L1 | Elements of a Short Story

SHORT STORY

It is a relatively brief fictional narrative in prose.

Not real – made up

tells a plot/story

shorter than a novel

CHARACTER

Protagonist

Antagonist

Minor characters

Protagonist

- the main character in the story

Antagonist

- the person who is in conflict with the protagonist

Classifications of a Character

static

dynamic

flat

round

Static

: character remains the same throughout a story

Dynamic

: character experiences some kind of change in personality or attitude

Flat

: have only one or two "sides," representing one or two character traits. They are often stereotypes that can be summed up in a few words, for example, a "strong, silent type.“

Round

: are complex and have many "sides" or traits. Their behavior is unpredictable.

Character can be revealed through:

a. exposition (author tells us about the character)

b. the character’s actions

c. speech/thought (reveals what a character is like)

d. reaction of others

e. names

f. environment – where the character lives, occupation, dress etc

PLOT

– the sequence of events portraying the conflict of the main character and the resolution of the conflict.

Plot (2)

• a literary element that describes the structure of a story

• organization of information

Parts of The Plot

Exposition

conflict

rising action

climax

falling action

resolution

CONFLICT

– Without conflict, the story will not go anywhere and will not be interesting to the readers

Types of conflict:

External Conflict

Internal Conflict

External Conflict

– man against man or man against environment

Internal Conflict

– man against himself (his conscience)

Man vs. Man

– the leading character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals.

Man vs. Nature

– a character struggles with a force of nature (natural disaster, desolation, animal. Etc.)

Man vs. Society

– a character or a group of characters fight against the society which they live. The character fights against social traditions or rules.

Man vs. Self

– the character’s struggle takes place in his/her own mind. Usually something to do with a choice or it may have to do with overcoming emotions or mixed feelings.

Man vs. Supernatural

– is a conflict between a character and something that is not normal in some way.

Man vs. Fate

– It occurs when is trapped by an inevitable destiny, freedom, and free.

Man vs. Technology

– the protagonist must overcome a machine or technology.

SETTING

– refers to the time and place in which a story occurs. It can also include occupations, local color (dress, custom, vocabulary that make a certain area unique).

THEME

– the overall idea which is suggested, or the general comment on human life presented. It may be positive, negative, or may take on the form of a moral.

POINT OF VIEW

– the perspective from which the author presents the actions and characters of the story.

POINT OF VIEW

First person

Third person

Third person objective

Third person Omniscient

Third Person Limited

First Person

: the author uses “I” or “we” to tell the story as a participant or as an observer.

Third Person

: the story is told by someone who is not a character in the story (using “he” or “she’, instead of “I” or “we”)

Third Person Objective

: describes like a newscaster only what can be seen.

Third Person Omniscient:

describes the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of any or all of the characters. Can see into the hearts and minds

Third Person Limited:

is also omniscient, but the narrator limits himself to looking into the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

1. First Person POV

“I looked.., my love.., looked down on me.”

2. Second Person POV

Uses you, your, or you’re

3. Third Person POV

Uses he, she, it, they, etc

Limited third person (2)

The narrator is not in the story and narrates using the pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. Also, the narrator is unable to see inside the minds of the characters.

Omniscient third person (2)

The narrator can tell the thoughts of the character and can see through their minds.