Elements of Short Story

• THEME

  • the central idea of the short story
  • may be the writer’s thoughts on a topic or a view about human nature
• Short Story

  • takes us to unimaginable places
  • opens our minds to all possibilities and allows us to look into a part of our lives that we can relate to
  • helps us become more in touch with pieces and slices of our lives
  • gives us an opportunity to learn more about ourselves through this piece of literature
• Short Story

  • a short narrative that has approximately 1,000 to 20,000 words, can be read in one sitting, and conveys a message that can be illustrated in events or experiences.
• ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Conflict
  • Characters
  • Point of View
  • Theme
• Setting

  • Place
  • Time
  • Weather Conditions
  • Mood
• Place


  geographical location or where most of the action takes place.
• Weather conditions


  consider this if it contributes to the overall story.
• Mood


  feeling created at the beginning of the story.
• PLOT


  the sequence of events in a story; planned logical series of events having a beginning, middle, and end.
• 5 Elements of Plot

  • Exposition
  • Rising Action
  • Climax
  • Falling Action
  • Resolution/Denouement
• CONFLICT


  the opposition of forces that connects one event to another, making the plot move.
• 2 BASIC KINDS OF CONFLICT

  • Internal Conflict
  • External Conflict
• Internal Conflict


  a struggle of the main character within himself, such as overcoming grief, resisting an urge, or making a decision.
• External Conflict


  struggle with a force outside the main character.
• External Conflict Types

  • Character vs. Character
  • Character vs. Society
  • Character vs. Technology
  • Character vs. Nature
  • Character vs. Supernatural
• Internal Conflict Types

  • Character vs. Self
• CHARACTER VS. SELF

  • an internal conflict where the main character struggles with issues within himself, his ideas, physical limitations, choices, etc.
• CHARACTER VS. SOCIETY

  • an external conflict where the main character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people
• CHARACTER VS. NATURE

  • occurs when a character faces resistance from a natural force
• CHARACTER VS. CHARACTER

  • involves two characters struggling against each other
• CHARACTER VS. TECHNOLOGY

  • explores the problems that arise when technology grows beyond its intended use
• CHARACTER VS. SUPERNATURAL

  • a type of conflict in storytelling in which the protagonist or protagonists are working against supernatural forces
• CHARACTER

  • persons in a work of fiction
  • short stories use a few characters only
• TYPES OF CHARACTER

  • Protagonist
  • Antagonist
• Protagonist


  that one character who is central to the story, the “hero”
• Antagonist


  opposes the main character, the “villain”
• POINT OF VIEW

  • angle from which the story is told
• Types of POINT OF VIEW

  • First Person
  • Second Person
  • Third Person
• First Person

  • Told from the perspective of a story's narrator
  • Uses the pronouns I, me, us.
  • Commonly used in young adult, science fiction, memoirs, autobiographies
• Second Person

  • Addresses the reader directly
  • Uses the pronouns you, your.
  • Commonly used in choose-your-own adventure and nonfiction (particularly self-help)
• Third Person

  • Told from an outside perspective
  • Uses the pronouns he, she, they, him, her, them.
  • Commonly used in middle grade, fantasy, romance, thriller