1 / 19

Identifying the Elements of A Short Story

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.

marycantu
Download Presentation

Identifying the Elements of A Short Story

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Identifying the Elements of A Short Story

  2. Short Story • Brief, fictional narrative intended to be read in a single sitting. • More focused and intense than longer fictional stories (novels).

  3. 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)

  4. 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.”

  5. Characters • Indirect Characterization: • Shows things that reveal the character’s personality. • Speech • Thoughts • Effect on others toward the character • Actions • Looks

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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.”

  9. 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.”

  10. 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?

  11. 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.

  12. Plot Diagram 3 4 2 1 5

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 2. Rising Action • This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). • A building of interest or suspense occurs.

  16. 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.

  17. 4. Falling Action • All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

  18. 5. Resolution • The story comes to a reasonable ending.

  19. 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

More Related