1. Elements of Short Stories
Literature Unit 1
Elements of Short Stories

2. What is a short story? Short stories consist of many literary devices
A device in literature is another word for a tool—something used in order to build. We use these devices to build all types of literature.

3. The Plot Diagram…
The plot diagram is an organized way of stating each separate part of a story.
Exposition (introduction: we meet the characters, setting, etc.)
Rising Action (the majority of the story; where the conflict is introduced and suspense is built.)
Climax (This is the highest point of interest and the turning point of the story.  The reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not? )
Falling Action (The events and complications begin to resolve themselves.)
Resolution/ Dénouement (the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.)

4. I Spy… Look in your table of contents in you Elements of Writing book.
Read through the short story “The Dinner Party”
What information is provided in the exposition?
Rising action?
What is the climax?
Falling action?
Resolution/Dénouement?

5. Plot Portrait
Take your answers and utilizing the diagram below, paint a portrait of the plot!

6. Conflict
There are several different ways that an author can bring conflict into a story
He or she may utilize one of two major forms of conflict
Internal or External?
Listen to the following story. Is the conflict external or internal? How do you know?

7. Conflict continued…
Conflict is not just external or internal…no, nothing is that simple.
There are four additional categories that conflict may fall under

8. The 4 men.. Man vs. man Man vs. himself Man vs. circumstances
Man vs. society
Why are they all men?

9. Identification….
A young girl has to decide whether she wants to stay silent or tell an adult when she sees her friend drinking.
Superman would rather be Clark Kent, but knows he was sent to earth for a reason.
Rosa Parks stands up to the bus driver when asked to move to the back of the bus.
At the basketball game, two men fought over one of their pretty school mates.