Humanities 8

A short story usually has a limited number of settings, meaning there are few locations.

SETTING: Refers to the time and place of a story;

Setting can also include atmosphere (mood or feeling)

S/He is the story’s central character Most of the plot involves the protagonist Not always the “hero”, or the “good guy”Can you think of a villain protagonist from a

movie or t.v. show? Who is the Protagonist in Toy Story 1 &

2? Who is the Protagonist in your favorite

movie?

An antaognist is a FORCE that opposes the protagonist, and tries to keep him/her from reaching a goal.

An author can reveal a characters qualities, attributes and personality in four ways; 1. Describing the characters appearance

2. Describing the characters speech and behavior

3. Describing other characters thoughts and opinions about the character

4. Revealing the characters own thoughts and feelingsRevealing a Character Passage

Point of view (POV) is the perspective from which the story is told.

1st PERSON(POV): Through the eyes and thoughts of one character (“I”).

3rd PERSON: Through the narrator’s eyes (“He”, “They”).

Suspense is when there is uncertainty about the next event

Suspense builds tension and excitement, and keeps the reader interested

Suspense will usually have the reader asking “What will happen next”?

Definition: The main events of the story

Plot is a literary term defined as the events that make up a story.

The plot contains seven key points or elements of interest to us.

Plot Graph for Short Stories

Intensity of action

Time

1

23

4

5

6 7

Plot Graph for Short Stories

1.1. Introduction:Introduction: of setting, characters of setting, characters

2.2. Narrative Hook:Narrative Hook: grabs the readers’ grabs the readers’ attention, sets the conflict in motionattention, sets the conflict in motion

3.3. Rising Action:Rising Action: intensity builds in the intensity builds in the conflictconflict

4. 4. Climax:Climax: peak moment of the peak moment of the conflictconflict

5. 5. Denouement:Denouement: falling action, falling action, chance to pause and reflect on chance to pause and reflect on what happenedwhat happened

6. 6. ResolutionResolution: conflict is solved, : conflict is solved, mysteries revealedmysteries revealed

7. 7. Conclusion:Conclusion: final moments, final final moments, final message left for the readermessage left for the reader

The theme of a story is the main idea, moral or purpose behind the story.

Ask yourself: What is the author trying to teach us about life?

Short Stories usually have one dominant theme.

Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces

3 kinds of conflict in stories are: Person vs. Person Person vs. him/herself Person vs. Nature