Elements of Elements of Short StoriesShort Stories

I. I. PlotPlot- series of related events that - series of related events that make up a storymake up a story

A. A. conflictconflict- struggle between opposing forces- struggle between opposing forces

1. 1. Man vs. man-Man vs. man- external struggle between external struggle between two or more individualstwo or more individuals

2. 2. Man vs. himself-Man vs. himself- internal struggle internal struggle concerning emotion and decisionconcerning emotion and decision

3. 3. Man vs. nature-Man vs. nature- external struggle between external struggle between man and as element of natureman and as element of nature

4. 4. Man vs. society-Man vs. society- struggle with conforming struggle with conforming to society’s expectationsto society’s expectations

B. B. ComplicationComplication- mini-conflicts that contribute to - mini-conflicts that contribute to the rise in actionthe rise in action

C. C. ClimaxClimax- turning point of the story; emotional high - turning point of the story; emotional high point (for the character, not the reader)point (for the character, not the reader)

D. D. Falling Action-Falling Action- events that lead to resolution events that lead to resolution

E. E. ResolutionResolution- outcome of the conflict- outcome of the conflict

II. II. Four types of characterization-Four types of characterization- techniques the techniques the writerwriter uses to develop characteruses to develop character

A. comment from the narratorA. comment from the narrator

C. Speech and actions of other characters. Physical C. Speech and actions of other characters. Physical descriptiondescription

D. Speech and actions of the characterD. Speech and actions of the character

E. DirectE. Direct

Plot Diagram Plot Diagram

III. Themes of the literature/ analyzing III. Themes of the literature/ analyzing characterscharacters

A. A. MotivationMotivation- cause of actions- cause of actions

B. B. BehaviorBehavior- actions of the character- actions of the character

C. C. ConsequencesConsequences- results of actions- results of actions

D. D. Responsibility-Responsibility- moral, legal, or mental moral, legal, or mental accountabilityaccountability

E. E. Expectation-Expectation- how you expect the character to how you expect the character to behavebehave

IV. Tone/ MoodIV. Tone/ Mood

A. SeriousA. Serious

B. Humorous B. Humorous

C. Sarcastic ( Use of Irony)C. Sarcastic ( Use of Irony)

Theme-Theme- main idea or message if a story main idea or message if a story

plotplot- chart of a story- chart of a story

Flat CharacterFlat Character- character that doesn’t change - character that doesn’t change throughout the storythroughout the story

Round CharacterRound Character- character that does change - character that does change throughout the storythroughout the story

ProtagonistProtagonist- “good guy”- “good guy”

AntagonistAntagonist- “bad guy”- “bad guy”

ToneTone- overall feeling of the story- overall feeling of the story

SettingSetting- where the takes place- where the takes place

AutobiographyAutobiography- story written about self- story written about self