Elements of Short Story
SHORT STORY-a short fictional prose narrative
FICTION-prose account that is made up rather than true
SETTING-the time and place a story occurs
CHARACTER-a person or an animal in a story or play
FOUR TYPES OF CHARACTERS
1. DYNAMIC CHARACTER-one who undergoes a change throughout the story; often the main character
2. STATIC CHARACTER-one who does not change throughout
the story; minor character
3. ROUND CHARACTER-a character in fiction whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully defined by the author.
4. FLAT CHARACTER-two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work.
CHARACTERIZATION-the way the writer reveals the personality of a character
TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION
1. DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION-a writer simply tells readers the character’s personality
2. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION-writer reveals the character’s personality through
a. words of a character
b. description of character’s looks and clothing
c. description of character’s thoughts and feelings
d. comments made about the character by other characters
e. the character’s behavior
PLOT-series of related events that makeup a story
-exposition-background information about the characters
-resolution-all the loose ends are tied up and conflict solved
Draw a plot diagram
climax
Rising ActionFalling Action
expositionresolution
CONFLICT-struggle between opposing characters or forces
1. internal conflict-takes places within a character’s own mind
2. external conflict-conflict with an outside force
a. man vs. man
b. man vs. nature
c. man vs. society
d.man vs. machine
CLIMAX-point in the story that creates the greatest suspense or interest; can also be the turning point of the story
DIALOGUE-conversation between two or more characters
POINT OF VIEW-the vantage point from which a story is told
1. 1st person-one the character tells the story; uses “I”; reader only knows what this person knows
2. 3rd person limited-narrator focuses on thoughts and feelings of only one character
3. 3rd person omniscient-narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems- all knowing; narrator does not take part in the action of the story
4. objective-the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer. Only gives facts.
THEME-general idea or insight about life that a work of literature reveals; message writer wishes to convey about a subject.
INFERENCE-clues from the story and your own knowledge to guess about things the author doesn’t say directly
clues + your knowledge=inference
IRONY-contrast between reality and expectation
3 TYPES OF IRONY
- VERBAL IRONY-contrast between what is said or written and what is actually meant
- SITUATIONAL IRONY-what happens is very different from what we expect
- DRAMATIC IRONY-when the audience or reader knows something the characters do not know