FICTION/

SHORT
STORIES
Edgar Allan Poe
❑ American short story writer and poet;
❑ He developed a theory of short story which he described as a “a brief
prose tale”
Short Story
❑ It is a compact narrative fiction which contains the complete
elements as character, dialogue, theme, etc.
Different Forms
of Short Stories
Different Forms of Short Stories

1. Fables – These are short stories where the characters were animals.
The fables usually end with a moral lesson.
2. Myths – these are stories about gods and goddesses and their
participation in man’s destiny.
3. Legends – these explain the origin of a particular place, object,
person, etc. Legends are localized and best appreciated by a
particular group of people of place.
Different Forms of Short Stories (cont’d)

4. Folktales – these are stories of local heroes. They are passed down
form one generation to the next by word of mouth until at some point
it was put into writing. Each country has its own local hero which
reflects the culture of its people.
5. Parables – These are short stories lifted from the Bible and other
religious materials. They provide reflective messages.
Different Forms of Short Stories (cont’d)

6. Fairytales – are stories about kings and queens, princes and

princesses, about kingdom, etc. they are considered the never
ending stories and ends with a “happily ever after ending.”
 ❑ Plot
❑Setting
Elements of ❑Theme
Short Stories ❑Character
❑Point of View
❑Symbols
❑Dialogue
❑Foreshadowing
❑Conflict
PLOT

❑ Is the arrangement of the incidents or actions in a story.

❑ The problem to be resolved is presented in the plot.
❑ It starts with the exposition which introduces the setting, characters
and other basics which are to be known by the readers.
❑ Suspense conflict, climax and denouement (resolution) are arranged
to achieve a unified story and finally brings out the theme.

Elements of Short Stories

SETTING

❑ It is the where and the when of a story. It is the time, place, event,
etc. which allow the reader to understand the characters better through
the environment provided by the writer.
❑ Setting may be natural or man-made.
❑ Natural settings present the natural view of the environment such as
forest, valleys, mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, fields, etc.
❑ Man-made settings manufactured or constructed things such as
buildings, houses, offices, gardens, schools, hospitals, cabin, cars, etc.

Elements of Short Stories

THEME

❑ Is the main idea of a story.

❑ It answers the question what the story is all about.
❑ The theme brings out the values which are acceptable to human
conduct.
❑ It simply provides one aspect of life which is faced by man and shows
the outcome of a particular action.

Elements of Short Stories

CHARACTER

❑ The story is about a character or characters which maybe a man or

animal.
❑ The story is usually concerned with the character and the problem he
encounters and how he is able to face and surpass the problem.
❑ Although the character is the product of the writer’s imagination, he
is the facsimile of a real person in the real world.

Elements of Short Stories

CHARACTER (cont’d)

TYPES OF CHARACTERS
❑ Round Characters are often known as the hero or the heroine. They
are the characters in the story who undergo change, accept changes,
and actions, view the changes as part of their role as human beings.
Because round characters undergo changes, they possess dynamic
traits. The changes which the characters face depend on the situation
that they encounter.

Elements of Short Stories

CHARACTER (cont’d)

TYPES OF CHARACTERS
❑ The Flat Characters do not change. They remain static or stagnant all
through out the story. As the story begins, the flat characters are static
and stay as they are until the end of the story.
The flat characters may either be stock character or stereotype.

Elements of Short Stories

CHARACTER (cont’d)

TYPES OF CHARACTERS
A stock character may be strong and lively in performing their roles in
the story.
The stereotype characters are flat characters who possess no attitude
except the class of which they represent.

Elements of Short Stories

POINT OF VIEW

TYPES OF POINT OF VIEW

❑ First Person point of view uses (I, me, or we, us) is essentially
involved in the story. First person may either be participant or narrator.
First participant is directly involved in the action. He is the major focus
in the story.
First person narrator is essentially an observer. He is the eyewitness to
the events happening to the characters in the story.

Elements of Short Stories

POINT OF VIEW (cont’d)

TYPES OF POINT OF VIEW

❑ Third Person point of view uses (he, she, it, they, them). The narrator
of the story is not involved in the action. There are two types of third
person point of view – third person omniscient and third person limited.
Third person omniscient does not have a central character. The author
objectively presents the actions and thoughts of all the character in the
story.

Elements of Short Stories

POINT OF VIEW (cont’d)

Third person limited focuses on the actions, thoughts, and feelings of

the main character. The protagonist of the story is the main concern of
the author.

Elements of Short Stories

SYMBOLS

❑ Symbols are essential in understanding a short story. Sometimes the

central theme of the story is conveyed through the use of symbols.
Symbols are something concrete and tangible that stand for or suggest
the meaning. There are two types of symbols – the universal symbols
which are directly associated with person, place or thing.

Elements of Short Stories

SYMBOLS (cont’d)

The literary symbols are the personal symbols used by writers in their
stories. Literary or private symbols have several meanings depending
upon the use of the writers. One writer may use the rain as a symbol of
cleansing, pain, or rebirth. Black signifies death or mourning, spring
signifies hope, rebirth. Knowing and understanding symbols allow
readers to appreciate reading of literary works better.

Elements of Short Stories

DIALOGUE

❑ Dialogue is the conversation between or among characters in the

story. It gives the sense of reality and helps in understanding the
protagonist better. Very often characters in the story express their
thoughts and feelings about a person or persons through talking with
each other. Even the language used by the character gives them away.
The attitude, beliefs, strengths, and weakness are reflected not only in
the description of the character but also in his/her way of talking.

Elements of Short Stories

FORESHADOWING

❑ Foreshadowing gives the hint or clue to the reader as what may

happen to the character. It is a sort of a forecast which allows an
intelligent reader to be prepared for the action to be undertaken by the
character/s. It is also related to the symbols used in the story.

Elements of Short Stories

CONFLICT

TYPES OF CONFLICTS
❑ Man vs Man. This conflict shows the struggle between the protagonist
against an antagonist or a group against another group. The struggle
maybe physical, personal, or social. For instance, who is going to win in
a duel, what team is to win in a football game, who is going to win in a
fight between a beast and a man.

Elements of Short Stories

CONFLICT (cont’d)

TYPES OF CONFLICTS
❑ Man vs Society. This conflict shows the struggle between the
protagonist and the society. Society conforms to the laws, standard and
values it has set. These standard, values and, laws may either be
written or unwritten. People who belong to this society are bound to
conform.

Elements of Short Stories

CONFLICT (cont’d)

TYPES OF CONFLICTS
❑ Man vs Himself. This conflict is between the protagonist and his own
personality. Very often this is psychological, since the protagonist is in
struggle with his own belief, desire, values, dreams, feelings, etc. The
protagonist is usually in a dilemma and the choice of his action would
result to his sacrifice and unhappiness or his happiness and
unhappiness of other people.

Elements of Short Stories

CONFLICT (cont’d)

TYPES OF CONFLICTS
❑ Man vs Nature. This type of conflict makes man realize how minute
he is against the rage of nature. How the protagonist acts and survives
the challenge of nature is reflected in the story.

Elements of Short Stories

CONFLICT (cont’d)

TYPES OF CONFLICTS
❑ Man vs God/Fate. This type of conflict is dominant in Greek
Mythology. Man’s fate has been pre-destined, therefore, he has no
choice but to face his fate. In some stories, God’s will prevails. The
protagonist in all the challenges, struggles and problems he encounters
would finally find release by submitting to God’s will. This shows
readers that God never fails and in the end, man realizes that God sees
and waits for the best time.

Elements of Short Stories