1. So…What is a Short Story? It’s short (aka economical)! Written in prose Fictional (fake, not factual) Typically in narrative form There is a conflict Prose: writing that resembles everyday speech; free form (Ex: That novel was written in excellent prose.) Narrative: Sequence of events that follows a format; cause and effect

2. 6 Elements of All Fiction There is a: Plot Character(s) Setting Tone/Mood Conflict Theme/Moral/Purpose

3. Conflict Conflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

4. Types of Conflict Human vs Nature Human vs Society Human vs Self Internal Conflict Human vs Human Interpersonal Conflict

5. Plot & Plot Structure Plot: the literary element that the describes the structure of a story. It shows the arrangements of events and actions within a story. The most basic type of plot structure is pyramid- shaped.

6. Plot Components Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

7. Exposition: Romeo shows his lust for Rosaline; normal conversations in Montague and Capulet families; Mercutio makes fun of Romeo because of Rosaline’s intent to never marry. Inciting Incident: Romeo meets Juliet at the Capulet house and completely forgets about Rosaline. Rising Action: Balcony Scene…Romeo needs to secretly marry Juliet fearing that a Capulet and a Montague would never be permitted to do so openly. Climax or Turning Point: Tybalt kills Mercutio, then Romeo kills Tybalt. The Prince arrives and orders that Romeo be banished from Verona. Falling Action: Paris will soon be married to Juliet, and the Capulets do not know about Juliet’s secret marriage. Juliet decides to fake her death with a potion the Friar gives her. Moment of Final Suspense: Romeo is informed that Juliet is dead when she is really asleep from the potion. Romeo arrives at the Capulet burial vault ready to drink the poison the Apothecary sold him. Resolution: Death (since it’s a tragedy) Romeo drinks the poison and dies. Juliet wakes up, finds Romeo dead, and kills herself with a dagger when the Friar is not looking. Both families agree to stop the hatred after the tragedy. Plot Structure of Romeo and Juliet

8. Create Your Own Plot Structure (Homework if not finished) Choose from any of the stories below and create the plot structure for that story Little Red Riding Hood Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Finding Nemo Now do the same for one of the short stories listed below War My Date With Neanderthal Woman Teenage Wasteland