Elements of a Short Story

Elements of a Short Story

1. 1. Setting

   • Time and location in which a story takes place is called the setting
   • Place
   • Time
   • Weather Conditions
   • Social Conditions
   • Atmosphere

2. 2. Plot

   • It is how the author arranges events to develop his basic idea; it is the sequence of events in a story or play
     • Exposition
     • Inciting Force
     • Rising Action
     • Climax
     • Falling Action
     • Denouement
   • Characteristics
     • Foreshadowing
     • Flashback
     • Dialogue
     • Suspense

3. 3. Conflict

   • It is the opposition of forces which ties one incident to another and makes the plot move
   • External
     • A struggle with a force outside one's self.
   • Internal
     • A struggle within one's self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.
   • Four Types of Sub-Conflict
     • Person vs. Person
       • Physical
       • Person vs. Circumstances
         • Classical
         • Person vs. Society
           • Social
           • Person vs. Himself / Herself
             • Psychological

4. 4. Character

   • In order for a story to seem real to the reader its characters must seem real.
   • Characters Types
     • Protagonist
       • Round
         • Developing
           • Flat
             • Dynamic
     • Antagonist
       • Anti-hero
         • Archetype
           • Static

5. 5. Point of View

   • Point of view is the position from which the narrator tells the story
   • Type
     • participant point of view
       • It is when the narrator is a character participating in the action of the story
     • nonparticipant point of view.
       • It is when the narrator is an observer and not a character

6. 6. Theme

   • The theme in a piece of fiction is its controlling idea or its central insight
   • A theme can be expressed in one or two simple statements about human beings and/or life

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