THE ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORIES

WHAT IS A SHORT STORY?

A relatively brief fictional narrative in prose.

A narrative is a collection of events, arranged in a particular order that tells a story

Prose is the ordinary form of written or spoken language—without rhyme or meter (rhythm)

A short story may range in length from 500 words to the long short story of 12,000 to 15,000 words.

5 ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

The short story has a beginning, a middle, and an end and is composed of the following elements: Theme Plot Character Setting Point of View

THEME

The central idea that the author wishes to set forth in his/her writing.

THEME

The lesson the author teaches.

THEME

Not necessarily the subject of a story, but rather a comment on human nature or conduct—not always easy to figure out.

THEME

There can be more than one theme developed in a story, but one is usually dominant.

THEME

The reader does not always have to agree with the theme.

THEME

The author utilizes the other elements of the short story—plot, character, setting, and point of view—as part of the structure of the short story to develop his/her theme and story.

FINDING THE THEME

Ask these questions: What is the story about? What is the central idea? What observation did the author make about

human nature?

LITERARY TECHNIQUES USED TO DEVELOP THEME:

foreshadowing—giving hints to the reader about what is to happen next

LITERARY TECHNIQUES USED TO DEVELOP THEME:

flashback—the author interrupts the story to go back in time to add scenes or information. This helps the reader understand what is happening in the present.

LITERARY TECHNIQUES USED TO DEVELOP THEME:

Irony—the opposite of what is expected to happen. Either a statement may have an opposite meaning, or an outcome of events may be the opposite of those hoped for or expected.

LITERARY TECHNIQUES USED TO DEVELOP THEME:

Tone—the “feeling” conveyed by the way the writer writes about his subject.

LITERARY TECHNIQUES USED TO DEVELOP THEME:

Realism—the author attempts to portray life in his/her novel realistically. He/she must use details to reflect the reality that we see around us.

LITERARY TECHNIQUES USED TO DEVELOP THEME:

Romanticism—the author uses his imagination to present the world to us. At times his/her view may be extremely idealistic; at other times it may reflect extreme horror.

PLOT

A series of related events that the author uses to develop the theme of a story.

PLOT—STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:

EXPOSITION—the beginning stage, sets the groundwork for the story. The reader is given the setting of the story The reader is introduced to the principal

characters and their relationships to each other The reader is given information about the

events that existed before the story actually begins.

The reader is also given some information about the conflict in the story.

PLOT—CONFLICT

CONFLICT is the struggle between opposing forces.

Types of conflict: Man vs. man—external struggle between two or

more individuals Man vs. himself—internal struggle concerning

emotion and decision Man vs. nature—external struggle between

man and an element of nature.

PLOT—COMPLICATION

Mini-conflicts that contribute to the rise in action.

Each mini-conflict must be more intense than the other until the most dramatic conflict occurs

This dramatic conflict (or climax) will hint to either the success or failure of the principal character’s ability to win his struggle or to simply solve his problem.

PLOT

CLIMAX—the turning point in the story, or the emotional high point; the turning point is for the character, not the reader

PLOT

FALLING ACTION—the events that lead to the resolution

PLOT

RESOLUTION (denouement)—the final stage The outcome of the conflict or the resolution of

the problem. The outcome of the

resolution will expressthe general themeof the story.

CHARACTER

The action of the story is centered around the characters in the story.

One central characterusually dominatesthe story.

All characters should bebelievable—haverecognizable human traitsand characteristics.

CHARACTERFOUR TYPES OF

CHARACTERIZATION—techniques the writer uses todevelop character:

1. What the author states Physical description2. What the characters say about him/herself

and others, or what the characters do 3. How the characters dress

The characters’ speech and dress play significant factors in the development of their characterizations

4. What other characters say about them

CHARACTER

Types of characters: protagonist—

the central character—he or she can be good or bad

antagonist— the “opposing” character(s)

flat— characters who do NOT change in a story.

round— characters who change

CHARACTERAnalysis of characters: motivation—

What motivates thecharacter to cause his/heractions?

Behavior— What are the actions of the character and why is he/she

behaving this way? Consequences—

What are the results of his/her actions? Responsibility—

What moral, legal, or mental accountability does the character have?

Expectations— What expectations do you have for this character?

SETTING SETTING—

the stage upon which theaction of the story takes place.The setting is to a story just as thebackground is to a painting.

The setting determines the place,time, tone, and atmosphere

tone— the author’s attitude toward

his/her material

atmosphere— the general feeling

or mood set by the author

The author must choose items ofdescription that are important notonly because of their visualrepresentation, but also in termsof their importance to the overeffectiveness of the story.

SETTINGTechniques for establishing

setting: Sensory details—

Words that appeal to the senses (sight/hearing/taste/touch/smell)

Figurative language: simile—

Comparison using like or as metaphor—

Comparison using is or a formof is

Personification Giving human qualities to an

inanimate object

POINT OF VIEW POINT OF VIEW—the author’s choice of the

teller of the story. Point of view is important to the total structure and meaning of the short story.

POINT OF VIEWTypes of Point of View: First person—

the narrator is the main character who tells his own story. The narrator tells the story speaking with an “I” in his/her own language.

Second person— The author uses the informal “me” and “you”

Third person— the author is outside the story using “he” or “she”

Omniscient author— The narrator may tell what happens with the power to go into

the minds of characters and also give his own comments. He/she is “all-knowing.”

THE ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORIES