Introduction to Short Stories

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Introduction toShort Stories
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Short Story

• a brief fictional narrative in prose with a
  consciously structured plot.

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Six Elementsof aShort Story
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1. Character

• a person in the story.

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2. Setting

• the time and place of the story.

Picture from Rip Van Winkle.
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3. Plot

• the series of action from beginning to end that
  give structure to the story.

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4. Conflict

• the problem to be solved in the story.

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Universal Conflicts

• Internal
• Man vs. Self

• External
• Man vs. Man
• Man vs. Nature

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5. Climax

• the high point in the action of the story. (when
  the conflict is solved)

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6. Theme

• the message about life that the author is trying
  to get across.

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Six Characteristics

• of a Short Story

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• It deals with a single incident.

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• It has one main character, sometimes two.

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• The words are chosen carefully to create a
  specific effect.

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• It ends at the climax.

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• The author introduces the theme and then
  develops it.

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• It can be read in one sitting.

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Author

• Devices

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1. Irony

• when the opposite of what you think will happen,
  happens.

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2. Flashback

• the insertion of a scene from the past into the
  present story.

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3.Foreshadowing

• a hint or clue of whats going to happen later in
  the story.

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4. Symbolism

• using an object to represent an idea, an
  attitude, or an abstract concept.

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The End