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Elements of a Short Story

Learn about plot, characters, setting, and point of view in short stories to enhance your storytelling skills. Explore conflict types and character development.

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Elements of a Short Story

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  1. Elements of a Short Story Miss Kreklewich

  2. Elements of a Short Story • Short stories contain many elements which you will be studying including: • Plot/Plot Line • Atmosphere • Characters and Point of View • Theme • Setting

  3. Plot/Plot Line • The plotof a story is the sequence of events that occur in the story • These events follow a plan called a plot line. • Every short story that you read will follow a plot line to some extent. • The parts of the plot line are as follows: • Exposition • Rising Action • Climax • Falling Action • Conclusion

  4. Exposition • The exposition is the introduction to the characters and setting of the story • The exposition hooks the reader, providing enough interest and information to the intended audience to encourage the reader to continue reading.

  5. Setting • The setting of a story answers the questions when and where. • The setting of the story should complement the plot of the story. • For example: If your story has themes that are more appropriate to the 21st century, then that is the time frame that the story should place within.

  6. Rising Action • The rising action introduces the conflict problem in the story. • This part of the plot tells us what it is that the main character or protagonist is facing. • During the rising action, the main character struggles with this conflict or problem.

  7. Types of Conflict • There are four types of conflict: • Character vs. Character:the problem the protagonist faces is one involving another character.

  8. Types of Conflict • Character vs. Society: the protagonist faces a problem involving something in the society in which they live (For example: Racism).

  9. Types of Conflict • Character vs. Self: the character has some internal struggle inside themselves.

  10. Types of Conflict • Character vs. Nature: the protagonist struggles with some natural force (tornado, harsh climate, etc.)

  11. Climax • The climax is the high point of the story where the conflict or problem changes or is resolved. • Something happens in the climax to create a turning point for the characters in the story.

  12. Falling Action • In the falling action the conflict is resolved.

  13. Conclusion • The story is brought to an end with any loose ends being tied up.

  14. Characters • The characters in the story are the people who experience the events of the plot. Every story you read will have characters.

  15. Characters • The main character is the protagonist. • The protagonist is the character who experiences the main conflict or problem in the plot. • The protagonist is not necessarily the “GOOD GUY”

  16. Characters: Dynamic vs. Static • The protagonist may be dynamic or static. • A dynamic character is one who changes during the course of the story. • * Most protagonists are dynamic. • A static character doesn’t change during the story. • * Characters in the story who are static often help to develop the main character to provide them with the opportunity to change.

  17. Characters • The antagonist is the character in the story who plays a major role in the plot and helps create and develop the main character. • The antagonist may be an opposing force to the protagonist.

  18. Characters – The Three A’s • Characters can be examined and studied using the three A’s criteria: Appearance, Actions, and Attitude. • Appearance – the characters body structure (height, weight), facial features (hair, eyes, complexion, notable features), and clothing. • Actions – what the character does. For every attitude there will be an action that proves it. • Attitude - how a character thinks. The character may be intelligent, determined, curious, talented, brave, stubborn, humorous, etc.

  19. Point of View • The narrator of a short story may be a character in the story. • This is called the first person narration. • The narrator and the character uses “I” to refer to themself in the story. • This narrator has limited knowledge of what the other characters are thinking and doing.

  20. Point of View • Third Person is when the narrator is telling the story as though they were watching it and telling the story as they see it unfold. • If the narrator knows what all the characters are thinking and doing, the narrator is described as omniscient. • If the narrator is third person and telling the story from one character’s perspective, the narrator is described as limited.

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