Elements of a Short Story

Students will be able to understand the elements of a short story and will be able to identify them using Freytag’s

Pyramid.

Elements of a Short Story

• The elements of a short story include: – Exposition– Rising Action– Climax– Falling Action/Resolution– Dénouement/Conclusion

Exposition

• Exposition is the part of a literary work that provides the background information necessary to understand the characters and their actions.

• Exposition introduces the characters, describes the setting, and summarizes the significant events that took place before the action begins.

Rising Action

• The rising action is the part of the plot in which complications develop and the conflict intensifies, building to the climax, or highest point of interest and intensity in the plot.

Climax

• The climax is the moment when the interest and emotional intensity reach their highest point.

• This moment is also called the turning point, since it usually determines how the conflict of the story will be resolved.

Falling Action/Resolution

• Falling action occurs after the climax, or high point of intensity or interest.

• The falling actions shows the results of the major events and resolves loose ends in the plot.

Dénouement/Conclusion

• The final resolution or clarification of a story is called the dénouement.

• This is where the author makes it worth the journey – we get to see what becomes of the characters.