Elements of a Short Story

1
Elements of a Short Story
2
OBJECTIVES

• Identify elements of a short story
• Define elements of a short story
• Demonstrate mastery of short story elements

3
OVERVIEW

• Short stories often contain structural and
  character elements that should be familiar to
  you.
• These elements can be used as guides to help you
  think about the actions, themes, and contexts of
  the story.

4
Elements of a Short Story

• Plot
• - exposition statement
• - rising action
• - conflict
• - climax
• - falling action
• - resolution

• Theme
• Setting
• Characters
• Point of view
• Characterization

5
THEME

• The main idea of a literary work, usually
  expressed as a generalization.

SETTING

• The time and place in which a work of literature
  happens.

6
CHARACTERS

• The people (or actors) in the story.

POINT OF VIEW

• The story teller from whose point of view the
  story is being told, the narrator.

7
CHARACTERIZATION

• The description of the personalities of the
  characters in the story and the way in which an
  author reveals their personalities.

8
PLOT

• The sequence or order of events in a story. The
  plot includes
• Exposition Statement - The part of the plot that
  tells how the story begins.
• Rising Action - The action in the story leading
  up to the climax.
• Conflict - Struggles or problems between opposing
  forces.

9
More PLOT

• Climax - The point of crisis in the plot. It may
  be the readers point of highest interest.
• Falling action - The action in the story after
  the climax is revealed.
• Resolution - The part of the plot that reveals
  the final outcome.

10
PLOT DIAGRAM
Climax
Rising Action
Conflict
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution
11
CONCLUSION

• Now that we have identified and defined the
  elements of a short story, let us use the
  elements to analyze a familiar fairytale. You may
  use your notes from the PowerPoint presentation
  or consult the newsletter handout, Analyzing a
  Short Story.

12
Bibliography

• Dinneen, K. Elements of the Short Story.
  Retrieved Jun. 19, 2003, from
  Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
• http//www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/
  units/1983/3/83.03.09.x.html

Five Elements of a Story. Retrieved Jun. 19,
2003, http//www.teachervision.com/lesson
-plans/lesson-2277.html
Guevin, D. Short Story Elements. Retrieved Jun.
19, 2003, http//www.uvm.edu/dguevi
n/Elements.html