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Learn about the key elements of a short story, including characterization, conflict, themes, and plot structure. Explore how these elements work together to create a powerful and engaging narrative.
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Short Story • Brief, fictional narrative intended to be read in a single sitting. • More focused and intense than longer fictional stories (novels).
Main Effect • All elements of a short story combined. • Characters • Setting • Plot • Conflict • Unified, strong impression left on the reader. • (similar to Main Idea in non-fiction)
Characters • Direct Characterization: • Tells the audience directly about the character’s personality. • Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
Characters • Indirect Characterization: • Shows things that reveal the character’s personality. • Speech • Thoughts • Effect on others toward the character • Actions • Looks
5 “Big” Types of Conflict • What drives the plot! • Internal Conflict: takes place in the mind of the character. Usually when the character struggles to make a decision or overcome feelings. • Man vs. Self • External Conflict: takes place between a character and an outside force. • Man vs. Man • Man vs. Nature • Man vs. Society • Man vs. Technology
Themes & Symbols • Theme: Lesson or insight into life the reader can take away from the story. • Example: Love is the greatest magic on earth. • What book could that theme relate to? • Symbol: an object or story element that stands for a larger meaning.
Text Structure • The way in which an author organizes information in a story. • Creates effects like tension, mystery, and surprise. • The opening of a story stablishes the general feeling of a story. • Focus on Setting: “The hospital waiting room was empty at that hour of the night. It was so quiet I could hear the second hand on the large wall clock toll each passing second.” • Focus on Character: “I’ll never forget my grandfather. He was the most charming man I ever met.” • in medias res: Latin for “in the middle of things. “’Someone call for help!’ shouted a man at the side of the road.”
Text Structure • Sequence: Plot narrated mostly in chronological order. • Flashback: Sections of a narrative that describe a time before the present time of the story. • Foreshadowing: Gives reader hints about what will happen later on in the story. Can be subtle and hard to notice! • “That would be the last time they spoke.”
Text Structure • Pacing: Refers to the “speed” with which a narrator relates events. • “Beads of sweat stood out on Agent Vole’s forehead. As he struggled with the ropes that bound him, he could hear each beat of his heart, rapid but distinct. Ba-dum, ba-dum. With each beat, the second hand on the timing device clicked one notch closer to catastrophe.” • Fast or slow pace?
Point of View • Also called, Narrative Perspective, it’s the point of view from which a story is told. • Determines the information an author includes (think dramatic irony). • Third-person omniscient: Narrator is outside the events of the story and tells the thoughts and feelings of all characters. • Third-person limited: Narrator is outside the story but tells only the thoughts and feelings of one character. • First-person: Narrator is a character in the story and uses the pronouns I and me.
Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5
Plot (definition) • Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.
1. Exposition • Usually occurs at the beginning of a short story. • Characters are introduced. • Also learn the setting of the story. • Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (inciting incident). • Sometimes occurs before the story begins.
2. Rising Action • This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). • A building of interest or suspense occurs.
3. Climax • This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.
4. Falling Action • All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.
5. Resolution • The story comes to a reasonable ending.
Putting It All Together 1. Exposition 2. Rising Action 3. Climax 4. Falling Action 5. Resolution Beginning of Story Middle of Story End of Story