SHORT STORY INTRODUCTION

LITERARY ELEMENTS Common elements found in all types of literature … they provide structure &

meaning.

•Point of View

•Setting

•Character/Characterization

•Theme

•Plot

•Conflict

POINT OF VIEW

Vantage point from which a story is told. Important when telling a story, because meaning is seen

through the specific P.O.V.

- Narrator is a character (often the main character)

- Character reveals personal thoughts & feelings that they have about a situation

- Uses “I” , “Me”

FIRST PERSON P.O.V

SECOND PERSON P.O.V

- Not commonly used in Fiction

- Narrator uses “you” and “your”

- Narrator is an outsider (not a character)

- Reports what is happening (what is seen and heard)

- Cannot tell the reader what characters are thinking

- Narrator is an outsider (not a character)

- Narrator only knows the thoughts and actions of one character in the story

- All character are described as “they”, “he”, “she”, but one character in particular is closely followed

THIRD PERSON P.O.V

OMNISCIENT P.O.V

- The all-knowing narrator

- “god-like”

- Sees and hears everything

- Able to see into the minds of multiple characters

SETTING

Time & place that a story takes place (the surroundings).

Setting is important because it helps to locate the reader and set the background for the events that are about to unfold.

CHARACTER

A person or animal in a story. There are 2 different types of characters:

1) Dynamic character- a character who changes as a result of the events of the story

2) Static character- a character that changes very little or not at all throughout the story.

CHARACTERIZATION

The way the writer reveals the personality of a character. It is often the most important aspect of a story. Through characterization, the author reveals both physical and personality traits about a character so that the audience can get a clear picture.

There are 2 types of characterization: Direct and Indirect.

Direct Characterization

Writer makes directstatements about a character’s personality …

Example:

“Bob is a nice and caring individual.”

Indirect Characterization

Writer reveals personality of character through their thoughts, actions and what others think about them …

Example:

“Bob took care of his little brother while he was sick. He made him soup and read him a story.”

ACTIVITY: GUESS WHO???

* Choose a celebrity

* Create a character sketch (include direct and indirect statements)

* As a class, we are going to guess who you have written about

THEME

General idea or insight about life that a work of literature reveals. Think of it as the message the story wants to deliver.

* threads itself throughout the story

* often makes a point about life, society or human nature

* implied rather than blatant

* typically, there is one major theme

CONFLICT

The struggle between opposing characters or opposing forces.

• Creates the plot of the story

• Driving force of the story

TYPES OF CONFLICT 1) Man vs. Man- the conflict of one person against another person.

2) Man vs. Nature- conflict a person encounters with the forces of nature and shows how insignificant we are in the cosmic scheme of things

3) Man vs. Society- conflict between person and the views of society

4) Man vs. Self – internal conflict (struggle with conscience)

ACTIVITY

* Get into groups of 4 or 5

* Create a scenario that teenagers typically face. You are going to include all 4 types of conflict within your scene.

* There will be presented to the class.

PLOTThe sequence of events that happen in a story. Provides a story with structure, like a map of a story. Plot has 5 basic points:

1) Exposition: The beginning of the story (things & characters are introduced)

2) Rising Action: When something starts to happen (conflict is introduced)

3) Climax: The turning point in the story (high point of action)

4) Falling Action: cool down period

5) Resolution: Conclusion. When everything comes together.

FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR We are going to watch an

episode and answer the

questions on the sheet provided

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZzjy6GNzu4

THE END