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The Short Story
Terms and Techniques: (You will need to know these terms, and how to apply them.)
Short Story: a short fictional, narrative piece of prose with a single plot revolving around a very limited number of characters. The typical plot follows a beginning, middle and end structure with a sequence of events including: inciting/initial incident; rising action; climax; resolution.
Plot: the events (structure) of the story.
Setting: the time and the place in which the story takes place (which may contribute to the atmosphere).
Atmosphere: the emotional world of the story; it creates a mood in the reader.
Character: character is revealed by his/her speech; his/her actions; what the author ‘says’ about him/her; what other characters say about him/her. A character be static (can remain the same) or be dynamic (change as a result of the events of the story). Stock or stereotyped characters are typically used by short story authors; they can be characterized in a sentence or two and what is revealed about them is usually consistent with the reader’s understanding of the character type.
Protagonist: the main character of a short story, novel or play.
Antagonist: the character against whom the protagonist struggles or fights.
Point of View: the perspective the author establishes to tell the story. Omniscient point of view (third person) allows the author to describe any character from the outside and inside. Limited omniscient point of view (third person) allows the author to tell the story from the point of view of one character, but without the use of the first person (“I”). In first person narration, the story is told from the point of view of a character in the story who calls him/herself “I.”
Foreshadowing: a technique for providing clues about the events that may happen later in the story.
Flashback: A technique for presenting something that happened earlier (often prior to when the reader begins the story) that helps explain something about the current situation.
Climax: the most suspenseful point; the point of greatest interest; the height of the action.
Conflict: the protagonist faces opposition either internally (character versus self) or externally (character versus character; character versus force).
Resolution: the author ties up the “loose ends;” the dénouement; the falling action.
Theme: the theme is not usually stated; the reader infers it from his/her close reading. It is the “point” of the story.
Diction: word choice. Why does the author choose to use one word over another? Has the writer made use of the sounds of any words to heighten the impact of the story? Are there certain words that serve as symbols?
Syntax: Are the sentences short and choppy, long and complicated, or both? Does the author use dialogue sparingly or extensively? What types of sentences have been used and how do they create the story’s theme or mood?
Punctuation: Has the author used punctuation strategically to achieve a certain effect?
Figurative language: How does the author use imaginative comparisons (metaphor, simile) to develop character, theme or mood in the short story?
Source: Resourcelines 9/10 (41-44).