Elements of a Short Story

1. Elements of a Short Story

2. Fiction • Refers to works of prose that have imaginary elements. • It can be inspired by actual events and real people. • Two major types of fiction are novels and short stories. • Both novels and short stories have four basic elements: plot, character, setting and theme.

3. Plot • The sequence of events in a story. It is like a blueprint of what happens, when it happens and to whom it happens. • Plots are built around conflicts-problems or struggles between opposing forces. • A plot usually includes these four stages of development: exposition, rising action, climax and falling action.

4. Plot Outline Climax Falling Action Rising Action Exposition

5. Exposition • introduces characters and setting • supplies background • sets tone

6. Rising Action • introduces complications • builds suspense • is when the plot “thickens”

7. Climax • is turning point of story • is the moment when suspense reaches its peak • results in change for main character • sometimes occurs at end of story, without being followed by falling action

8. Falling Action • occurs after climax of story • resolves conflict • ties up loose ends of story

9. Point of View • refers to the relationship between a narrator and the events he or she describes • first-person point of view-a character participating in the action of a story tells the story Uses “I”. • third-person omniscient-the narrator is “all knowing” and able to see into the minds of all characters • third-person limited-the narrator perceives events only as an observer or only through the eyes of one character

10. Character • The people, animals or imaginary creatures who take part in the action of a story. • The events center on one or more main characters. • Minor characters interact with the main characters and help move the story along. • Dynamic characters change as a result of events. • Static characters remain unchanged.

11. Setting • The particular time and place in which the events occur. • The setting may be real or imaginary. • The events may occur in the past, the present or the future. • Setting can play an important role in what happens to the characters and how they respond to problems.

12. Theme • A theme in a work of fiction is a perception about life or human nature that the writer conveys to the reader. Most themes are not stated directly. • Themes can be revealed by: -a work’s title -key phrases and statements about big ideas -the ways the characters change and the lessons they learn about life