Short Stories and Essays

Almost everything you need to know!

What is a short story?A short story is a piece of fiction which can be read at one sitting. Like a novel it uses character, conflict, theme, setting, symbols and point of view to create an impression on the reader. Every detail contributes to this one impression – a unity of effect. In a short story every word counts, so it creates restrictions for the author.

Short Stories

The plot of the story might be streamlined – only one major event may be explored.

The rising action of the plot and climax might become to a head quite quickly; it may even occur in the last few paragraphs or the last few lines.

Short Stories

Characters might not be as well developed and/or the number of characters is usually limited.

There may be one or two central themes that are developed.

The setting and atmosphere may be established very quickly at the beginning.

There is usually one major point-of-view.

Introduces the

character and setting

In a short story, the plot moves quickly towards the denouement

(conclusion).

The complicating incidents or obstacles to resolve conflict.

Point of

highest tension

.

The End! All the loose ends are tied up (or not).

Character

With direct characterization the author describes what a character is like.

Indirect characterization allows the reader to come to his own conclusions about a character based on information the author gives such as the character’s name, appearance, dialogue, thoughts and actions. It can include how people and animals react to the character and what other people think of the character.

Character

A static character does not change over the course of the story. Their character traits remain the same.A dynamic character changes by the end of the story. They become a different person.Flat: don’t know much about the characterRound: know a lot about the character.

Theme

The theme is the meaning or the purpose of the story. It should ALWAYS be expressed in a complete thought.

Always use third person narration

Do not start with negatives

Avoid using cliché

Narration

The angle from which the story is told. There are many different points of view.

First Person - The Unreliable Narrator and the Innocent Narrator

Third Person - Omniscient , Omniscient Limited and Omniscient Objective

Narration

The omniscient narrator knows everything, may reveal the motivations, thoughts and feelings of the characters, and gives the reader information. With a limited omniscient narrator, the material is presented from the point of view of a character, in third person. The objective point of view presents the action and the characters' speech, without comment or emotion. The reader has to interpret them and uncover their meaning. A narrator may be trustworthy or untrustworthy, involved or uninvolved.

Conflict

Person vs person

Person vs self

Person vs society

Person vs nature

Person vs supernatural

Confusing Terms!

Tone – the attitude of the writer towards his/her subject. The tone may be a comic tone, serious, critical, angry, sympathetic….Mood – the feeling the reader gets from the story. It is created through images, rhyme, rhythm, and other devices. Ex. The mood of “The Simpsons” is humorous but the tone is critical.Atmosphere – the overall feeling of the short story.

Irony

Verbal Irony – Saying the opposite of what is meant. This often reveals something about the character who makes the comments. Sarcasm is a very simple form of verbal irony. Dramatic Irony - The reader knows more about the situation than the character. Daytime soaps use this device a great deal. A character is talking about her loving boyfriend who is cheating on her with her best friend! She doesn't know about it, but you do!Situational Irony – Events turn out differently than what was expected.

Essays

An essay does not have a theme. It has a THESIS.

A thesis can be either implicit (not directly stated) or explicit (directly stated)

Typically, you would find the thesis in the introductory paragraph of an essay.

Types of essays

Expository: author exposes certain elements to the reader. This is the type of essay you will be writing for your summative.

Cause and effect: Focuses on a condition or situation and asks either why? (cause) or what is the result? (effect).

Types of essays

Compare and contrast: examines the similarities and differences between two things and comes to a conclusion which is more significant.

Argumentative/ persuasive: the author’s opinion on a subject is argued based on reasoning and understanding. 

Formal versus informal

A formal essay has a point. There is something specific the author is trying to do through their essay.

An informal essay has only one purpose: to entertain its reader.