Define what a short story is

Define elements of a short

story

Read and identify the elements

of

a short story

Write original short stories

Connect the theme of the story

to their daily life affairs

Elements

of a

Short Story

What is a Short Story?

A short story is a work of

fictional narrative prose with a

few characters, limited setting,

and a single major event.

A short story is meant to be

read in a single sitting.

What are its elements?

1. Characters – are the

people, animals, strange

creatures or objects that

think, talk and act.

Types of Characters

a. Protagonist – one who undergoes a

change or learns something during

the course of the story

-the one who takes the leading part

b. Antagonist – the who contends with

the protagonist

2. Setting – provides the

locale (place) and period

(time) of the short story

-it may be real or a make

believe place and time

3. Plot – is the series of

events which leads to a

climax, or high point of

interest

Parts of a Plot

a. Exposition – the characters and

setting are introduces, as is the

conflict – the struggle between a

character and some other force.

a.1 Types of Conflict

Man vs Man (could be a specific person or society in

general)

Man vs Nature (could be weather conditions or

animals)

Man vs Himself (could involve personal life

circumstances or psychological issues)

b. Rising Action – during this time the

tension builds as the conflict becomes

more evident

c. Climax – this is the highest point of

interest in the story

-It involves important discovery or

decision. During this time, one of the

battling forces wins and the conflict is

resolved

d. Falling Action – the event that

immediately follows the climax

-During this part, the story draws to a

close

e. Resolution – the part of the story in

which loose ends are tied up

Expositio

n

Climax

ResolutionLeah’s

parents go

away,

leaving Leah

alone at their

home for the

first time.

Leah watches

horror movies.

She wakes

up, alarmed at

the noise. She

decides to

check the

basement

door. She

gets locked in

the basement.

Leah’s parents arrive home

just as Leah panics.

Leah

explains to

her parents

why she

was in the

basement. Leah realizes

that she

learned an

important

lesson about

herself.

Kinds of Plot

a. Man in a Hole – considered as the

oldest and most popular kind of plot.

This story begins with a character or a

group of persons trapped in some kind

of a hole or problem. The story goes

on to show how the characters

manage to get out of their

predicament.

b. Man on the Road – some short

stories achieve their unifying effect

through a single character journeying

through life, encountering various

stages of adventure and growth

-This type of plot tends to be episodic but

because all events happened to the

same person, unity is established.

c. Man in a Tub – this type of plot

involves two important factors. First,

there must be an unstructured and

usually, an ordinary event. Then,

second, a realization or insight from

the experience of such event.

4. Theme – is a general truth about life

-This is considered as the message of

the story to the readers

Ex: Greed brings one’s downfall.

5. Point of View – is the way in

which the story is narrated. It is

the method, the vantage point,

that writers use to tell the story.

Types of Point of View

a. First Person – the narrator, using the

word “I” tells the story and

participates in it.

Ex: I turned back to my bucket and

sponge, and I could feel the tears

burning in my eyes. I wanted so

much to go to the ball but my

stepsisters would not hear of it.

b. Limited third person – the narrator, who is not in the story, tells the story through the use of “she” or “he”. The narrator cannot see into the minds of the characters.

Ex: Tears in her eyes, Cinderella turned back to her bucket and sponge. She jumped when the door to the room slammed behind her as her stepsisters left for the ball.

c. Omniscient third person – the narrator, who is not in the story tells the story through the use of “she” or “he.” The narrator can see into the minds of the characters and tell their thoughts.

Ex: Hurt and disappointed, Cinderella turned back to her bucket and sponge. The thought of missing the ball brought tears to her eyes. Cinderella jumped when the door slammed behind her.

Evaluation:

Read the short story: How Much Land

Does A Man Need, by Leo Tolstoy

Identify the elements of the short story