SHORT STORY ELEMENTS

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SHORT STORY ELEMENTS
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• 1.Setting
• the place and TIME of the action of the story
• 2.Plot
• series of events in a story
• 3.External conflict
• struggle of man vs. man,
• man vs. nature, man vs. machine,
• or man vs. society

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• 4.internal conflict
• is always man vs. himself-(man struggles mentally
  with opposing needs, desires, and emotions)
• 5.protagonist
• the main character
• 6.antagonist
• character or force that comes into contact with
  or against the protagonist

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• 7.exposition
• the basic situation background of the story
• 8.Rising Action- where the conflict intensifies
• 9.Climax
• the turning point in the story that affects the
  outcome of the story
• 10.falling action
• the part directly after the climax that gives
  explanation and is followed by the resolution
• 11.resolution
• occurs when all of the conflicts
• are resolved

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Plot at a Glance
climax falling action rising
action resolution exposition
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• 12.imagery
• when a writer appeals to the readers senses
  (smell, sight, taste, sound, touch)
• 13.irony-the difference between what is expected
  and reality in a negative way
• 14.dramatic irony
• when the reader knows
• something in the story that
• the other characters dont know

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• 15.foreshadowing
• The use of clues that hint at
• what is going to happen later
• in the story
• 16.tone
• attitude a writer takes
• toward a reader, subject,
• or character

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• 17.motivation
• persons reasons for doing
• something or feeling a certain
• way

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• 18.mood
• The atmosphere created by a literary work

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• 19.Flat character
• is not fully developed we know only one
• side of the character.
• 20.Static Character- This character
• does not change throughout the story.
• 21.Round character
• is fully-developed, with many traits--bad and
  good--shown in the story.

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• 22.Dynamic character- This character changes.
• 23. in media res
• (means in the middle of things)-when an author
  begins in the middle of the story and fills in
  the background later

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• 24.point of view
• the perspective of whoever is telling the story
• Point of view types
• First person - uses "I
• Second person - uses "you" - The author speaks
  directly to the reader(rarely used today)
• Third person - uses "he," "she," or "it"
• Limited omniscient (type of 3rd person)- We are
  told the thoughts and feelings of only one
  character
• Omniscient (type of 3rd person)We are told
  everything about the story, including the
  thoughts and feelings of all the characters

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• 25.diction
• An author's choice of words
• 26.symbolism
• A device in literature where an object represents
  an idea. (Ex Neo in the Matrix represents a
  Christ-like figure.)
• 27.flashback
• A reference to an event which took place prior to
  the beginning of a story or play

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27. Theme In literature, theme is a perception
about life or human nature that the writer wants
to share with the reader. Sometimes, it is a
lesson or moral. In most cases, the theme is not
stated directly but must be inferred. Themes can
be revealed by - a storys title - key phrases
and statements about big ideas - the ways the
characters change and the lessons they learn
about life.
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• Examples of Themes in Literature
• Greed is the Root of all Evil
• Love conquers all
• Carpe Diem (seize the day)
• Trust Yourself
• The Power of Nature