Mrs. Sample’sLanguage Arts

Elements of a Short Story

Plot

Theme

Setting

Character

Conflict

Plot: How Stories Happen

What is plot?

The structure

of a story. It is also the sequence of events.

Parts of Plot

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

What is Exposition?

•Beginning of story•Introduces characters, setting, and tone.

•Beginning of story•Introduces characters, setting, and tone.

What is Rising Action?

•Plot becomes increasingly complicated •Various problems arise

•Plot becomes increasingly complicated •Various problems arise

What is Climax?

The high point of a story. It is the moment the two opposing forces meet.

The high point of a story. It is the moment the two opposing forces meet.

What is Falling Action?

•Action following the climax.•Leads to the end.

•Action following the climax.•Leads to the end.

What is Resolution?

•Problems are solved

•Action comes to an end.

•Problems are solved

•Action comes to an end.

What is the high point of action in a story?

A. Exposition

B. Resolution

C. Climax

D. Falling action

What is Theme?

•Message about life •What the work is about.•The lesson learned.

•Message about life •What the work is about.•The lesson learned.

What is Tone?

• Tells us what the author thinks about his/her main character.

• The author’s attitude toward the story and readers.

• Tells us what the author thinks about his/her main character.

• The author’s attitude toward the story and readers.

What is Mood?

• The effect of the writer’s words on the reader.

• How the writer’s words make us feel.

• The effect of the writer’s words on the reader.

• How the writer’s words make us feel.

The setting answers the question, “What is the work about?”

True

False

What is a Character?

A person or animal in a story

A person or animal in a story

Character

• Main character

• Hero of the story

• Main character

• Hero of the storyWhat is aprotagonist?

Character

• Opposes protagonist

• Bad guy

• Opposes protagonist

• Bad guyWhat is anantagonist?

Dynamic vs. StaticDYNAMIC

• Character changes throughout a story. They either do something differently or make a choice they would not have normally made.

STATIC

• Character stays the same through the whole story. This person does not change. They are actually very predictable through the whole story.

Who is the hero or central character of a story?

A. Protagonist

B. Climax

C. Exposition

D. Antagonist

What is Conflict?

A struggle between

opposing forces in a story

A struggle between

opposing forces in a story

What is Conflict?

•Person against person•Person against self•Person against society•Person against nature

•Person against person•Person against self•Person against society•Person against nature

Congratulations!

You know the Elements of a Short Story!!!

` PlotThemeSettingCharacterConflict