Elements of a Short Story

Mrs. Kelly Brown

 Definition of a Short Story

Tells about a single event

or experience
Fictional (not true)
500 to 15,000 words in
length
It has a beginning, middle,
and end
Creates an impression on
the reader
Includes all of the parts
of plot: introduction,
conflict, rising action
(complications), climax and
resolution
Elements of a Short Story
Setting
Characterization
Plot
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Theme
Point of view
Every story needs characters

People

Animals

Or Creatures
 Short Story Vocabulary

Protagonist:
-the hero
-leader of a cause
-the good guy
-Batman
The protagonist is the “good guy”
 Short Story Vocabulary

Antagonist:
-the opposing force
-the “bad guy”
-Joker
The antagonist is the “bad guy”
or force
 Protagonist and Antagonist Quiz

Film Protagonist Antagonist

Cinderella Cinderella

Lion King Scar

The Little Ariel

Mermaid
Jack and the Giant
Beanstalk
 Protagonist and Antagonist Quiz

Film Protagonist Antagonist

Cinderella Cinderella Stepmother

Lion King Simba Scar

The Little Ariel Ursula

Mermaid
Jack and the Jack Giant
Beanstalk
 Short Story Vocabulary

Characterization: is how
we learn about a
character
We learn about them
through:
-How they look
-How they act/what
they do
-What they say
-How other characters
respond to them and
feel about them
 Short Story Vocabulary

Direct Characterization- when the narrator tells you

directly about a character- Molly is a brat.

Indirect Characterization- shows you a character’s traits

through their actions or dialogue- Molly came into the
kitchen and slammed down her backpack and said, “I
don’t care what you say. YOU are NOT the boss of ME
Mrs. Meany Pants!”

SHOW don’t TELL- it is much more fun!!!

 Short Story Vocabulary

Setting:Tells the reader

where and when the
story takes place. You
need to identify the
people, places, times
and objects involved.
Use sensory details
and figurative
language to create a
vivid picture with your
words.
The time and place of the story
is the setting
 Short Story Vocabulary

Plot: A series of
events through which
the writer reveals
what is happening, to
whom, and why.
Parts of Plot:
introduction, conflict,
rising action
(complications), climax
and resolution
 Short Story Vocabulary

Conflict: Is the
problem in the
story that needs
to be resolved. In
a short story this
will not be too
complex.
 Great stories have an intriguing
Man vs. Nature conflict Man vs. Society

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Machine Man vs. Himself

A hint about what will happen
next is called foreshadowing
For example, if you hear the Jaws
theme music……..
Then you know
someone’s about to
get eaten!
 Short Story Vocabulary

Climax: When the

action comes to its
highest point of
conflict and usually
when the story can
go either way
The climax is the most exciting
part!!
 Short Story Vocabulary

Resolution: The
story’s action
after the climax
until the end of
the story. The
“conclusion” of the
story.
 Short Story Vocabulary

Theme: The
“message” the
writer intends to
communicate by
telling the story
 Short Story Vocabulary

Point of view: The

position of the
narrator of the
story and what the
writer sees from
that vantage point
Choose: 1st Person,
3rd Person Limited
or 3rd Person
Omniscient
 The point of view is the
perspective of the story

“I was framed! I
just wanted to
“That rotten wolf
borrow a cup of
tried to eat us!!!!”
sugar!”
How To Use Quotation Marks:
1.Quotation marks enclose the words used by a
speaker or writer.

2.Periods and commas go inside the closing

quotation mark.

3.A comma is used to set off a quote from the

rest of the sentence.
Example: “Come here,” said Marie. (comma
inside)
Example: Marie said, “Come here.” (comma used
to set off direct quote, period inside)
Example: “Come here,” said Marie, “I am waiting
for you.”
4.Question marks and exclamation points go inside the
closing quotation marks when they apply to the quoted
words.
Example: “Won’t you come over?” asked Marie. (question
mark inside)
Example: Did you hear me ask, “Won’t you come over”?
Example: “Come over here now!” Marie exclaimed.
(exclamation point inside)
5.You must indent when someone new begins to speak
Example:
Fausto looked at the bill and knew he was in trouble.
Not with these nice folks or with his parents, but with
himself. How could he have been so deceitful? The dog
wasn’t lost. It was just having a fun Saturday walking
around.
“I can’t take that.”
“You have to. You deserve it, believe me,” the man
said.
“No, I don’t.”
“Now don’t be silly,” said the lady. She took the bill
from her husband and stuffed it into Fausto’s shirt pocket.
“You’re a lovely child. Your parents are lucky to have you.
Be good and come see us again, please.”
 Let’s Practice:
What happened to you asked Melissa

I slipped and sprained my ankle

responded Nina

Melissa asked how did you sprain your

ankle
 Let’s Practice:
“What happened to you?” asked Melissa.

“I slipped and sprained my ankle,”

responded Nina.

Melissa asked, “How did you sprain

your ankle?”
 Let’s Practice:
It was my new spiked-heel shoes said
Nina

I warned you about those things said

Melissa

But, they look so cute on me Nina

exclaimed
 Let’s Practice:
“It was my new spiked-heel shoes,” said
Nina.

“I warned you about those things,” said

Melissa.

“But, they look so cute on me!” Nina

exclaimed.
 Let’s Practice:
Mom he said I want a guitar for
Christmas

Did you hear me ask what is for dinner

 Let’s Practice:
“Mom,” he said, “ I want a guitar for
Christmas.”

Did you hear me ask, “What is for

dinner”?
Elements of a Short Story
Setting
Characterization of
Characters
Plot
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Theme
Point of view
Whether you’re the reader, or the
writer, a great story includes all
these literary elements!!!
foreshadowing protagonist

conflict
characters climax
setting
antagonist
point of view
Great writers are able to use
the elements of the short story
with such precision that the
reader is caught up in the action
of the story. This is a mark of a
good story and our goal as a
writer.
 Your assignment:

-Write a unique, interesting, and original short

story
-Use all of the literary elements we have
discussed
-It needs to be two pages typed
-It needs to have at least 20 lines of dialogue

*If you would like a story map graphic

organizer to help you with your outline, I have
them available for you