An Introduction toThe Short StoryThe long and short of it.

Short Stories

A short story is one that holds all the elements of a story, in a shorter format.

Short Story Elements:Setting

Setting is the time and place of the story’s action. Setting includes ideas, customs, values, and beliefs.

Ex: Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away

Short Story Elements:Characters

Characters are the actors in a story’s plot. They can be people, animals, or whatever the writer chooses.

The protagonist is the main character.

The antagonist is in conflict with the main character. Not all stories have personified antagonists.

Ex. The characters in Little Red Riding Hood are LRRH, the Big Bad Wolf, Grandma, and the woodsman.

Protagonist: Little Red Riding Hood

Antagonist: The Big Bad Wolf

Which is Which?

Short Story Elements:Point of View

Point of View refers to the relationship of the narrator, or storyteller, to the story.

In first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story, and referred to as “I” Ex: Twilight

In third-person, the narrator reveals the thoughts of only one character, referring to them as “he” or “she”

Ex: Harry Potter

In third-person omniscient the narrator knows everything about the story’s events and can reveal thoughts of all characters.

Ex: The Lord of the Rings

Short Story Elements:Conflict

Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in a story or play.

External conflict exists when a character struggles against some outside force.

Internal conflict exists within the mind of the character.

Common applications:

Man vs. man

Man vs. self

Man vs. nature

Man vs. society

Man vs. technology

Man vs. fate

“We’re going to need a bigger boat.”

Conflict and Resolution Practice

What can you tell about conflict and resolution based on this picture?

More Practice

You can thank me after class. As you watch this clip:

1. What is the conflict? Who or what is it with? Are there multiple conflicts?

How is it resolved?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P65kjiATtUs

Short Story Elements:Theme

Theme is the central idea or message of a story often a perception about life or human nature.

Stated theme are directly presented in a story.

Implied theme must be inferred by considering all the elements of a story and asking what message about life is conveyed.

This story is about two kids who are dying

of cancer, but despite it all, choose to fall in

love.

What might the theme of this book/movie be?

Short Story Elements:Plot

Plot is the sequence of events in a story. Each event causes or leads to the next.

Most plots develop in five stages:

Exposition introduces the stories characters, setting, and conflict.

Rising action occurs as complications, twists, or intensifications of the conflict occur.

Climax is the emotional high point of the story

Falling action is the logical result of the climax

Resolution presents the final outcome of the story

Let’s Map It OutThe Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks.  She  went for a walk in the forest.  Pretty soon, she came upon a house.  She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in. At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge.  Goldilocks was hungry.  She tasted the porridge from the first bowl.

"This porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed. So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.

"This porridge is too cold," she said

So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.

"Ahhh, this porridge is just right," she said happily and she ate it all up.

Rising…After she'd eaten the three bears' breakfasts she decided she was feeling a little tired.  So, she walked into the living room where she saw three chairs.  Goldilocks sat in the first chair to rest her feet.  

"This chair is too big!" she exclaimed.

So she sat in the second chair.

"This chair is too big, too!"  she whined.

So she tried the last and smallest chair.

"Ahhh, this chair is just right," she sighed.  But just as she settled down into the chair to rest, it broke into pieces!

Goldilocks was very tired by this time, so she went upstairs to the bedroom.  She lay down in the first bed, but it was too hard.  Then she lay in the second bed, but it was too soft.  Then she lay down in the third bed and it was just right.  Goldilocks fell asleep.

As she was sleeping, the three bears came home.

Still Rising… "Someone's been eating my porridge," growled the Papa bear.

"Someone's been eating my porridge," said the Mama bear.

"Someone's been eating my porridge and they ate it all up!" cried the Baby bear.

"Someone's been sitting in my chair," growled the Papa bear.

"Someone's been sitting in my chair," said the Mama bear.

"Someone's been sitting in my chair and they've broken it all to pieces," cried the Baby bear.

They decided to look around some more and when they got upstairs to the bedroom, Papa bear growled, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed,"

"Someone's been sleeping in my bed, too" said the Mama bear

And now it all ends…"Someone's been sleeping in my bed and she's still there!" exclaimed Baby bear.

Just then, Goldilocks woke up and saw the three bears.  She screamed, "Help!"  And she jumped up and ran out of the room.  Goldilocks ran down the stairs, opened the door, and ran away into the forest.  And that snot-nosed hooligan NEVER RETURNED TO THE FOREST AGAIN.

THE END.

Now it’s your turn…

You have the elements. Now I want you to put them into practice.

In your notebooks, jot down your thoughts on setting, characters, point of view, theme, and plot as we watch the short film.

We will map this out on the board afterward.