140 likes | 149 Views
Elements of a Short Story. THEME. The main idea of a literary work. What the author wants you to learn or know. Subject + Opinion Example : “ Forgiveness is the key to true happiness. ” Can you think of some examples? Finding Nemo Harry Potter. SETTING.
E N D
THEME • The main idea of a literary work. What the author wants you to learn or know. • Subject + Opinion • Example: “Forgiveness is the key to true happiness.” Can you think of some examples? Finding Nemo Harry Potter
SETTING • The time and place in which the story is set.
CHARACTERS • The point of writing stories: telling us what human beings are like. • Characters allow readers to “see” life from different perspectives and to “meet” new (or familiar) people.
PLOT • The sequence or order of events in a story, each event connected to the next like a chain. Each event in a plot “hooks” our curiosity and pulls us forward to the next event. • Suspense builds as the series of related events hook our curiosity.
CHRONOLOGICAL PLOT DIAGRAM Climax Rising Action Conflict Falling Action Exposition Resolution
1. Basic Situation/Exposition • Exposition Statement – This is the part of the plot that tells how the story begins. The character, conflict, and setting are usually introduced. • Example ~ Cinderella The basic situation shows us Cinderella, a beautiful and good heroine, in a conflict with her evil stepmother and nasty stepsisters.
2. Rising Action/Complication • The part of the story in which the main character takes some action to resolve the conflict and meets with problems or complications: danger, fear, hostility, etc. • Example ~ Cinderella Cinderella wants to go to the ball. Her stepmother says “No,” but a Fairy Godmother promises to get her to the ball if she obeys one rule: “Be home by midnight.” Cinderella goes to the ball, the Prince falls in love with her, she flees at midnight, and she loses one of her glass slippers.
3. Climax • Climax: the KEY scene of the story That tense or exciting moment when we realize what the outcome of the conflict is going to be. • Example ~ Cinderella The Prince makes a house-to-house search for the foot that fits the slipper and finds that foot on Cinderella.
4. Falling Action(s) • All of the action which follows the climax • Example ~ Cinderella: Cinderella and the prince make preparations for their wedding.
5. Resolution • The final part of the story. You learn how the conflict is resolved and what happens to the characters. • Example ~ Cinderella Cinderella marries the Prince and they live happily ever after. In the original Girmm story, you also learn that ravens peck out the eyes of the evil stepmother.
Conflict • External Conflict: Conflict between a character and another person OR a character and something non-human. - Man vs. Man - Man vs. Society - Man vs. Nature
Conflict • Internal Conflict: Conflict takes place inside a character’s mind Man vs. Himself (fears, self-doubts, etc.)