ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

PLOTSeries of related events that make up a story. Logical series that has a beginning, middle, and end.

Introduction

The beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed.

Rising Action

Where the events on the story become complicated and the conflict is revealed.

CONFLICT

Struggle between opposing forces.

Conflict

Internal Conflict

Struggle within one’s self.

Must make some decision, pain, etc.

External Conflict

Struggle with a force outside one’s self.

MAN vs. MANExternal struggle between two or more individuals.

MAN vs. HIMSELF

Internal struggle concerning emotion and decision.

MAN vs. Circumstance

External struggle between fate or life.

MAN VS. SOCIETY

Struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of people.

CLIMAX

Turning point of the story; emotional high point.

For the character, not the reader.

Climax

FALLING ACTION

Events that lead to resolution.

Falling Action

RESOLUTION/ DENOUEMENT

Outcome of the conflict.

Resolution

Characters

Protagonist: the character in which all events revolve.

May not be a good guy.

Antagonist: opposes the protagonist

May not be a bad guy.

Flat character: have one side.

Round character: complex characters with many sides.

Setting /Description

Time and location in which the story takes place.Place: Where is the action?Time: When is it taking place?Weather: Is it rainy, sunny?

Social Conditions: What is the daily life of the character’s like?

Mood/Atmosphere: What is the feeling created?

Figurative LanguageSimile- comparison using like or as.

Metaphor- comparison using is or form of is.

Personification

Point of View (POV)

Angle in which the story is toldInnocent eye: through the eyes of a childStream of consciousness: inside the head of the character.First person: told by the protagonist. Uses I, me, we.

Omniscient: author can move from one character to another:

Limited: Third person-Use they, he, she. Only sees the thoughts of one character.

Objective: A camera following the characters. NO comment on their thoughts.

Theme

The controlling idea or its central insight. Underlying meaning.

Examples: Love is blind, believe in yourself, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Flashback

Flash to an earlier time or event in the story.

Foreshadowing

Give clues about what is going to happen in the story.