Short Story ElementsShort Story Elements Mrs. De MasiMrs. De Masi

SIX major elementsSIX major elements

SettingSetting ConflictConflict Point of ViewPoint of View PlotPlot CharacterCharacter ThemeTheme

SettingSetting

The time and location in The time and location in which a story takes placewhich a story takes place

For some stories For some stories – the setting is very the setting is very

important important – for others it is notfor others it is not

Several aspects to Several aspects to consider how setting consider how setting contributes to a storycontributes to a story– (some, or all, may be (some, or all, may be

present in a story): present in a story):

PlacePlace TimeTime Weather conditionsWeather conditions Social conditionsSocial conditions Mood or Mood or

atmosphereatmosphere

PlotPlot

How the author arranges events to How the author arranges events to develop his basic ideadevelop his basic idea– The sequence of events in a story or The sequence of events in a story or

play  play  – A planned, logical series of events A planned, logical series of events

having a beginning, middle, and endhaving a beginning, middle, and end– Short stories usually have one plot so it Short stories usually have one plot so it

can be read in one sittingcan be read in one sitting– There are five essential parts of plotThere are five essential parts of plot

PLOT LINEPLOT LINE

1 - Intro1 - Intro 2 - Rising Action2 - Rising Action 3 - Climax3 - Climax 4 - Falling Action4 - Falling Action 5 - Resolution5 - Resolution

ConflictConflict Essential to the plot Essential to the plot  Without conflict there is no plotWithout conflict there is no plot It is the opposition of forcesIt is the opposition of forces

– ties one incident to anotherties one incident to another– makes the plot movemakes the plot move

Is not merely limited to open argumentsIs not merely limited to open arguments– It is any form of opposition that faces the main It is any form of opposition that faces the main

charactercharacter– Within a short storyWithin a short story

there may be only one central strugglethere may be only one central struggle there may be one dominant struggle with many minor there may be one dominant struggle with many minor

ones. ones.

Types of ConflictTypes of Conflict There are two types of conflictThere are two types of conflict: :

1)  External - A struggle with a force 1)  External - A struggle with a force outside one's self. outside one's self.

2)  Internal - A struggle within one's self; a 2)  Internal - A struggle within one's self; a person must make some decision, person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.an urge, etc.

Kinds of ConflictKinds of Conflict There are four There are four kindskinds of conflict of conflict: :

Man vs. ManMan vs. Man (physical) (physical)– leading character struggles withleading character struggles with

his physical strength against other menhis physical strength against other men forces of natureforces of nature animals. animals.

2)  2)  Man vs. CircumstancesMan vs. Circumstances (classical) (classical)– leading character struggles leading character struggles

against fateagainst fate circumstances of life facing him/her. circumstances of life facing him/her.

3)  3)  Man vs. SocietyMan vs. Society (social) (social) – leading character struggles againstleading character struggles against

ideas, ideas, practices, or practices, or customs of other people. customs of other people.

4)  4)  Man vs. Himself/HerselfMan vs. Himself/Herself (psychological) –(psychological) –– leading character struggles with himself/herselfleading character struggles with himself/herself

with his/her own soulwith his/her own soul ideas of right or wrongideas of right or wrong physical limitationsphysical limitations choices, etc. choices, etc.

CharacterCharacter

Persons in a work of fictionPersons in a work of fiction – – Antagonist and ProtagonistAntagonist and Protagonist

– Short stories use few charactersShort stories use few characters– One character is clearly central to One character is clearly central to

the storythe story all major events have some all major events have some importance to this characterimportance to this character

CharacterCharacter The Characteristics of a Person –The Characteristics of a Person –

– In order for a story to seem real to the In order for a story to seem real to the reader its characters must seem realreader its characters must seem real

– Characterization is the information the Characterization is the information the author gives the reader about the author gives the reader about the characters characters

– The author may reveal a character in The author may reveal a character in several ways:several ways: his/her physical appearancehis/her physical appearance what he/she says, thinks, feels and dreamswhat he/she says, thinks, feels and dreams what he/she does or does not dowhat he/she does or does not do what others say about him/herwhat others say about him/her how others react to him/her how others react to him/her

Characters are convincing if they Characters are convincing if they are:are:– consistent, motivated, and life-like consistent, motivated, and life-like

(resemble real people) (resemble real people)

Character’s are….Character’s are…. IndividualIndividual

– round, many sided and complex personalitiesround, many sided and complex personalities DevelopingDeveloping

– dynamic,  many sided personalities that change, dynamic,  many sided personalities that change, for better or worse, by the end of the story.for better or worse, by the end of the story.

StaticStatic– StereotypeStereotype– have one or two characteristics that never change have one or two characteristics that never change

and are emphasized and are emphasized brilliant detectivebrilliant detective DrunkDrunk ScroogeScrooge cruel stepmother cruel stepmother

Point of ViewPoint of View Innocent EyeInnocent Eye

– story told through the eyes of a child (his/her story told through the eyes of a child (his/her judgment being different from that of an adult) judgment being different from that of an adult)

Stream of ConsciousnessStream of Consciousness – story told so that the reader feels as if they are story told so that the reader feels as if they are

inside the head of one character and knows all inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions.their thoughts and reactions.

First PersonFirst Person – story told  by the protagonist or one of the story told  by the protagonist or one of the

characters who interacts closely with the characters who interacts closely with the protagonist or other charactersprotagonist or other characters using pronouns I, me, we, etcusing pronouns I, me, we, etc reader sees the story through this person's eyes as reader sees the story through this person's eyes as

he/she experiences it and only knows what he/she he/she experiences it and only knows what he/she knows or feels.knows or feels.

Omniscient P.O.V.Omniscient P.O.V.

OmniscientOmniscient– author can narrate the story using the omniscient point of viewauthor can narrate the story using the omniscient point of view

moves from character to character, event to event, having free access moves from character to character, event to event, having free access to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his characters and to the thoughts, feelings and motivations of his characters and

introduces information where and when he choosesintroduces information where and when he chooses There are two main types of omniscient point of There are two main types of omniscient point of

viewview: : – Omniscient LimitedOmniscient Limited

author tells story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc).  author tells story in third person (using pronouns they, she, he, it, etc).  We know only what the character knows and what the author allows We know only what the character knows and what the author allows

him/her to tell us.him/her to tell us. We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author We can see the thoughts and feelings of characters if the author

chooses to reveal them to us. chooses to reveal them to us. – Omniscient ObjectiveOmniscient Objective

author tells story in the third personauthor tells story in the third person It appears as though a camera is following the characters, going It appears as though a camera is following the characters, going

anywhere, and recording only what is seen and heardanywhere, and recording only what is seen and heard There is no comment on the characters or their thoughtsThere is no comment on the characters or their thoughts No interpretations are offeredNo interpretations are offered The reader is placed in the position of spectator without the author there The reader is placed in the position of spectator without the author there

to explainto explain The reader has to interpret events on his own. The reader has to interpret events on his own.

  

ThemeTheme

is the controlling idea or central insightis the controlling idea or central insight is the author's underlying meaning or main is the author's underlying meaning or main

idea that he is trying to conveyidea that he is trying to convey may be the author's thoughts about a topic may be the author's thoughts about a topic

or view of human natureor view of human nature title of the short story usually points to what title of the short story usually points to what

the writer is sayingthe writer is saying author may use various figures of speech to author may use various figures of speech to

emphasize his theme,emphasize his theme,– SymbolSymbol AllusionAllusion– SimileSimile MetaphorMetaphor– HyperboleHyperbole irony  irony 

Examples of ThemeExamples of Theme

Some simple examples of common Some simple examples of common themes from literature, TV, and filmthemes from literature, TV, and film– things are not always as they appear to things are not always as they appear to

bebe– Love is blindLove is blind– Believe in yourselfBelieve in yourself– People are afraid of changePeople are afraid of change– Don't judge a book by its cover Don't judge a book by its cover

Allegory:Allegory:A story in which the A story in which the

characters represent characters represent abstract qualities or ideas. abstract qualities or ideas.

For example, in For example, in westerns, the sheriff westerns, the sheriff

represents the good, and represents the good, and the outlaw represents evil. the outlaw represents evil.

Alliteration:Alliteration:The repetition of first The repetition of first

consonants in a group of consonants in a group of words as in “Peter Piper words as in “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Picked a Peck of Pickled

Peppers.” Peppers.”

Allusion:Allusion:A reference to something A reference to something

or someone often literary. or someone often literary. For instance, if you were For instance, if you were

trying to instill confidence trying to instill confidence in a friend and said, “Use in a friend and said, “Use the force,” that would be the force,” that would be an allusion to Stars Wars. an allusion to Stars Wars. The verb form of allusion is The verb form of allusion is

to allude. to allude.

AnecdoteAnecdote

A little story, often amusing, inserted A little story, often amusing, inserted in an essay or a speech to help in an essay or a speech to help

reinforce the thesis.reinforce the thesis.

Antagonist:Antagonist:A major character who A major character who

opposes the protagonist in opposes the protagonist in a story or play. a story or play.

AntithesisAntithesis

Placement of contrasting or opposing Placement of contrasting or opposing words, phrases, clauses, or words, phrases, clauses, or

sentences side by side. For example, sentences side by side. For example, I am tall; you are short.  I am tall; you are short. 

Archetype:Archetype:A character who A character who

represents a certain type represents a certain type of person. For example, of person. For example,

Daniel Boone is an Daniel Boone is an archetype of the early archetype of the early

American frontiersman. American frontiersman.

Assonance:Assonance:The repetition of vowel The repetition of vowel

sounds as in “Days wane sounds as in “Days wane away.” away.”

Atmosphere:Atmosphere:The overall feeling of a The overall feeling of a

work, which is related to work, which is related to tone and mood. tone and mood.

Blank verse:Blank verse:Unrhymed lines of poetry Unrhymed lines of poetry

usually in iambic usually in iambic pentameter. Plenty of pentameter. Plenty of

modern poetry is written modern poetry is written in blank verse. in blank verse.

CatastropheCatastrophe

The scene in a tragedy which includes The scene in a tragedy which includes the death or moral destruction of the the death or moral destruction of the

protagonist. protagonist.

Connotation and DenotationConnotation and Denotation

The denotation of a word is its dictionary The denotation of a word is its dictionary definition. The word definition. The word wallwall, therefore, denotes , therefore, denotes

an upright structure which encloses an upright structure which encloses something or serves as a boundary. The something or serves as a boundary. The

connotation of a word is its emotional connotation of a word is its emotional content. In this sense, the word content. In this sense, the word wallwall can also can also

mean an attitude or actions which prevent mean an attitude or actions which prevent becoming emotionally close to a person. becoming emotionally close to a person.

  

Contrast:Contrast:To explain how two things To explain how two things

differ. To compare and differ. To compare and contrast is to explain how contrast is to explain how two things are alike and two things are alike and how they are different. how they are different.

Couplets:Couplets:A pair of rhyming lines in a A pair of rhyming lines in a

poem often set off from poem often set off from the rest of the poem. the rest of the poem.

Shakespeare’s sonnets all Shakespeare’s sonnets all end in couplets. end in couplets.

DialectDialect

An author’s use of speech patterns (i.e. An author’s use of speech patterns (i.e. vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and expression) that fit a character’s and expression) that fit a character’s

background. It gives hints about a background. It gives hints about a character’s regional, educational, character’s regional, educational, social, economic, and historical social, economic, and historical

background. Dialect helps to make a background. Dialect helps to make a character and setting appear realistic.character and setting appear realistic.

Dramatic Monologue:Dramatic Monologue:A poem with a fictional A poem with a fictional narrator addressed to narrator addressed to

someone who identity the someone who identity the audience knows, but who audience knows, but who

does not say anything.does not say anything.

Elegy:Elegy:A poem mourning the A poem mourning the

dead. dead.

End rhyme:End rhyme:Rhyming words that are Rhyming words that are

at the ends of their at the ends of their respective lines—what respective lines—what we typically think of as we typically think of as

normal rhyme. normal rhyme.

Epic:Epic:A long poem narrating the A long poem narrating the

adventures of a heroic adventures of a heroic figure—for example, figure—for example,

Homer’s Homer’s The OdysseyThe Odyssey. .

EpithetEpithet

In literature, a word or phrase In literature, a word or phrase preceding or following a name which preceding or following a name which serves to describe the character. For serves to describe the character. For

example, example, Alexander the Great, , Richard the Lionhearted, and Joan of Richard the Lionhearted, and Joan of

Arc.Arc.

EuphemismEuphemism

A mild word or phrase which A mild word or phrase which substitutes for another which would substitutes for another which would

be undesirable because it is too be undesirable because it is too direct, unpleasant, or offensive. direct, unpleasant, or offensive.

Fable:Fable:A story that illustrates a A story that illustrates a

moral often using moral often using animals as the characteranimals as the character

—for example, —for example, The The Tortoise and the HareTortoise and the Hare. .

FarceFarce

A type of comedy based on a A type of comedy based on a humorous situation such as a bank humorous situation such as a bank

robber who mistakenly wanders into robber who mistakenly wanders into a police station to hide. It is the a police station to hide. It is the

situation here which provides the situation here which provides the humour, not the cleverness of plot or humour, not the cleverness of plot or

lines, nor the absurdities of the lines, nor the absurdities of the character, as in situational comedy. character, as in situational comedy.

Figurative Language:Figurative Language: Language that does not Language that does not

mean exactly what it says. mean exactly what it says. For example, you can call For example, you can call

someone who is very someone who is very angry “steaming.” Unless angry “steaming.” Unless

steam was actually steam was actually coming out of your ears, coming out of your ears, you were using figurative you were using figurative

language. language.

Free Verse:Free Verse:Poetry with no set Poetry with no set meter (rhythm) or meter (rhythm) or

rhyme scheme. rhyme scheme.

Genre:Genre:A kind of style usually art or A kind of style usually art or

literature. Some literary literature. Some literary genres are mysteries, genres are mysteries,

westerns, and romances. westerns, and romances.

Hyperbole:Hyperbole:A huge exaggeration. For A huge exaggeration. For

example, “Dan’s the example, “Dan’s the funniest guy on the funniest guy on the

planet!” or “That baseball planet!” or “That baseball card is worth a zillion card is worth a zillion

dollars!” dollars!”

Iambic pentameter:Iambic pentameter:Ten-syllable lines in which Ten-syllable lines in which

every other syllable is every other syllable is stressed. For example: stressed. For example:

“With eyes like stars upon “With eyes like stars upon the brave night air.” the brave night air.”

Imagery:Imagery:The use of description that The use of description that helps the reader imagine helps the reader imagine

how something looks, how something looks, sounds, feels, smells, or sounds, feels, smells, or

taste. Most of the time, it taste. Most of the time, it refers to appearance. For refers to appearance. For

example, “The young bird’s example, “The young bird’s white, feathered wings white, feathered wings

flutter as he made his way flutter as he made his way across the nighttime sky.” across the nighttime sky.”

Internal rhyme:Internal rhyme:A rhyme that occurs within A rhyme that occurs within

one line such as “He’s one line such as “He’s King of the Swing.” King of the Swing.”

Irony:Irony:Language that conveys a Language that conveys a certain ideas by saying certain ideas by saying

just he opposite. just he opposite.

Literal Language:Literal Language:Language that means Language that means exactly what it says. exactly what it says.

Lyric:Lyric:A type of poetry that A type of poetry that expresses the poet’s expresses the poet’s

emotions. It often tells emotions. It often tells some sort of brief story, some sort of brief story, engaging the reading in engaging the reading in

the experience. the experience.

MemoirMemoir

Type of autobiography in which the Type of autobiography in which the writer focuses primarily on the writer focuses primarily on the

people (often famous personages) people (often famous personages) with whom he or she came into with whom he or she came into

contact.contact.

MoodMood

The atmosphere or feeling created by The atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work, partly by a a literary work, partly by a

description of the objects or by the description of the objects or by the style of the descriptions. A work may style of the descriptions. A work may contain a mood of horror, mystery, contain a mood of horror, mystery, holiness, or childlike simplicity, to holiness, or childlike simplicity, to

name a few, depending on the name a few, depending on the author's treatment of the work. author's treatment of the work.

Metaphor:Metaphor:A comparison that A comparison that

doesn’t use “like” or doesn’t use “like” or “as”—such as “He’s a “as”—such as “He’s a

rock” or “I am an rock” or “I am an island.” island.”

Meter:Meter:The pattern of stressed The pattern of stressed

and unstressed syllables and unstressed syllables in the lines of a poem. in the lines of a poem.

Monologue:Monologue:A long speech by one A long speech by one character in a play or character in a play or

story. story.

Motif:Motif: A theme or pattern that A theme or pattern that

recurs in a work. recurs in a work.

Myth:Myth:A legend that embodies the A legend that embodies the beliefs of people and offers beliefs of people and offers

some explanation for some explanation for natural and social natural and social

phenomena. phenomena.

Onomatopoeia:Onomatopoeia:The use of words that The use of words that sound like what they sound like what they

mean such as “buzz.” mean such as “buzz.”

OxymoronOxymoron

A combination of contradictory terms.A combination of contradictory terms.

Paradox:Paradox:A seeming contradiction. A seeming contradiction.

For example, “It was the For example, “It was the best best

of times. It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times.” of times.”

Parody:Parody:A humorous, exaggerated A humorous, exaggerated imitation of another work. imitation of another work.

Personification:Personification:Giving inanimate object Giving inanimate object

human characteristics. For human characteristics. For example, “The flames example, “The flames reached for the child reached for the child

hovering in the corner.” hovering in the corner.”

Prose:Prose:Writing organized into Writing organized into

sentences and sentences and paragraphs. In other paragraphs. In other

words, normal writing—not words, normal writing—not poetry. poetry.

Protagonist:Protagonist:The main character of a The main character of a

novel, play, or story. novel, play, or story.

Pun:Pun:The use of a word in a way The use of a word in a way that plays on its different that plays on its different meanings. For example, meanings. For example, “Noticing the bunch of “Noticing the bunch of bananas, the hungry bananas, the hungry

gorilla went ape.gorilla went ape.

Quatrain:Quatrain:A four-line stanza. A four-line stanza.

Rhetorical Question:Rhetorical Question:A question not meant to A question not meant to

be answered such as be answered such as “Why can’t we just get “Why can’t we just get

along?” along?”

Sarcasm:Sarcasm:Language that conveys a Language that conveys a certain idea by saying just certain idea by saying just he opposite such as if it’s he opposite such as if it’s raining outside and you raining outside and you

say, “My what a beautiful say, “My what a beautiful day.” day.”

Satire:Satire:A work that makes fun of A work that makes fun of something or someone. something or someone.

Sensory imagery:Sensory imagery:Imagery that has to do Imagery that has to do with something you can with something you can

see, hear, taste, smell, or see, hear, taste, smell, or feel. For example, “The feel. For example, “The

stinging, salty air stinging, salty air drenched his face.”drenched his face.”

Simile:Simile:A comparison that uses A comparison that uses

“like” or “as” For example, “like” or “as” For example, “I’m as hungry as a wolf,” “I’m as hungry as a wolf,” or “My love is like a rose.” or “My love is like a rose.”

Soliloquy:Soliloquy:A monologue in which a A monologue in which a

character expresses his or character expresses his or her thoughts to the her thoughts to the

audience and does not audience and does not intend the other intend the other

characters to hear them. characters to hear them.

Sonnet:Sonnet:A fourteen-line poem A fourteen-line poem

written iambic written iambic pentameter. Different pentameter. Different kinds of sonnets have kinds of sonnets have

different rhyme schemes. different rhyme schemes.

Stanza:Stanza:A section of poetry A section of poetry separated from the separated from the

sections before and after sections before and after it; a verse “paragraph.” it; a verse “paragraph.”

Stream of ConsciousnessStream of Consciousness

A A narrative mode that seeks to portray that seeks to portray an individual's point of view by giving an individual's point of view by giving

the written equivalent of the the written equivalent of the character's thought processes, either character's thought processes, either in a loose interior in a loose interior monologue, or in , or in

connection to his or her actions.connection to his or her actions.

SuspenseSuspense

Suspense in fiction results primarily Suspense in fiction results primarily from two factors: the reader's from two factors: the reader's

identification with and concern for identification with and concern for the welfare of a convincing and the welfare of a convincing and sympathetic character, and an sympathetic character, and an

anticipation of violence. anticipation of violence.   

Subplot:Subplot:A line of action A line of action

secondary to the main secondary to the main story. story.

Symbolism:Symbolism:The use of one things to The use of one things to represent another. For represent another. For example, a dove is a example, a dove is a

symbol of peace. symbol of peace.

Tone:Tone:The author’s attitude The author’s attitude

toward his or her subject. toward his or her subject. For example, a tone could For example, a tone could be pessimistic, optimistic, be pessimistic, optimistic,

or angry. or angry.

UnderstatementUnderstatement

A statement which lessens or A statement which lessens or minimizes the importance of what is minimizes the importance of what is

meant. meant.

Voice:Voice:The narrative point of view The narrative point of view

whether it’s in the first, whether it’s in the first, second, or third person. second, or third person.

Questions….Questions….