Short Story Elements

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Short Story Elements

• 9th Grade Literature
• Coach Hunt Ms. Roberts

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Directions (Dont Copy This)

• As we go through these slides over the next few
  weeks, were going to practice practical
  note-taking. When youre copying notes in your
  classes, you dont have to write down every word
  in fact its a huge waste of time and energy.
  For this PowerPoint, listen and read all the
  slides, but only copy what is underlined!

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Setting

• Definition The time and location in which a
  story takes place is called the setting.
• Aspects of Setting to Consider
• Place geographic location. Where is the action
  of the story taking place?
• Time When is the story taking place (historical
  period, time of day, year, etc.)
• Weather conditions Is it rainy, sunny, stormy,
  etc?

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Setting (Cont.)

• Social Conditions What is the daily life of the
  characters like? Does the story contain local
  color (writing that focuses on the speech, dress,
  mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?
• Mood or Atmosphere What feeling is created at
  the beginning of the story? Is it bright and
  cheerful or dark and frightening?

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Plot

• Definition The plot is how the author arranges
  events to develop his basic idea it is the
  sequence of events in the story or play. The
  plot is a planned, logical series of events
  having a beginning, middle and end. Short
  stories usually have one plot and can be read in
  one sitting.
• There are 5 essential parts of plot

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Plot Diagram
Resolution
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Elements of Plot

• Exposition The beginning of the story where the
  characters and setting are revealed
• Rising Action This is where the events of the
  story become complicated and the conflict of the
  story is revealed (events between introduction
  and climax)
• 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?

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Elements of Plot (cont.)

• Falling Action The events and complications
  begin to resolve themselves (events between the
  climax and resolution)
• Resolution This is the final outcome or
  untangling of events in the story (also called
  Denouement)

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Conflict

• Without conflict there is no plot. It is the
  opposition of forces which ties one incident to
  another and makes the plot move. Conflict is any
  form of opposition that faces the main character.
  Within a short story there may be only one
  central struggle, or there may be one dominant
  struggle with many minor ones.

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2 Types of Conflict

• External A struggle with a force outside of
  ones self
• Internal A struggle within ones self a person
  must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet
  their temper, resist an urge, etc.

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4 Kinds of Conflict

• Man vs. Man The leading character struggles
  with his physical strength against other men,
  forces of nature or animals.
• Man vs. Circumstances The leading character
  struggles against fate, or the circumstances of
  life facing him/her.
• Man vs. Society The leading character struggles
  against ideas, practices, or customs of other
  people.
• Man vs. Self The leading character struggles
  with himself with his own soul, ideas of right
  and wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc.

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Character

• Protagonist Clearly central to the story with
  all major events having some importance to this
  character.
• Antagonist The person or force that opposes the
  main character.

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Characterization

• You can characterize someone by
• Their physical appearance
• What they say, think, feel or dream
• What the do or do not do
• What others say about them and how others react
  to them

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Types of Characterization

• Static/Flat Character has one or two of his
  characteristics/qualities that never change and
  are emphasized
• Dynamic/Round Many sided and complex
  personalities

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Point of View

• First Person The story is told by the
  protagonist or one of the characters who
  interacts closely with the protagonist (using the
  pronouns I, me, we, etc.). The reader sees the
  story through this persons eyes as they
  experience, and only knows what the character
  knows, sees, or feels
• Third Person The story is told by a narrator
  outside of the story and uses the pronouns he,
  she, they, etc. There are several different ways
  for authors to use 3rd person point of view. You
  will learn more about those next year.

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Irony

• Irony expressing something different from and
  often opposite to their literal meaning

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3 Types of Irony

• Situational When the opposite of what you
  expect happens Ex. The fire station burning down
• Dramatic When the audience or reader knows more
  than the characters
• Verbal Sarcasm. Saying one thing, but meaning
  the opposite

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Theme

• The theme in a piece of fiction is its
  controlling idea or its central insight. It is
  the authors underlying meaning and main idea that
  is trying to convey. The theme may be the
  authors thoughts about a topic or view of human
  nature.
• The lesson or moral of the story.

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Examples of Theme

• Things are not always as they appear
• Love is blind
• Be careful what you wish for
• People are afraid of change
• Dont judge a book by its cover

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Symbolism

• A symbol is a person, a place, an activity or an
  object that stands for something beyond itself.