Short Story Short Story NotesNotes

Elements of Elements of FictionFictionShort Story-Short Story- a fictional account of a fictional account of

events written in prose paragraphsevents written in prose paragraphs

Plot- Plot- a sequence of events in a a sequence of events in a literary workliterary work

Setting-Setting- time and place in which time and place in which a story, novel, or play takes placea story, novel, or play takes place

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Exposition- Exposition- is the setting, characters, is the setting, characters, background information and introduces basic background information and introduces basic story situation.story situation.

Rising Action-Rising Action- is the series of events that lead is the series of events that lead to to

the climax of the story. The conflict of the story the climax of the story. The conflict of the story is revealed. It is near the beginning.is revealed. It is near the beginning.

Climax-Climax- is the turning point of the story; is the turning point of the story; highest point of interest or suspense. The highest point of interest or suspense. The problem begins problem begins

to be solved. It is a single event.to be solved. It is a single event.2

Falling Action-Falling Action- is the events that lead is the events that lead to the resolution. The reader can to the resolution. The reader can usually guess the outcome of the story.usually guess the outcome of the story.

Resolution-Resolution- is the very end of the story. is the very end of the story. This event solves the problem This event solves the problem introduced in the rising action. introduced in the rising action. (Denouncement- an end to the end ex: (Denouncement- an end to the end ex: epilogue)epilogue)

Suspense- Suspense- interest in the outcome of a interest in the outcome of a story; suspense builds as the events of story; suspense builds as the events of the plot unfold.the plot unfold. 3

Conflict-Conflict- a struggle between two opposing forces. a struggle between two opposing forces.

External Conflict-External Conflict- occurs when a character occurs when a character struggles with an outside force. struggles with an outside force. (3 kinds)(3 kinds)

1. 1. Man vs NatureMan vs Nature Ex: man and tornado Ex: man and tornado2. 2. Man vs ManMan vs Man Ex: argument or Ex: argument or contestcontest3. 3. Man vs SocietyMan vs Society Ex: trying to change a law Ex: trying to change a law

Internal Conflict-Internal Conflict- a struggle that takes place in a a struggle that takes place in a person’s mind. person’s mind.

1. Man vs Self1. Man vs Self Ex: choosing a college.Ex: choosing a college.

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Plot LinePlot Line

Exposition:1. Setting2. Characters3. Background

Information4. Basic Story

situation

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

Rising Action

conflict

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Characterization-Characterization- is the act of creating is the act of creating and developing a character.and developing a character.

Direct Characterization-Direct Characterization- the the writer states the characteristics. (exact writer states the characteristics. (exact details)details)

-Physical & personality traits-Physical & personality traits

Indirect Characterization-Indirect Characterization- the the writer allows you to draw your own writer allows you to draw your own conclusion based on the information conclusion based on the information presented by the author. presented by the author. ( ( InferenceInference))

Six Ways to Revealing Six Ways to Revealing Characterization:Characterization:

1.1. State directly what the character is like. State directly what the character is like.

2.2. Reader becomes familiar with the Reader becomes familiar with the character by thoughts and feelings.character by thoughts and feelings.

3.3. Let the reader hear the character speak Let the reader hear the character speak (dialogue).(dialogue).

4.4. Show how the character acts.Show how the character acts.

5.5. Describe the appearance of the Describe the appearance of the character.character.

6.6. What the other characters reveal about What the other characters reveal about characters.characters.

Point of View-Point of View- the perspective or vantage the perspective or vantage point from which the story is told. point from which the story is told.

3 Kinds of POV:3 Kinds of POV:

**First Person: First Person: the narrator is a the narrator is a character in the story. We see the story character in the story. We see the story through his/her eyes. through his/her eyes. Pronouns usedPronouns used:: I, I, my, me, myself, we, us, mine, our.my, me, myself, we, us, mine, our.

**Omniscient Third Person-Omniscient Third Person- thethe narrator is not a character in the story, but narrator is not a character in the story, but views the events of the story through the views the events of the story through the eyes of more than one character.eyes of more than one character.

*omniscient-*omniscient- all knowing all knowing

**Limited-Third Person-Limited-Third Person- the narrator the narrator is not a character, but he/she presents is not a character, but he/she presents the story from a characters pov. the story from a characters pov. Pronouns used-Pronouns used- he, she, they, them, he, she, they, them, their, his, hers, it, its, him.their, his, hers, it, its, him.

Antagonist-Antagonist- the adversary/opponent the adversary/opponent in the story.in the story.

Flashback- Flashback- a scene that breaks the a scene that breaks the normal time order of a plot to show a normal time order of a plot to show a past event.past event.

Foreshadowing-Foreshadowing- hints or clues about hints or clues about what will happen later in the story. what will happen later in the story.

*Ex: bad weather; overhearing *Ex: bad weather; overhearing someone’s conversationsomeone’s conversation

Theme- Theme- the central idea of a literary the central idea of a literary work; usually expressed as a work; usually expressed as a generalization about life.generalization about life.

Mood-Mood- the feeling created in the reader by a the feeling created in the reader by a literary work. Writers use five different literary work. Writers use five different ways to create mood.ways to create mood.

1. images1. images2. dialogue2. dialogue3. descriptions3. descriptions4. characterization4. characterization5. plot events5. plot events

Tone-Tone- how a writer discusses feelings how a writer discusses feelings towards a specific subject (Ex: respectful). towards a specific subject (Ex: respectful). Tone is reflected in word choice. Tone is reflected in word choice.

IronyIrony- - is a contrast between what is is a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or expected and what actually exists or happens.happens.