Learning About Short Stories

1. Learning About Short Stories

2. Characters: • The people or animals who take part in a story’s action. Example: In the story “Little Red Riding Hood”, the wolf is a character.

3. Characterization: • The way a writer reveals a character’s personality and qualities. Example: In “Little Red Riding Hood”, Red describes the wolf by saying he has big teeth.

4. Types of Characterization • Direct Characterization: the writer describes the character. Example: In “Little Red Riding Hood”, the author says, “Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by everyone who looked at her…” The author is giving us information about Little Red Riding Hood in this sentence.

5. Indirect Characterization • The writer reveals the character through speech and actions. Example: In “Little Red Riding Hood,” the wolf is crafty when he distracts Red from going to her Grandma’s house: “See, Little Red Riding Hood, how pretty the flowers are about here - why do you not look round?”

6. Theme • The central message expressed in a story. What do you think the theme of “Little Red Riding Hood” is?

7. Universal Theme • A message about life that is expressed in different cultures and time periods. Examples: Hard work always pays off in the end. Youth can often see what adults cannot. What is another example of a universal theme?

8. Plot • The sequence of events in a short story. It is usually divided into five parts. Exposition: introduces the setting – the time and place of the story, the characters, and the basic situation. Rising Action: introduces the conflict, or problem. Climax: the turning point of a story.

9. Plot • Falling Action: The part of the story where the conflict lessens. • Resolution: The story’s conclusion.

10. Instructions for Plot Map