READING SHORT

STORIES
SHORT STORIES

• A short story is a short work fiction. Fiction is prose writing

about imagined events and characters. Prose writing differs
from poetry in that it does not rely on verses, meters, or rhymes
for it’s organization and presentation. A short story is shorter
than a novel and usually deals with only a few characters. It is
usually concerned with a single effect conveyed in only one or
few significant episodes or scenes.
ELEMENTS OF SHORT STORY

• Setting- the time and location in which a story takes place is called
setting.

Place- geographical or physical location

time- time when the story is taking place
weather conditions- is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.
Social conditions- the daily life of the characters contain local color.
Mood or atmosphere- feeling created at the beginning of the story.
• Plot- the plot is how the author arranges events develop his basic
idea.
-It is sequence of events i9n a story or play

five essential parts of plot:

a) Introduction- the beginning of the story where the characters and
the setting are revealed.
b) Rising action- this is where the events in the story become
complicated and the conflict in the story is revealed.
c) Climax- this is the highest point of interest and the turning point of
the story.
d) Denouement- this is the final outcome or unraveling of events in the
• Conflict- it is the struggle that characters have to contend with.
-It is any form of opposition that faces the main characters.

Types of conflicts include:

man vs. Man (physical)
man vs. Circumstances (classical)
man vs. Society (social)
man vs. Himself (psychological)

• Characters- the person in the story and their characteristics their physical
appearance; what they say, think, feel and dream; what they do or do not do;
what others say about them and how others react to them.
 Two types of characters:
1. Antagonist- the one who contends with protagonist.
- The antagonist is the main character's chief opponent.
2. Protagonist- Is the main character in a drama. Technically, there can only
be one protagonist in a drama, though writers often use the
word in reference to two or more central characters.
-one who under goes change or learns something during the
course of the story.
• Point of view- defined as the angle from which the story is told.
• Theme- the theme in a piece of fiction is it’s controlling idea or it’s central
insight. It is author’s underlying meaning or main idea that he is trying to
convey.
 COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. Antagonist A. The perspective from which the story is told
2. Characters B. One who undergoes change or learns
something during the course of the story.
3. Climax C. Point of view is defined as the angle from
which the story is told.
4. Conflict D. It is the author’s underlying meaning or
main idea that he is trying to convey.
5. Falling action E. The person in the story and their
characteristics, their physical appearance,
what they say and think etc.
6. Plot F. A story with a fully developed theme but
significantly shorter and less elaborate than a
novel.
7. Protagonist G. The one who contends with the protagonist
8. Rising action H. This is where the events in the story
become complicated and the conflict in the
story is revealed.
9. Setting I. It is any form of opposition that faces the
main character.
10. Short story J. The events and complications begin to be
11. Theme K. This is the highest point of interest and turning
point of the story.
12. Point of view L. The beginning of the story where the characters
and setting are revealed
13. Introduction M. how the author arranges events to develop his
basic idea.

N. The beginning of the story where the characters

and setting are revealed
O. The time and location in which a story takes
place.
THANK YOU! 