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Elements of A Short Story Handout PDF
Elements of A Short Story Handout PDF
PLOT
A short story’s plot is its series of events. Throughout the plot, events unfold, build to a climax, and are brought to a conclusion
during the resolution. There are two methods of plot development; you will be in charge of creating a visual for the first:
Authors use linear plot development when they reveal events in the order in which they occur.
Authors use non-linear plot development when they interrupt the sequence of events in a plot. Flashbacks, sub-plots,
and parallel plots can be used within non-linear plots.
CONFLICT
The plot of a short story usually focuses on a conflict, or struggle. There are two main types of conflict in literature; you will be
in charge of creating a visual for the first:
An external conflict is a struggle between two characters, between an individual and a group, or between a character
and a force of nature.
An internal conflict is a struggle within the mind of one character.
CHARACTER
The characters in a story are the personalities who participate in the action. Usually, story characters are human beings, but
they can also develop complex yet believable characters:
SETTING
The setting of a story is the time and place of the action.
The time of a setting can be past, present, or future, and it may also include a specific year, season, or hour of day.
Place can refer to the cultural and historical setting as well as to a specific geographic location in a country, town, or
community.
In some stories, the setting not only provides a backdrop for the action, but can also shape the characters, plot, and conflict.
For example, cultural expectations may cause characters to take specific actions. The setting can also help create a mood—the
atmosphere of the story.
SYMBOL
A symbol is a person, place, or object that has a literal meaning and also stands for something larger, such as an idea or an
emotion. Symbols may be particular to a specific literary work or universal idea.
THEME
The theme of a short story is its central message or insight into life. This message may be stated or implied.
Authors use linear plot development when they reveal events in the order in which they occur.
Authors use non-linear plot development when they interrupt the sequence of events in a plot. Flashbacks, sub-plots,
and parallel plots can be used within non-linear plots.
CONFLICT
The plot of a short story usually focuses on a conflict, or struggle. There are two main types of conflict in literature; you will be
in charge of creating a visual for the first:
An external conflict is a struggle between two characters, between an individual and a group, or between a character
and a force of nature.
An internal conflict is a struggle within the mind of one character.
CHARACTER
The characters in a story are the personalities who participate in the action. Usually, story characters are human beings, but
they can also develop complex yet believable characters:
SETTING
The setting of a story is the time and place of the action.
The time of a setting can be past, present, or future, and it may also include a specific year, season, or hour of day.
Place can refer to the cultural and historical setting as well as to a specific geographic location in a country, town, or
community.
In some stories, the setting not only provides a backdrop for the action, but can also shape the characters, plot, and conflict.
For example, cultural expectations may cause characters to take specific actions. The setting can also help create a mood—the
atmosphere of the story.
SYMBOL
A symbol is a person, place, or object that has a literal meaning and also stands for something larger, such as an idea or an
emotion. Symbols may be particular to a specific literary work or universal idea.
THEME
The theme of a short story is its central message or insight into life. This message may be stated or implied.