Short Stories

Ms. Campbell

English 8

What is a Short Story?

One mainimpression

Definiteclimax

One main incident or

event

Only a fewcharacters

Can be read in one

sitting

WhatDefines A

ShortStory?

Short Stories illuminate life

Short Stories are between 200 and 3000 words long

Short Story Elements

Introduction The SETTING

– WHERE– When– MOOD

POINT OF VIEW– First Person

Uses the word “I”

– Third Person Uses the word(s)

“he/she”

– Third Person Omniscient Uses the word(s)

“he/she”BUT the narrator knows everything

Short Story Elements (Cont’d)

Narrator– Person TELLING story

Uses one of the Points of View

PROTAGONIST– The main character of a

story Can be GOOD or EVIL

Antagonist– OPPOSES the main

character

Short Story Elements (Cont’d)

Plot– SERIES of events that

lead to the CLIMAX

RISING ACTION– The main part of the

story– The PROTAGONIST

battles to overcome obstacles that are in the way of the goal

Short Story Elements (Cont’d)

CONFLICT– Struggle, FIGHT, or

difference of opinion between CHARACTERS

Character versus CHARACTER

Character versus SELF Character versus

ENVIRONMENT

Climax– TURNING POINT in the

story– The moment when the

main conflict is about to be RESOLVED

CONCLUSION– The final outcome

Short Story Elements (Cont’d)

Foreshadowing– HINTS at what is to

come

THEME– Meaning or MAIN

PURPOSE of the story

Short Story Elements (Cont’d)

Day of the Butterfly by Alice Munro

Instructions- Listen to the story read aloud

- Write a half page journal response- Consider:

- What you liked- What you disliked- How the author used Short Story Elements

- Point of View, Setting, Plot, Foreshadowing, Theme, etc.

Day of the Butterfly Reading Guide

Work in pairs to answer the questions by re-reading Day of the Butterfly