Short Story and Novel Elements

This set explores the fundamental elements of short stories and novels, including setting, plot, conflict types, characterization, points of view, and thematic development.

Setting

The context of a story consisting of four parts: Place (geographical location), Time (day, year, historical period), Weather (rainy, stormy, sunny), and Mood (feeling created, such as bright and cheerful or dark and frightening).

Plot

The sequence of events in a short story or novel consisting of five essential parts: Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Conclusion.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces, divided into two categories: External (struggle with an outside force) and Internal (struggle within one's self).

Internal Conflict

A struggle within a character's self where they must make a decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, or resist an urge, categorized as Man versus himself.

External Conflict

A struggle with a force outside ones self, such as Man versus Man, Man versus Society, Man versus Nature, or Man versus Supernatural.

Protagonist

The clearly central character to the story with all major events having some importance to him or her.

Antagonist

The character or force that serves as the opposition to the main character or protagonist.

Round Character

A dynamic character who is fully developed in terms of personality and is affected and changed by the events of the story.

Flat Character

A one-dimensional character who does not go through a change and remains static throughout the story.

Static Character

A character who remains the same throughout the story and undergoes no change in thought or personality when involved in conflict.

Dynamic Character

A character who undergoes a change in views or personality as a result of learning from conflict or having a revelation.

Characterization

The information the author gives the reader about characters, revealed through physical appearance, speech/thoughts/feelings, actions, and how others react to them.

Point of View (p.o.v.)

The angle from which the story is told, which can include Innocent Eye, Stream of Consciousness, First Person, Omniscient, Omniscient Limited, or Omniscient Objective.

Omniscient Limited

A third-person point of view where the reader knows only what a specific character knows and what the author allows that character to tell.

Omniscient Objective

A third-person point of view where the author records only what is seen and heard without commentary or interpretation, placing the reader in the position of a spectator.

Theme

The controlling idea, central insight, or underlying meaning in a piece of fiction that may reflect the author's thoughts about a topic or view of human nature.