Elements of Short StoriesMiss Giesler’s LA Class

What is a short story?

What is a short story? The term “short story” most often refers to a work of fiction no shorter than 1,000 and no longer than 20,000 words (5 to 20 pages)

Stories with fewer than 1,000 words are sometimes referred to as "short short stories”, or "flash fiction.”

What makes a short story different than a novel?

Short stories tend to be less complex than novels.

Usually a short story has a single plot, a single setting, a small number of characters, and covers a short period of time.

Gets quickly to the point and “action” of the story

Characters typically don’t have a lot of back story

Usually only a few details about setting

5 Elements of a Short Story Plot Character Conflict Theme Setting

Flocabulary

Plot

Plot is the literary element that describes the structure of a story. It shows arrangement of events and actions within a story.

Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action

Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax

Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Plot Components

Plot: ConflictConflict is the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story. Without conflict, there is no plot.

Plot: 4 Types of Conflict

Man vs Nature

Man vs Society

Man vs Self

Man vs Man

Plot: Types of Conflict There are 3 other types of conflict that are not as common: Man vs Fate Man vs Supernatural Man vs Technology

Man v Man

Man v Nature

Man v Society

Man v Self

Theme

Theme is the big message or lessonAlso called “The Big Idea” or “the moral of the story”

It is the major idea of the story

What the author is trying to tell us

ThemeThere are two main types of themes:A stated theme is directly expressed by the narrator or character; they come right out and say it

An implied theme is only suggested by events and the characters actions and reactions

ThemeMost themes are implied-you need to dig down to find them

Notice: Themes need to connect to the real world and go beyond the story

Common Themes

CharactersCharacters are the people in the story who carry out the action

Can be human or non-human (animals, objects, etc)Think Beauty and the Beast—there are humans, animals, and objects!

Different types: protagonist, antagonist, and supporting/minor characters

CharactersAuthors reveal more about the characters and the story through characterization—revealing the personality of the character

Characterization is shown in two ways-direct and indirect:Direct: the author tells the audience what the character’s personality is

Indirect: the author shows the audience what the characters personality it; the audience must make inferences to understand the character

CharactersDirect Characterization: the author tells the audience what the characters personality is

Ex: “The patient, well-mannered students sat quietly in their desks, working silently and diligently on their homework.”

Key words: patient, well-mannered, silently, diligently show us the personality of the students.

CharactersIndirect Characterization: the author shows the audience what the characters personality isEx: “The students sat, heads down, headphones in ears, pencils scribbling furiously, as the teacher walked in the silence.”

We can infer that the students are working hard and being quiet and they are good students

Characters For indirect characterization, think STEAL:

Irony Irony is a literary device where words are used to show a contradiction between appearance and reality Meaning: reality is usually the opposite of what it seems

There are 3 types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic

Irony Verbal irony - A character says one thing but really means the opposite

Verbal Irony A character says one thing but really means another

Sarcasm is one type of verbal irony To find verbal irony, ask yourself: What is really being said? If what the person actually says is not exactly what they mean, it’s most likely verbal irony

Verbal Irony-Examples When someone asks, “Does that bruise hurt?”

And you say, “No”

When your teacher says, “I see how hard you worked on your homework!” after you hand in a blank worksheet

Irony Verbal irony - A character says one thing but really means the opposite

Situational irony – When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.

Situational Irony When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.

Comes from the situation or circumstances the characters find themselves in

To find situational irony, ask yourself: “What was I expecting to happen?” If the opposite happened, it’s most likely situational irony

Situational Irony-Examples Someone breaks in to a thief’s house at the same time he is out robbing another house

The founder of match.com was dumped by his long-time girlfriend—after she found someone else on match.com

Irony Verbal irony - A character says one thing but really means the opposite

Situational irony – When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.

Dramatic irony – The reader or audience understands more about the events of a story than a character.

Dramatic Irony The reader or audience understands more about the events of a story than a character.

Comes from the audience’s understanding—or “inside joke” or “inside knowledge”

To find dramatic irony, ask yourself, “Did I already know what happened or was going to happen?” If you answered yes, it’s most likely dramatic irony

Dramatic Irony-Examples Almost every horror movie…we know the killer is waiting, but the characters don’t…

Jaws…da na…da na…da na da na…da nanananananana AAAHHH!!!!

Dramatic Irony-Examples

Simba spends most of the movie trying to rid himself of the guilt from killing his father

Meanwhile, we know it was Scar who killed Mufasa

Dramatic Irony-Examples

Hercules must drink “Every last drop” to become mortal—but one drop remains

Hades does not know this, but Pain, Panic, and the audience do!

Irony v. Coincidence Be careful not to confuse irony with coincidence

Coincidences are unexpected and sometimes unexplainable, but seem to have no cause or connection Note: that “CONNECTION” word is the big give away!

Irony v. CoincidenceExamples of coincidence:

2 girls wearing the same outfit without planning it

A young boy surviving a terrible fall while wearing a Superman shirt

Mr. Zajic walking in while Miss G is talking smack about himGeez guys, why didn’t you warn me?!

Just kidding, I’d never talk smack about him

Irony or Coincidence…You Tell me! Rain on a wedding day

COINCIDENCE

Why? It’s unfortunate, but no one has done anything to cause it—the two are unrelated (And, honestly, the weather doesn’t care what you’re doing!)

Irony or Coincidence…You Tell me! A policeman having a warrant out for his arrest for unpaid parking tickets

IRONY!

Why? He’s a policeman; he knows better and he caused the situation to happen

Irony or Coincidence…You Tell me!

IRONY!

Why? The sign for “Fasteners” clearly needs a fastener itself…

Irony or Coincidence…You Tell me! Forgetting to study for a test, then finding out the teacher doesn’t feel good and lets you watch a movie instead

COINCIDENCE!

Why? Your lack of preparation had nothing to do with the teacher being ill (or lazy)

Narrator The narrator of the story is the person who gives an account of what happens—they are the ones who tell the story

Narrator is voice the author has chosen to tell the story, but is not always the author themselves For example, in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe’s narrator is a man who is literally going insane

Narrator The audience learns the story from the narrator’s Point of View (or POV)

May have multiple narrators

Flocabulary POV

POV There are 3 Points of View:

1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person

POV-1st Person 1st Person POV is told from one character’s perspective

Shows us the inner thoughts and frustrations or triumphs of that particular character

Everything we learn is “colored” by that character’s thoughts and opinions

Used frequently in novels and short stories when one character (usually protagonist) is dominant

Key Words: “I” “We” “My”

Opening Scene Example

POV-2nd Person 2nd Person POV addresses the audience directly

Very rarely seen in literature or film, except perhaps choose-your-own adventure stories

Most often seen in nonfiction (Letters, emails, speeches, directions, recipes), songs, or video games

Key words: “You” “Your” “Yourself” “Yourselves”

N64 Game Example

POV-3rd Person 3rd Person POV is told from the narrator’s perspective, but the narrator is NOT a character in the story

Narrator is removed from the story, and seems to “know all”

Most common POV in literature Key words: “He” “She” or character’s names

POV-3rd Person 3 types of 3rd Person POV:

Omniscient Limited Objective

POV-3rd Person Omniscient: Narrator knows everything—the thoughts, feelings, and actions of every character However, the narrator may not always reveal all of the information

Has a “bird’s eye view” or “hole in the cloud” view of the action

POV-3rd Person Limited: Narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of one character Very similar to first person, but still an “outsider’s view”

Example: Harry Potter

POV-3rd Person Objective: Narrator is not part of the story, and only tells the reader what the characters do and say The reader must infer the character’s thoughts or motivation

A “reporter” or “observer”