1. An introduction to Short Stories

2. Short Story Elements
Setting
Characters
Plot
Climax
Theme
Resolution

3. Setting Every short story has a background or setting such as Place
Where the events occur
Time
When the events occur
Sensory details
Clothing, dialect, modes of transportation, etc.

4. The Functions of a Setting
To create a mood or atmosphere
To show a reader a different way of life
To make action seem more real
To be the source of conflict or struggle
To symbolize an idea
We left the home place behind, mile by slow mile, heading for the mountains, across the prairie where the wind blew forever.
At first there were four of us with one horse wagon and its skimpy load. Pa and I walked, because I was a big boy of eleven. My two little sisters romped and trotted until they got tired and had to be boosted up to the wagon bed.
That was no covered Conestoga, like Pa’s folks came West in, but just an old farm wagon, drawn by one weary horse, creaking and rumbling westward to the mountains, toward the little woods town where Pa thought he had an old uncle who owned a little two-bit sawmill.
Taken from “The Day the Sun Came Out” by D. Johnson

5. Types of Characters People or animals Major characters
Minor characters
Protagonist
Antagonist

6. Protagonist
The “good guy” or hero/heroin in the story who struggles against the conflict
Usually the main character

7. Antagonist
The “bad guy” or villain in the story that creates conflict for the protagonist.

8. Six Ways to Reveal Character
Telling the audience directly
Thoughtshots – revealing the character’s thoughts or feelings
Dialogue – character’s words when he/she speaks
The character’s actions
Descriptions of how the character looks
What other characters think of or say about the character

9. Factors in Analyzing Characters
Physical appearance of character
Personality
Background/personal history
Motivation
Relationships
Conflict
Does character change?

10. Plot
A series of events that make a story. A plot is built around a conflict. Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story.
Man vs. Man
An external struggle
Man vs. Self
An internal struggle
Man vs. Society/Government
An external struggle between a larger group: community, society, culture, etc.
Man vs. Nature
An external struggle between man and an element of nature

11. Plot Development Most plots develop in 5 basic stages
1. Exposition/Introduction
Introduces the main characters and gives the purpose or problem of the story: setting is revealed
2. Rising Action
Happens as the plot “thickens” and the main conflict is revealed; mini-conflict s may add to the build-up of tension

12. Plot Development 3. Climax 4. Falling action 5. Conclusion/Resolution
the highest point of interest; the turning point; the outcome of the conflict is revealed
4. Falling action
The suspense goes away; may be very brief
5. Conclusion/Resolution
Loose ends are tied up, story ends

14. Special Techniques of Plot
Foreshadowing- is a hint or clue about what will happen in story
Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of events to tell about something that happened in the past
Suspense -is a feeling of excitement, curiosity, or
expectation about what will happen.
Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does not expect

15. Theme The main message the author wants his/her audience to take away
Not all stories have a theme
For example, the purpose of a horror story may be simply to scare the reader
Stated: writer states the theme of the story
Implied: theme is not stated

16. Theme Examples Good will triumph over evil Honesty is the best policy
Slow and steady wins the race
Believe in yourself
People are afraid of change
Don’t judge a book by its cover

17. Point of View A writer tells his/her story from three points of view
First Person
The author becomes the character
Third Person Limited
Author limits what he tells the reader to what a single character could observe or know (one character who can see only a part of the whole story)
Third Person Omniscient
When a story is told from the viewpoint of someone who can be in several places at the same time and can see into the hearts and minds of two or more characters.

18. Short story terms Atmosphere/Mood Tone
This is the mood or spirit of the story.
The mood of a story is the feeling created by the writer and expressed through the setting.
Tone
The sound of the narrator’s voice; expresses the writers attitude toward the story; it can range from playful or humorous to serious or tragic.

19. Two more short story terms
Symbol
This is an image or object that also
sands for something larger than itself.
(For example, a flag is a symbol for the country it represents.)
Style
The unique flair with which the writer uses language and words to create effect
Like a person who wears a certain style of clothes

20. One more short story term
Irony-is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
Three kinds of irony:
1. verbal irony is when an author says one thing and means something else.
2. dramatic irony is when an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know.
3. irony of situation is a discrepancy between the expected result and actual results.

21. Figurative and Literal Language
Literally: words function exactly as defined
The car is blue.
He caught the football.
Figuratively: figure out what it means
I’ve got your back.
You’re a doll.

22. Comparison of two things using “like” or “as.”
Simile
Comparison of two things using “like” or “as.”
Examples
The metal twisted like a ribbon.
She is as sweet as candy.

23. A comparison must be made.
Important!
Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile.
A comparison must be made.
Not a Simile: I like pizza.
Simile: The moon is like a pizza.

24. Metaphor Her lovely voice was music to his ears.
Two things are compared without using “like” or “as.”
Examples
Her lovely voice was music to his ears. 
The alligator’s teeth are white daggers.
Her heart is stone.
Tom’s eyes were ice.
The snow is a white blanket. 

25. Personification Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Examples
The sunlight danced.
Water on the lake shivers.
The streets are calling me.

26. Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect.
Hyperbole
Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect.
Examples
I will love you forever.
My house is a million miles away.
She’d kill me.

27. Onomatopoeia
A word that “makes” a sound
SPLAT
PING
SLAM
POP
POW

28. Idiom A saying that isn’t meant to be taken literally.
Doesn’t “mean” what it says
Don’t be a stick in the mud!
You’re the apple of my eye.
I have an ace up my sleeve.

29. Repetition
Repeating a word or words for effect. Example Nobody No, nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody