Short Story Study Short Story Study SessionSession

A BRIEF ReviewA BRIEF Review

What to StudyWhat to Study

Literary Elements (Short Story Notes)Literary Elements (Short Story Notes) Raymond’s RunRaymond’s Run A Retrieved Reformation (HONORS ONLY)A Retrieved Reformation (HONORS ONLY) Thank you M’amThank you M’am Gentleman of Rio en MedioGentleman of Rio en Medio CharlesCharles The Story of An HourThe Story of An Hour The Tell Tale HeartThe Tell Tale Heart

PlotPlot

Definition: Plot is the sequence of events in a Definition: Plot is the sequence of events in a storystory

– Exposition – introduces the setting, the characters, Exposition – introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situationand the basic situation

– Rising Action – introduces the conflictRising Action – introduces the conflict– Climax – highest point of action; the turning point –it Climax – highest point of action; the turning point –it

has the MOST tension!!! You don’t have a solution has the MOST tension!!! You don’t have a solution yet!yet!

– Falling action – conflict is resolved – problems are Falling action – conflict is resolved – problems are being worked onbeing worked on

– Resolution – the conclusion –the exact ending of the Resolution – the conclusion –the exact ending of the story, not the conflictstory, not the conflict

a

b

c

d

e

CharactersCharacters

Protagonist – hero/main character; Protagonist – hero/main character; he or she learns a lesson he or she learns a lesson

Antagonist – causes problems for the Antagonist – causes problems for the protagonist protagonist

Round – multi-dimensional; have Round – multi-dimensional; have faults faults

Flat – stereotypes Flat – stereotypes

Conflict Conflict

Internal – (man vs. self) – it’s all in Internal – (man vs. self) – it’s all in your headyour head

External – (man vs. man; man vs. External – (man vs. man; man vs. nature) – outside forces are at worknature) – outside forces are at work

Theme Theme

Stated – the author tells you the Stated – the author tells you the theme in the text “The moral of the theme in the text “The moral of the story is…” story is…”

implied – can be derived (figured implied – can be derived (figured out) from what happens to the out) from what happens to the characterscharacters

universal – can be derived from universal – can be derived from pretty much any story; they apply pretty much any story; they apply to all of lifeto all of life

SettingSetting

Time Time Place Place

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Point of ViewPoint of View Point of View is the perspective from which the Point of View is the perspective from which the

story is told (who is telling the story?)story is told (who is telling the story?)– First Person – The narrator is DIRECTLY involved in the First Person – The narrator is DIRECTLY involved in the

action of the story (Written with “I/me”)action of the story (Written with “I/me”)

– Second Person – Written as a command/directions – Second Person – Written as a command/directions – “You do this/You do that” (“Choose Your Own “You do this/You do that” (“Choose Your Own Adventure” stories)Adventure” stories)

– Third Person – A narrator that is Third Person – A narrator that is notnot involved in the involved in the story, can let you know the thoughts of multiple story, can let you know the thoughts of multiple characters (we call this an omniscient narrator) characters (we call this an omniscient narrator) (omniscient means all-knowing)(omniscient means all-knowing)

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

the author gives you hints about the author gives you hints about future events future events

FlashbackFlashback

the author refers back to events that the author refers back to events that already happened (usually before the already happened (usually before the story began) story began)

IronyIrony

The outcome of the story is different The outcome of the story is different from what the reader expected from what the reader expected would happen would happen

LiteratureLiterature

Raymond’s RunRaymond’s Run A Retrieved Reformation (HONORS A Retrieved Reformation (HONORS

ONLY)ONLY) Thank you M’amThank you M’am Gentleman of Rio en MedioGentleman of Rio en Medio CharlesCharles The Story of An HourThe Story of An Hour The Tell Tale HeartThe Tell Tale Heart