1. Elements of a Short Story

2. Short story definition
an invented prose narrative that is shorter than a novel
can be read in one sitting
usually deals with a few characters
often concentrates on the creation of mood rather than plot

3. Plot The chain of related events that take place in a story.
Built around conflict

4. Plot Graph
climax
falling action
rising action
resolution
exposition

5. Exposition-
gives the background of the story
Rising Action-
introduces complications; builds suspense
Climax-
the turning point of the story
suspense reaches its peak
Falling Action and Resolution
resolves the conflict
ties up loose ends

6. Conflict Struggle between opposing forces.
Complications build the reader’s excitement

7. Types of Conflict External -Man vs. Man -Man vs. Nature
-Man vs. Obstacle or Society
-Man vs. Fate
Internal
-Man vs. Self

8. Methods of Characterization Creating Believable Characters
Indirect
physical appearance
speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character
speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of other characters
Direct
the narrator’s direct comments about a character

9. Types of Characters
Main or Minor
Protagonist or Antagonist
Round or Flat
Dynamic or Static
*Stereotypes=Stock Characters*

10. Setting
time and place
puts the reader in the story by giving the reader the feeling of being in the situation.
creates atmosphere by the positive or negative feelings associated with the place.

11. Point of View Who is telling the story?
the vantage point from which the story is told
determines how much we, the readers, know about the characters

12. 1st Person Narrator is a character in the story.
Narrator uses first-person pronouns, I, me, my, we, us, our to refer to himself or herself.
Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character and speaks directly to reader.

13. 3rd Person Limited Narrator does not participate in action of story.
Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.
Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, but readers are able to maintain some emotional distance from the character.

14. 3rd Person Omniscient
Narrator does not participate in action of story.
Narrator does not refer to himself or herself.
Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters; readers get insight into several characters.

15. What is a symbol?

16. A symbol is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself.
A motif is a recurring element that help to develop the novel’s themes.
Example: Birds are a motif in Alfred Hitchcock’s films.

17. Symbols Some clues that an element may have symbolic significance:
REPETITION
EMPHASIS
ASSOCIATION WITH SOMETHING ELSE IN THE NOVEL (CONSISTENT OR REPEATED)
AN INEXPLICABLE OR UNUSUAL QUALITY

18. Theme
In literature, theme is a perception about life or human nature that the writer wants to share with the reader.
In most cases, the theme is not stated directly but must be inferred.
Themes can be revealed by
a story’s title
key phrases and statements about big ideas
the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life