Elements of a Short Story

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Elements of a Short Story

• ENG 4C1

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What is a Short Story?

• A short story is a piece of prose fiction,
  usually under 10, 000 words, which can be read in
  one sitting.

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Short Story Elements

• Plot
• Atmosphere /Mood
• Characters
• Conflict
• Theme
• Setting
• Point of View
• P.A.C.C.T.S

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1. Plot

• The sequence of events that occur in a story.
• Usually has 5 components
• Introduction (Exposition)
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Denouement ( Conclusion /Resolution)

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Plot

• Introduction/Exposition
• Sets up the story by introducing the main
  characters, the setting and the problem to be
  solved.
• Trigger Incident The event which begins the
  plot introduces conflict

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Plot

• Rising Action
• The main part of the story where the full problem
  develops.
• A number of events and /or obstacles are involved
  that will eventually lead to the climax.

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Plot

• Climax
• The highest point of interest in the story where
  the most exciting events occur.

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Plot

• Falling Action
• Follows the climax.
• It contains the events that bring the story to
  the conclusion.

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Plot

• Denouement/Conclusion/Resolution
• The final outcome.
• The conflicts are resolved and the loose ends are
  tied up.

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Review Elements of Plot

• List the 5 elements of the plot graph in order.

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Answer

1. Introduction (Exposition)
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Conclusion (Denouement / Resolution)

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2. Characters

• People involved in the events of the plot.
• Relatively few of them in a short story due to
  its limited length.

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Characterization

• In order for a story to seem real to the reader,
  its characters must seem real.
• Characterization is the information the author
  gives the reader about the character themselves.

• The author may reveal a character in several
  ways
• His/her physical appearance
• What he/she says (how they speak and what they
  say to others often revealed in dialogue)
• What he / she thinks (their feelings, hopes and
  dreams)
• What he/she does or does not do
• What others say about him/her and how others
  react to him/her including the narrator

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Characters

• Protagonist - The main character or hero in a
  story.
• Antagonist The person or force that works
  against the hero, or main character, of the
  story.

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Characters

• Narrator The person or character who tells the
  story, gives background information, and fills in
  details between dialogue.

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Flat vs. Round Characters

• Flat character- A flat character is simple and
  one-dimensional, usually only there to fill a
  simple role.
• Round character- A round character has a complex
  personality, more like a real person.

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Static vs. Dynamic Characters

• Static character- A static character is one who
  stays the same throughout the entire story.
• Dynamic character- A dynamic character changes in
  some way during the story. They usually come to
  some sort of realization that permanently changes
  them as a result of the events in the story.

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Characters

• Foil a character who adds contrast to the
  protagonist.

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Elements of the Short Story Quiz

• Provide an example of a protagonist and
  antagonist from the same literary work.

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Self Check Elements of the Short Story

• Time for a quick check so far
• What are the 6 elements of a short story?

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Answer

1. Characters
2. Setting
3. Plot
4. Conflict
5. Point of View
6. Theme

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Self Check Characters

• Describe 2 out of 4 ways an author can establish
  characterization.

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Answer

1. His/her physical appearance
2. What he/she says,
3. What he / she thinks, feels and dreams
4. What he/she does or does not do
5. What others say about him/her and how others
   react to him/her

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3. Conflict

• Conflict is the main struggle or opposition in a
  story that the protagonist has to solve or face.
• Conflict in stories are either
• External
• Internal.
• There are 6 main types of conflict.

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Conflict Internal

• Character versus Self
• This is an internal conflict.
• When a character struggles with moral dilemmas,
  emotional challenges or desires.
• The conflict is with the character's own
  conscience or soul.

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External Conflicts

• 1. Character versus Character
• This is an external conflict.
• This is the most obvious form of conflict, when a
  character in a story struggles with another
  character in the story.
• This can be in the form of arguments, conflicting
  desires, opposing goals, physical confrontations
  or emotional dilemmas.

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Conflict

• 2. Character versus Society
• This is an external conflict.
• A character may feel repressed by society
  creating a conflict.
• For example, if a society opposes different
  religions, races, genders, sexual orientation
  this can create problems for characters in a
  story.

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Conflict

• 3. Character versus Nature
• This is an external conflict.
• Sometimes the forces of nature, which are out of
  the characters control, cause conflict in a
  story.
• Nature can cause conflict in the form of a flood,
  hurricane, snow storm and much more.

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Conflict

• 4. Character versus Supernatural
• This is an external conflict.
• This type of conflict is usually found in certain
  literary genres, such as fantasy, science
  fiction, horror and supernatural books.
• When the character comes up against aliens,
  divine forces or supernatural villains, such as
  ghosts.
• The main character must call upon his or her
  strength to defeat the fantastic enemy
  confronting him or her.

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Conflict

• 5. Character versus Technology
• This is an external conflict.
• When the character comes up against a computer
  virus or a robot, or anything technological.

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Review

• List the 5 types of external conflict discussed
  in class.

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Answer

• Person vs. Person
• Person vs. Nature
• Person vs. Society
• Person vs. Supernatural
• Person vs. Technology

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Review

• Name and provide an example of the type of
  conflict classified as internal.

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Answer

• Person vs. Self
• Example a conflict involving ones conscience,
  fears or doubts.

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4. Theme

• Theme is the storys message, unifying or central
  idea.
• The theme may be the authors thoughts about a
  particular topic or view of human nature.
• Carefully examine character and the central
  conflict the setting and action, images, and
  repeated words or phrases to help you identify
  theme.

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Review

• Define the term theme.

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Answer

• Theme is the storys message, unifying or central
  idea.
• Theme is the authors commentary on an aspect of
  human nature or life in general.

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5. Setting

• The setting is where (place) and when (time) the
  story occurs.
• Can provide the physical background, environment
  or atmosphere.
• Also, can provide details about the social
  condition of the characters (daily life).

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Mood / Atmosphere

• Mood is the prevailing feeling of the story
  created through words and descriptions. Mood is
  also referred to as the atmosphere of a literary
  piece
• Mood is developed in a literary piece through
  setting, theme, tone and diction

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Self Check Setting

• Define the term setting.

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Answer

• The setting is where (place) and when (time) the
  story occurs.

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6. Point of View

• The point of view is the perspective from which
  the events of the story are presented to the
  readers. (who is telling the story)
• There are 2 main types of point of view

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Point of View

• First Person
• a character in the story is the narrator and uses
  the pronoun I.
• The story is told through one characters eyes
  and the events are coloured through that
  characters experience.

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Point of View

• Third Person
• the narrator tells the story about other people
  and uses the pronouns they or she / he
  rather than we.

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Point of View

• There are 2 types of third person point of view
• 1. Omniscient- the narrator knows everything
  about all the characters and the events and can
  shift from character to character.
• 2. Limited the narrator may choose to tell the
  story through one character or a group of
  characters eyes.

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Review

• The narrator tells the story using the pronouns
  they rather than we.
• What type of point of view is described above?

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Answer

• Third Person

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Review

• The narrator knows everything about all the
  characters and the events and can shift from
  character to character.
• What type of point of view is described above?

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Answer

• Third Person Omniscient

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Elements of the Short StoryWrap Up

• Do you have any questions?