ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORYEnglish I

There are six main elements. Setting Plot Conflict Character Point-of-view Theme

Setting is…

The time and place in which a story takes place.

The definition of setting is:

In “A Sound of Thunder”…

60 MILLION B.C. (TIME) RAINFOREST (PLACE)

1. Place2. Time3. Weather/season4. Mood/atmosphere5. Social conditions—what daily life is

like

Aspects of a story’s setting:

Plot is…

The action What happens The sequence of events

The definition of plot is… In “Harrison Bergeron”…

1. Harrison escapes.

2. He removes his handicaps.

3. He selects his “empress.”

4. He is shot and killed by Diana Moon Glampers.

1. Exposition2. Rising action3. Climax4. Falling action5. Resolution (denouement)

Plot’s five essential parts

•The exposition is the beginning of the story where characters and setting are revealed.

Exposition

•The rising action reveals the events, complications, and conflict that will drive the story along.

Rising Action

•The climax is the highest point of interest.•It can also be considered the turning point.

Climax

•The falling action includes the events, complications, and conflict that are beginning to be resolved.

Falling Action

•The resolution is also known as denouement. (day-noo-mon)•The resolution is the final outcome.

Resolution

Conflict is…

The struggle between forces.

Conflict is essential to plot.

The definition of conflict is:

In “A Sound of Thunder”…

•man vs. nature•man vs. man

External and Internal Conflict

External conflict is a struggle with a force outside of oneself.

man v. man man v. society man v. nature man v.

circumstances

Internal conflict is a struggle within oneself. Making a decision Overcoming pain Quieting a temper Resisting an urge

man v. self

External Conflict Internal Conflict

Point-of-view (POV) is the angle from which the story is told.

Point-of-View

Types of POV

The narrator is a main character.

The narrator uses these pronouns: I, me, mine.

“Harrison Bergeron” is told from the first person point-of-view.

First person POV For example…

Types of POV

The narrator is NOT in the story.

The narrator uses these pronouns: he, she, they.

The narrator has limited knowledge of the characters’ thoughts.

The narrator is NOT in the story.

The narrator uses these pronouns: he, she, they.

The narrator has complete knowledge of characters’ thoughts.

Third person limited POV Third person omniscient POV

Characters are…

A character is a work of fiction.

Character can also mean the characteristics of a person.

The definition of character is:

In “A Sound of Thunder”…

Travis, Eckels, Lesperance

Protagonists and Antagonists

The central character

Who is the protagonist in “Harrison Bergeron”? How about Harry Potter?

The opposer of the main character

Who is the antagonist in “Harrison Bergeron”? How about Harry Potter?

A protagonist is: An antagonist is:

1. What they look like2. What they say, think, feel, dream3. What they do4. What others say and do in reaction

to them

Elements of characterization

Static and Dynamic Characters

A static character is a character that stays the same throughout the story.

A dynamic character changes in some fashion in the story or by the end of the story.

A static character: A dynamic character:

Theme is…

The theme is the underlying meaning, message, or moral of the story.

Themes are often universal.

The theme is NOT the plot (the what-happens) of the story.

The definition of theme is: The theme is NOT:

1. Friendship/Love/Trust/What happens when you’re bad/evil/good/greedy—remember, it’s a lesson that the character (and the reader) learns.

2. Love is blind.3. Be careful what you wish for.4. Don’t judge a book by its cover.5. Things aren’t always as they seem.

Common Themes…

Symbolism is…

Symbolism is the use of symbols in a story.

A symbol is usually a tangible (touch-able) item that stands for something that is intangible (not touch-able).

Symbols can also be…

Symbols can also be colors. Red Black

GreenWhite