Short Story Conventions

Short Story Conventions

1. Characters

   • Individual
     • round, many sided and complex personalities
   • Developing
     • dynamic, many sided personalities that change, for better or worse, by the end of the story
   • Static
     • stereotypes, have one or two characteristics that never change and are emphasized e.g. brilliant detective, drunk, scrooage, cruel stepmother etc.

2. Setting

   • place
     • geographical location. Where is the action of the story taking place
   • time
     • when is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day,year,etc)
   • Weather conditions
     • is it rainy, sunny, stormy ect?
   • social conditions
     • what is the daily life of the characters like? does the story contain local colour (writing tha focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, ect. of a particular place)?
   • Mood or Atmosphere
     • what feeling is created at the beginning of the story? is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

3. Plot

   • Introduction
     • th beginning of the story where the characters and the setting is revealed
   • Rising Action
     • this is where the events in the story become complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed (events between the introduction and climax)
   • Climax
     • this is the highest point intrest and the turning point in the story. the reader wonders what will happen next; will the conflict be resolved or not.
   • Falling Action
     • the events and complications begin to resolve themselves. the reader knows what has happened next and if the conflict was resolved or not (events between climax and denouement)
   • Denouement
     • this is the final outcome or untangling of events in the story.

4. Conflict

   • External
     • a struggle witha force outside ones self
   • Internal
     • a struggle with in ones self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, ect.
   • Man Vs Man
     • (physical) - the leading character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals
   • Man Vs Circumstances
     • (classical) - the leading character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her
   • Man Vs Society
     • (social) - the leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people
   • Man Vs Himself/Herself
     • (psychological) - the leading character struggles with himself/herself, with his/her own soul, ideas of right and wrong, physical limitations, choice, ect.

5. Point Of View