Elements of A Short Story

ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY
WHAT IS A SHORT STORY?

• an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing
with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often
concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot.
• brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that
usually deals with only a few characters.
The short story is usually concerned with a single effect
conveyed in only one or a few significant episodes or scenes. The
form encourages economy of setting, concise narrative, and the
omission of a complex plot; character is disclosed in action and
dramatic encounter but is seldom fully developed. Despite its
relatively limited scope, though, a short story is often judged by
its ability to provide a “complete” or satisfying treatment of its
characters and subject.
EXAMPLES:
• The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan

Poe. ...
• The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. ...
• The Gift of the Magi by O. ...
• The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant. ...
• The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins
Gilman. ...
• Additional Adult Short Stories. ...
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY:
• Character
• Setting
• Plot
• Conflict
• Theme
• Point of View
Character
• A character in a short story is a person, in some
stories an animal, who takes part in the action of the
story or other literary work. The way an author
develops the character in a story is very important in
making the story appeal to the readers. It is said that
the heart of the story are the characters. The two most
important characters in a short story are the
protagonist and the antagonist.
• a. The protagonist is considered as the main character
or most important of all the characters. It is the character
who learns something or undergoes some changes
throughout the course of the story. Some stories depict
the protagonist as the hero of the story, while in other
stories the protagonist is not considered a hero as he has
done nothing heroic. In any case, the story always
revolves around the protagonist.
• b. The antagonist is the character that challenges the
main character. It has no concern for the well-being of
the main character. The antagonist may be a person, the
nature, the society, or any intangible matter that contends
with or creates a problem for the protagonist.
Setting
• The place (locale) and time (period )when the story
happens is called the setting. The setting may be
based on real place and real time or it may also be
based on the author’s imagination. When analyzing
the setting of the story, consider where the action is
taking place. Most authors use descriptive words to
describe the landscape, scenery, buildings, season, or
weather to provide a strong sense of setting which
will help the reader visualize the story and connect to
the story’s plot.
Plot
• Plot– A plot is the actual story. It is what the story is
all about. It is also the series of events and characters’
actions that lead to the highest point of interest in a
short story.
Elements of Plot
• a. Exposition –This is the beginning of the story. This is where the author
introduces the characters, identifies where the story is happening, and
establishes the main conflict.
• b. Rising Action–This event occurs as you begin to move throughout the
story. This is where conflicts start to build.
• c. Climax– It is the most exciting part of a short story. This is the part in
the story when important decisions are made or important things are
discovered.
• d. Falling Action– This point occurs after the climax as the problems in the
• story start to work themselves out. The excitement becomes less and
less as the conflict is resolved.
• e. Resolution– This is the solution to the problem in a story. The
solution
may not be what you hoped for but as long as it fits the story in tone and
theme, the conflict has been resolved.
Conflict
• Every story needs to have a problem and this problem is
called conflict. The main character, also called the
protagonist, needs to have someone or something to
challenge him. Without conflict, the story will not go
anywhere and will not be very interesting to the readers.
The main character may be faced with one of the four
different types of conflict. These four types of conflict are:
• man versus man;
• man versus nature;
• man versus himself; and
• man versus society.
Theme
• This is the central idea in a short story and a general
truth. This is considered as the author’s message to
the readers.
Point of View
• This is the way the story is told or narrated. It is also known as
the vantage point that a writer uses to narrate the story. The
following are the types of point of view in a short story:
• a. First Person – the narrator participates in and tells the story
using the pronoun ‘I’.
• b. Limited Third Person – the narrator is not in the story and
narrates using the pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. Also, the narrator is
unable to see into the minds of the characters.
• c. Omniscient Third Person – the narrator is not in the story
and tells the story using the pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. In this point
of view, the narrator can tell the thoughts of the characters as he
can see into their minds.
GROUP ACTIVITY:
• Rubrics:
The class will be divided into 2 groups. Based on the
topic discussed, each group will identify the element
that is being referred to and the group with the
highest score is the winner.
A problem or disagreement between people, society, or
nature. The central source of tension and drama in
the story.
In the plot, this action occurs after the climax, when
conflicts are resolved and problems solved.
This sets the tone, establishes setting, introduces
characters, and provides background information on
the story.
the story.
the story.
The portion of a play or story where the central
problem is resolved. The conclusion of a story.
The main character in fiction or drama...the person who
sets the plot in motion.
Answers:
1. Conflict
2. Falling Action
3. Exposition
4. Resolution
5. Protagonist
Individual Activity:
Label each part of the plot structure and give a brief
description of it.
PLOT STRUCTURE
THAT’S ALL.
HAVE A NICE DAY!

Elements of A Short Story

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ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY

WHAT IS A SHORT STORY?

• The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan

HAVE A NICE DAY!

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