters Con’d
Static Character: a character who remains basically unchanged throughout a work
Dynamic Character: one who changes in response to the actions through which he or she passes
Stock character or archetype: a character “type” often based on stereotypical perceptions such as the mad professor, the clever detective, the wise old man, the hero, villain, etc.

21. Conflict
Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot
Can be internal or external
In short stories, generally:
Human vs. human- physical strength
Human vs. society- the leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people
Human vs. self- psychological- (e.g. struggles with morality, physical limitations, choice etc.)
Human vs. nature- can be supernatural

22. Point of View Who tells the story?
The teller of a story is narrator. This is NOT the same as the author.
In fiction, who tells the story and how s/he tells it are critical issues that determine the interpretation of the story. The tone and feel of the story, and even its meaning, can change depending on who the narrator is.

23. Point of View Con’d The narrator can either show or tell.
Show: s/he has the characters speak in their own voices, without any narrative mediation.
Tell: the narrator reports the events to the reader and thereby possesses greater control over the interpretation of the story.
Is the narrator trustworthy?
The credibility of the story will depend on the (perceived) reliability of the narrator. The narrator could be either objective (detached) or subjective (biased). An objective narrator’s tale is more readily believed than that of a subjective narrator.

24. Types of Point of View Third Person Point of View
Here the narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know about the events and characters. This is an outside voice.
First Person Point of View
Here the narrator does participate in the action of the story. S/he is one of the characters in the story, an “inside” voice.
When reading stories in the first person, we need to realise that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth.

25. Types of P.O.V Con’d Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of View
A narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all-knowing, or omniscient. A narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor, has a limited omniscient point of view.

26. Theme

27. Theme WHAT IS YOUR POINT?!!!!!
The theme is the major idea or author’s message about life in a story
What is the author trying to make us think about or question in our own lives?
Themes are rarely stated directly. They usually must be inferred.
The theme is revealed by:
the way characters change in a story
conflicts in the story
statements made by the narrator or characters.
Understanding theme involves understanding plot, characters, and setting

28. Topics for Themes Politics Government Love Many others Society
Religion
Psychology
Family Relations

29. How do we find the theme…
What is the author trying to say?
Who cares?
Why did the author write this?
Is this an allegory?
Are there any important symbols?

30. What’s the theme?