Short Story Elements

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Short Story Elements

• English 9 Notes
• Mr. Prosser

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SETTING

• What is the SETTING?
• Where When or Time Place
• The Setting is Winchester
• In 1864
• In 1205
• In 1988
• In 2050
• ARE THESE THE SAME SETTINGS?

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Elements of Plot- PLOT DIAGRAM

• 1. Exposition- (Characters Setting)
• 2. Inciting Moment-(Conflict Revealed)
• 3. Complications-(Problems Occur)
• 4. Climax-(Resolved)
• 5. Denouement

4. Climax
3. Complications
5. Denouement
1. Exposition
2. Inciting Moment
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Elements of Conflict

• Two Kinds of Conflict
• Internal- Problem is from within
• External- Problem is from outside
• Four Types of Conflict
• Man v. Self- (Internal) Example?
• Man v. Nature- (External) Example?
• Man v. Man- (External) Example?
• Man v. Society- (External) Example?

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Elements of Characterization

• Two ways an author can reveal what makes a
  character tick
• Direct- author tells reader what the character is
  like
• Ex. Marvin was a mean, cold hearted person who
  loved to inflict pain.
• Ex. Mariah was the kindest, most beloved student
  in her class and would do anything to help
  anybody.
• Indirect- the reader learns about the character
  through different things. The author does not
  tell you what the character is like.

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INDIRECT CHARACTERIZTION

• APPEARANCE-
• Social Class, Wealth, Job, Home/Nationality,
  Hygiene
• SPEECH-
• Home/Nationality, Social Class, Education, Values
• ACTIONS-
• Inner Character (kind/mean), Trustworthy, Values
• OTHERS ACTIONS-
• Popular, Respected, Trustworthy, Scared, Smell
• PRIVATE THOUGHTS-
• Inner Character through their thoughts

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Different Types of Characters

• Main Characters
• PROTAGONIST- action focused on them
• ANTAGONIST- causes problem for the protagonist
• Types of Characters
• Static- does NOT change throughout the story
• Dynamic- CHANGES throughout the story
• Flat- basic 2-D character, know little about them
• Round- a full 3-D character, we know all sides of
  them
• Stock- pre-conceived stereotype, blonde, jock,
  nerd, etc.

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Irony Satire

• Irony- meaning is opposite to what is expected
• Verbal Irony- Good thinking, Einstein
• Situational Irony- All surprised at outcome Baby
  Seal
• Dramatic Irony- Only characters are surprised
  JAWS
• Satire-uses ridicule to bring about social
  reform. Author wishes to mock, expose
  eliminate human stupidity wickedness. (HUCK
  FINN Slavery)

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Point of View

• 1st Person- Narrator tells the story as a
  character uses I. (No Pigs, TKAM)
• Omniscient- Narrator tells the story but is NOT a
  character and is ALL KNOWING
• 3rd Person- Narrator tells the story but tells it
  as if he/she is a single character watching the
  action. The narrator is NOT all knowing and
  tells us from the vantage point of a single
  character.

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THEME

• What the purpose of the story is
• Not a Moral but a feeling or a message
• Why did the author write the story?
• What happened to the protagonist?
• Often times the authors view of the world.
• Definition

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OTHER ELEMENTS

• Foreshadowing
• A hint of what is to come later in the story
• EX Jacob in Twilight- hints that he is a wolf
• Symbolism
• Something stand for something other than itself
• EX Red Hat in Catcher in the Rye